_CONFIRMING THEM IN THE HOPE OF THE INCREASE OF GOD'S GRACE, HE EXHORTETH THEM BY FAITH AND GOOD WORKS TO MAKE THEIR CALLING SURE, WHEREOF HE IS CAREFUL TO REMIND THEM, KNOWING THAT HIS DEATH IS AT HAND: HE WARNETH THEM TO BE CONSTANT IN THE FAITH OF CHRIST, WHO IS THE TRUE SON OF GOD BY THE EYE-WIT... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD, AND OUR SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST— _Through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ_—through which, sinful as we are, if we believe, we obtain acceptance with the Father—even through that atonement which our Divine Redeemer has made for the justification of... [ Continue Reading ]
THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD— _By the acknowledgment of God._ Doddridge. The word Επιγνωσις, doubtless, sometimes signifies _acknowledgment;_ but as it signifies _knowledge_ in the next verse, and in many other texts of the New Testament, it seems most proper so to understand it here.... [ Continue Reading ]
ACCORDING AS HIS DIVINE POWER— Some would read this verse in a parenthesis, as an incidental thought, and so connect the 2nd and 4th verses. Others would connect this with the foregoing verse;—_Grace and peace be multiplied unto you, in_ or _by the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord; according... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREBY— _By means of which;_ namely, of the illustrious seal of the Spirit set to the declaration of the gospel. By _partaking of the divine nature,_ we are to understand a participation of the divine holiness; or a being holy, as the Lord our God is holy; enjoying such communion with God in his ho... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BESIDE THIS,— _And for this purpose._ The apostle's meaning, says Dr. Heylin, in brief is this:—"Whereas God, by giving you the knowledge of Jesus Christ, has given you the means whereby to acquire all the virtues, you must correspond on your part by exerting your utmost endeavours," &c. _Faith... [ Continue Reading ]
TEMPERANCE— The word εγκρατεια sometimes signifies _abstinence from_ some particular _vice,_ and is used more especially for _continence_ or chastity: but it commonlysignifies abstinence or moderation as to the pleasures and possessions of this life in general; and as there is no restriction of the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND TO GODLINESS BROTHERLY-KINDNESS— _Or the love of the Christian brotherhood,_ which is often and earnestly recommended. See 1 Peter 1:22. The connection between these two virtues is inseparable, (comp. 1 John 3:17; 1 John 4:20.) and indeed what can be more properly connected with the love of God,... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF THESE THINGS BE IN YOU, AND ABOUND, &C.— _For your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ will not be barren and fruitless, if these virtues take place and improve in you._ Heylin. The words _make you—neither barren nor fruitless,_ are, by a _meiosis,_ put for _will make you very diligent and fru... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF,— The word Μυωπαζων signifies literally _winking,_ or closing the eyes against the light. The apostle having represented the professed Christian, who is destitute of the graces and virtues of the Christian life, as _blind,_ immediately informs us what sort of blindness that i... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE THE RATHER, &C.— The connection seems to be this: "As he who is destitute of the graces and virtues of the Christian life, is voluntarily blind; therefore, my Christian brethren, do you give the more diligence to make your calling and election firm and steadfast, by the exercise and practi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE— That is, "Because in this way alone you can have an admittance into Christ's everlasting kingdom." _I will not be negligent,_ by a common figure signifies, "I will make use of the greatest care and diligence." The _present truth_ was, that the practice of the Christian graces and virtues... [ Continue Reading ]
YEA, I THINK IT MEET— St. Peter accounted it δικαιον, _meet,_ that is, becoming his character and office, as one of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, and proper for them, as professed Christians in such a situation. With great propriety and beauty, he calls his own body _a tabernacle:_ it was n... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING THAT SHORTLY I MUST PUT OFF, &C.— _Knowing that the laying aside of this my tabernacle approacheth swiftly, in the manner that the Lord Jesus Christ hath made known unto me._ Our Lord not only told St. Peter that he was to die a violent death, but also the _manner_ of it: John 21:18. It is i... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HAVE THESE THINGS ALWAYS IN REMEMBRANCE.— The things which they were to have always in remembrance, were, the necessity of experiencing and practising the graces and virtues of the Christian life, mentioned 2 Peter 1:5. &c. and that if they did so, they should have an abundant entrance into Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
CUNNINGLY-DEVISED FABLES,— _Sophistical fables._ Benson. _For there was nothing fabulous, or artfully invented, in the information that we gave you, of the powerful advent of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we ourselves were eye-witnesses of his majesty._ Heylin. This epistle of St. Peter was written to... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE ALSO A MORE SURE WORD OF PROPHESY;— It would swell this note into a very considerable treatise, if we were to give the numerous interpretations and different opinions on this much-controverted passage. We shall therefore content ourselves with _three_ solutions; referring those who desire to... [ Continue Reading ]
KNOWING THIS FIRST,— The apostle here assigns an important reason why they were to attend to the word of prophesy as long as they lived; namely, because it was not of human device, but of divine original. Dr. Mill has in few words given the sense of this place: "In writing this, the prophet did not... [ Continue Reading ]