CHAPTER II. _False teachers foretold, who shall bring in destructive_ _doctrines and shall pervert many, but at last be destroyed by_ _the judgments of God_, 1-3. _Instances of God's judgments in the rebellious angels_, 4. _In the antediluvians_, 5. _In the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha_, 6-8.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Peter 2:2. _MANY SHALL FOLLOW_] WILL follow, because determined to gratify their sinful propensities. _PERNICIOUS WAYS_] ταις απωλειαις. _Their destructions_; i.e. the _heresies of destruction_, or _destructive opinions_, mentioned above. But instead of απωλειαις, _destructions_, ασελγειαις... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Peter 2:3. _AND THROUGH COVETOUSNESS_] That they might get money to spend upon their lusts, _with feigned words_, πλαστοις λογοις, with _counterfeit tales, false narrations_, of pretended facts, _lying miracles, fabulous legends_. "In this single sentence," says Dr. Macknight, "there is a cl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 4. _FOR IF GOD SPARED NOT THE ANGELS_] The angels were originally placed in a state of probation; some having fallen and some having stood proves this. How long that probation was to last to them, and what was the particular _test_ of their fidelity, we know not; nor indeed do we know what was... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 5. _SPARED NOT THE OLD WORLD_] The apostle's argument is this: If God spared not the rebellious angels, nor the sinful antediluvians, nor the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha, he will not spare those wicked teachers who corrupt the pure doctrines of Christianity. _SAVED NOAH THE EIGHTH_] Some th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _THE CITIES OF SODOM AND GOMORRHA_] See the notes on Genesis 19, for an account of the sin and punishment of these cities. _MAKING_ THEM _AN ENSAMPLE_] These three words, υποδειγμα παραδειγμα, and δειγμα, are used to express the same idea; though the former may signify an _example to be sh... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _VEXED WITH THE FILTHY CONVERSATION_] Καταπονουμενον ὑπο της των αθεσμων εν ασελγεια αναστροφης· _Being exceedingly_ _pained with the unclean conduct of those lawless persons_. What this was, see in the history, Gen. 19., and the notes there.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _THAT RIGHTEOUS MAN DWELLING AMONG THEM_] Lot, after his departure from Abraham, A. M. 2086, lived at Sodom till A. M. 2107, a space of about twenty years; and, as he had a _righteous_ _soul_, he must have been _tormented_ with the abominations of that people _from day to day_. The word εβ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _THE LORD KNOWETH HOW TO DELIVER THE GODLY_] The preservation and deliverance of Lot gave the apostle occasion to remark, that God knew as well to _save_ as to _destroy_; and that his _goodness_ led him as forcibly to save righteous Lot, as his _justice_ did to destroy the rebellious in the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _BUT CHIEFLY THEM THAT WALK_] That is, God will in the most signal manner punish them that walk after the flesh- addict themselves to sodomitical practices, and the _lust of_ _pollution_; probably alluding to those most abominable practices where men abuse themselves and abuse one another.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _WHEREAS ANGELS_, c.] This is a difficult verse, but the meaning seems to be this: The holy angels, who are represented as bringing an account of the actions of the fallen angels before the Lord in judgment, simply state the facts without exaggeration, and without permitting any thing of a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _BUT THESE, AS NATURAL BRUTE BEASTS_] ωςαλογαζωα φυσικα. _As those natural animals void of reason_, following only the gross instinct of nature, being governed neither by reason nor religion. _MADE TO BE TAKEN AND DESTROYED_] Intended to be taken with nets and gins, and then destroyed, be... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _THEY THAT COUNT IT PLEASURE TO RIOT IN THE DAY_ _time._] Most sinners, in order to practise their abominable pleasures, seek the secrecy of the night; but these, bidding defiance to all decorum, decency, and shame, take the open day, and thus proclaim their impurities to the sun. _SPOTS... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _HAVING EYES FULL OF ADULTERY_] μοιχαλιδος. _Of an_ _adulteress_; being ever bent on the gratification of their sensual desires, so that they are represented as having _an adulteress_ _constantly before their eyes_, and that their eyes can take in no other object but _her_. But instead of... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _WHICH HAVE FORSAKEN THE RIGHT WAY_] As Balaam did, who, although God showed him the right way, took one contrary to it, preferring the reward offered him by Balak to the approbation and blessing of God. _THE WAY OF BALAAM_] Is the _counsel_ of Balaam. He counselled the Moabites to give t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _THE DUMB ASS, SPEAKING WITH MAN'S VOICE_] Numbers 22:28, Numbers 22:28. _THE MADNESS OF THE PROPHET._] Is not this a reference to the speech of the ass, as represented in the Targums of Jonathan ben Uzziel and Jerusalem? "Wo to thee, Balaam, thou sinner, thou madman: there is no wisdom f... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _THESE ARE WELLS WITHOUT WATER_] Persons who, by their profession, should furnish _the water of life_ to souls athirst for salvation; but they have not this water; they are _teachers_ without _ability_ to _instruct_; they are _sowers_, and have no _seed_ in their basket. Nothing is more ch... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _THEY SPEAK GREAT SWELLING_ WORDS _OF VANITY_] The word υπερογκα signifies things of great magnitude, grand, superb, sublime; it sometimes signifies _inflated, tumid, bombastic_. These false teachers spoke of great and high things, and no doubt promised their disciples the greatest privile... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _WHILE THEY PROMISE THEM LIBERTY_] Either to live in the highest degrees of spiritual good, or a freedom from the Roman yoke; or from the yoke of the law, or what they might term needless restraints. Their own conduct showed the falsity of their system; for they were slaves to every disgra... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _THE POLLUTIONS OF THE WORLD_] _Sin_ in general, and particularly superstition, idolatry, and lasciviousness. These are called μιασματα, _miasmata_, things that _infect, pollute_, and _defile_. The word was anciently used, and is in use at the present day, to express those noxious particle... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _FOR IT HAD BEEN BETTER FOR THEM NOT TO HAVE KNOWN_] For the reasons assigned above; because they have sinned against more mercy, are capable of more sin, and are liable to greater punishment. _THE HOLY COMMANDMENT_] The whole religion of Christ is contained in this one commandment, "Thou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Peter 2:22. _ACCORDING TO THE TRUE PROVERB_] This seems to be a reference to Proverbs 26:11: קאו אל שב ככלב kekeleb shab al keo; as the dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool _repeateth his folly_. In substance this proverb is found among the rabbins; so Midrash Ruth, in Sohar Chadash, fol. 6... [ Continue Reading ]