to the second catholic epistle of Peter.

233

must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me; (chap. i. 13, 14;) and ecclesiastical history informs us, that the apostle finished his race by martyrdom in the year 68, the 14th of the emperor Nero.

The general design of this epistle is, To confirm the doctrines and instructions delivered in the former; "to excite the Christian converts to adorn and steadfastly adhere to their holy religion, as a religion proceeding from God, notwithstanding the artifices of false teachers, whose character is at large described; or the persecution of their bitter and inveterate enemies."

The apostle, with this view, having first congratulated the Christian converts on the happy condition into which they were brought by the gospel, exhorts them, in order to secure the blessings connected with their profession, to endeavour to improve in the most substantial graces and virtues. (chap. i. 1-11.) And that their attention might be the more effectually engaged, he reminds them, both that he spoke to them in the near view of eternity, it being revealed to him that he should shortly put off his earthly tabernacle; and that the subjects on which he discoursed, were not cunningly devised fables, but attested by a miraculous voice from heaven, and by divinely inspired prophecies. (ver. 12, to the end.) And that this exhortation might not fail of producing the most kindly and genuine effects, he cautions them against the false teachers, whose character he describes; reminding them of the judgments executed on the apostate angels, on the old world, and on Sodom; and at the same time, of the deliverance of Noah, and of Lot; as suggesting considerations, which, on the one hand, should terrify such ungodly wretches, and on the other, comfort and establish the hearts of upright and pious Christians. (chap. ii. 1-9.) He then further describes the character of these seducers; warning all true Christians of the danger of being perverted by them, and them of the dreadful destruction to which they exposed themselves. (ver. 10, to the end. And that the persons to whom he was writing,

234

A general introduction, &c.

might more effectually escape the artifices of those who lay in wait to deceive, they are directed to adhere steadily and closely to the sacred scriptures, and to consider the absolute certainty and awful manner of the final destruction of this world: and then the whole is concluded with several weighty and per tinent exhortations. chap. iii. throughout.

A

PARAPHRASE AND NOTES

ON THE

SECOND CATHOLIC EPISTLE OF ST. PETER.

SECT. I.

The apostle Peter, after his salutation, begins his epistle with congratulating the Christians on the happy state into which they were brought by the gospel; and urges them, in order to secure the blessings connected with their profession, to endeavour to improve in its most substantial graces and virtues. 2 Pet. I. 1—11.

2 PETER I. 1.

IMON Peter,

2 PETER I. 1.

i.

2 Pet.

a servant and SIMON Peter, who has the honour to style SECT. an apostle of Jesus himself a servant, and even an apostle of Christ, to them that Jesus Christ; being selected by his heavenly have obtained like Master to that exalted and important office, i.1 precious faith with us, through the righsends his most affectionate salutation, with this teousness of God, and his epistle, to all those to whom it may come, our Saviour Jesus who have obtained like precious faith with us, in that glorious gospel, which is a declaration of life and salvation by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ, in which,

Christ:

• Of our God and Saviour, &c] The this translation, though I confess it is not order of the original words rather favours absolutely necessary, and it may be renVOL. 6.

31

244

St. Peter's salutation to the Christian converts.

SECT. sinful as we are, we obtain acceptance with the i. Father, through that atonement which our Divine Redeemer has made, and the perfect righteousness he has introduced for the justification of all his believing people.

2 Pet.

2

For this purpose, that this invaluable bless- 2 Grace and peace ing may be ensured to you, may grace

and peace

be multiplied unto

the

in all your concerns, temporal and spiritual, be you, through
knowledge of God,
multiplied unto you by the acknowledgment of the and of Jesus our
great God and of Jesus Christ our Lord; by a Lord;
faithful and courageous profession of whose
name we put ourselves into the way of receiv-

that hath called us to glory and virtue:

3 ing the most important blessings. This we 3 According as
may cheerfully expect, as his Divine power has his Divine power
given unto us all things in such rich abundance, all things that pertain
hath given unto us
which [relate] both to life and godliness; unto life and godli-
whereby the present life is rendered much more ness, through the
comfortable to us, and the future and eternal knowledge of him
life of our souls is secured. And this we ob-
tain, by the knowledge of him who has, by his
gospel, called us by that glory with which he
has now invested us, and that strengthening
4 virtue, and energy of his spirit : By means 4 Whereby are
of which illustrious seal, set to the decla- given unto
ration of the gospel, are given unto us exceeding ceeding great and
precious promises :
great and precious promises, relating to blessings that by these ye
infinitely more valuable than any present enjoy-
ments or expectations. And the design of God,
in bestowing this inestimable favour is, that by

us ex

(See noteh below.) And therefore, as the learned Albert observes, (Observ Philolog. p. 460,) some interpreters, apprehending the word apn to be in no sense applicable to God, but only to men, have rendered this clause, contrary to the Greek idiom, to glory and virtue. But it may very properly be understood of that strengthening energy which God exerts on the human mind, which appeared in so extraordinary a manner in the apostolic age.

d By means of which] Some would render & wv, for the sake of which; that is, as they understand the clause, that we might attain to this glory and virtue, God has made such precious promises of the pardon of sin, the assistances of his Spirit, and at last, eternal happiness. Dr Whitby would read it, dov, by whom, that is, by Christ; for which he hath the authority of some manuscripts.

He exhorts them to add to their faith, knowledge and temperance : 245

lust.

tue, knowledge :

i.

i. 4

might be partakers these you may be made partakers of a Divine na- SECT. of the Divine nature, ture, transformed into the image of God's having escaped the corruption that is in moral perfections; having escaped the corrupthe world through tion [which is] so generally prevalent, in the 2 Pet. world, through the lust which men are ready to indulge, to the reproach and destruction of 5 And besides this, their immortal souls. And for this purpose, 5 giving all diligence, applying with all possible diligence, as you add to your faith, virtue; and to vir have believed the gospel, be careful to accompany that belief with all the lovely train of attendant graces; associate, as it were, to your faith, virtue, true fortitude and resolution of mind, which may enable you to break through that variety of dangers with which your faith may be attended; and to this heroic virtue and bravery, that knowledge which may direct 6 And to know-your resolution aright; And to knowledge, 6 ledge, temperance; temperance; that if you should be in the most patience; and to pa- plentiful circumstances, they may not be a tience, godliness: snare to you, and the bounties of Providence may not be abused to the dishonour of God, and your own detriment; and to this temperance add patience, as you are not apprized what afflictions may possibly succeed your prosperity, nor how severe they may be; and to patience add godliness, that devout temper of mind, which will be so powerful a support to your patience, both by the views it gives you of the wisdom and goodness of all the Divine dispensations, and by the pleasure which it will mingle with the most painful exercises and 7 And to godli- trials ; And to godliness, add brotherly kind- 7

and to temperance,

Partakers of a Divine nature.] I can not think the passages, which are produced from Philo and Josephus, as parallel to this, are sufficient to justify Dr. Whitby's interpreting this phrase of miraculous and prophetic endowments.

For this purpose: aulo r870.] The learned Albert supposes the particles to be understood, and I have translated it accordingly

& Associate.] The word xyl properly signifies to lead up, as in a dance, one of these virtues after another in a beautiful and majestic order. See Good man's Parable of the Prod. p. 296; and Sir Norton Knatchbull in loc.

↳ Virtue.] Virtue cannot here signify an universal regularity of mind and manners, (see Titus iii. 8,) because every particular afterwards mentioned, is a virtue in that sense; and the apostle speaks of

each as additional to what went before. It must therefore here signify courage, as the original word apern often does. (Compare note above.) And it is properly added to faith, in reference to the need faith has of a courageous defence, and of the advantage it gives us for that purpose. The knowledge to be added, signifies, not that general knowledge on which faith and virtue must be founded, but an acquaintance with the importance of the several principles and duties comprehended in that general knowledge; and by this courage would properly be directed, which might otherwise act at random. Nor can we imagine, that one of these good qualities can entirely subsist without another; but every one is to make up, as it were, a part of the chorus, appearing together in a lovely and venerable train.