PETER probably wrote this second Epistle at Rome, a. v. 67 or 68, a short time before death, to oppose those dangerous doctrines, by which false teachers were endeavouring to seduce the Christians from their religion, and to obtain riches, and power, and popularity. The principal errors against which the apostle would guard the Christians, were ;-that. believers are justified by faith without works ;-that believers were under no obligation, either to abstain from sin or to do what is morally good-that Christ had purchased for them a liberty to gratify all their passions and appetites ;-and that he will not judge them for so doing, nor for any sin whatever. Wherefore the apostle warns the Christians against these false teachers, and against scoffers, who should appear, and make a mock of religion, and walk after their own lusts. Peter exhorteth to II. Peter. continue in faith,. ▾ THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. patience and to patience, godliness; CHAP. I. Confirming them in hope of the increase of God's grace. 3 he exhorteth them by faith and good works, to make their calling sure ; 12 whereof he is careful to remind them, knowing that his death is at hand; 16 and warneth them to be constant in the faith of Christ, who is the true Son of God. IMON PETER, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things, that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him, that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto ns exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; 6 And to knowledge, temperance; and to temperance, 7 And to godliness, brotherly-kindness; and to brotherly-kindness, charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see far off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things ye shall never fall : 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle,a to stir you up, by putting you in remembrance; 14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. a This tabernacle, this mortal body. Of faith 15 Moreover, I will endeavour that ye may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly-devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eye-witnesses of his majesty. Chap. ii: 17 For he received from God the Father honour & glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice, which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.b 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy ;c whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the daystar arise in your hearts ;d 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. The holy mount. See. Matt. xvii. 5. We have also the word of prophecy, concerning Jesus Christ and his appearing to raise the dead and judge the world, made more sure by the transfiguration, which we beheld. in Christ. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man ; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. CHAP. II. d Until the day of judgment dawn, and Christ, the morning star of celestial day, arise in your hearts, producing full conviction of the truth of all his promises. 1 He foretelleth them of false teachers, shewing the impiety & punishment both of them and their followers; 7 from which the godly shall be delivered, as Lot out of Sodom; 10 and more fully describeth the manners of those profane and blasphemous seducers. BUT there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you a "whose judgment now of a Make merchandise of you. This is supposed to be a prediction of the iniquitous practices of the Roman Catholic clergy, who have rated all crimes, even the most atrocious, at a fixed price for the sake of gain; so that he, who would pay the price, might commit the crime, without hazarding his salvation. This practice, so dangerous to the souls of men, and so disgraceful to the Christian religion, is, we believe, now wholly discontinued, False teachers and a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; II. Peter. 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those, that after should live ungodly; seducers punished: sation against them before the Lord.b 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not, and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are & blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings, while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls; an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unright eousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity; the dumb ass, speaking with man's voice, forbade the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. 18 For when they speak b Bring not railing accusation, &c. that is, when they (the holy angels) accuse them before the Lord, they do it not with bitter railing. |