3) (i.) 815. The writer's Epistles.—In this, as in my former letter, I remind you of the words spoken long ago by the prophets, and of the Lord’s commandment brought to you by those of the apostles who were your teachers. (ii.) 38:17 Mockers at the promise of the Return, Remember before aJ else that in the last days mockers will come, men of lustful hfe, scorn- fully asking what has become of the promise of His return. For the Fathers passed away, and the world’s course is un- changed. Such mockers are self-condemned. For they wilfully forget that by the word of God the heavens were made and the earth compacted of water and by means of water, waters which became the instrument of judgment. And by the same word the heavens and the earth are being kept for the fire of the final judgment. (iii.) 3813 The Lord’s delay and His coming. Forget not that God reckons not time as men reckcn. His seeming slowness in fulfilling His promise is in truth His long-suffering towards you, that all may come to repentance. Howbeit the day of the Lord will come suddenly, the day when the vault of heaven shall pass away, and the stars shall melt
, “Spitta (Der zweite Brief des Petrus p. 41ff.) would read ὑμῖν in v.4 with A 36, 38 syr-bod syr-hl-mg, and would take the ἡμᾶς of v.8 and the 3,’ ὧν of v.4 to refer to the apostles.
+ Spitta (p. 115) takes the words to mean, ‘ Keine Prophezei ung der Schrift ist der Art dass sie vernichtet werden konnte.’
PETER, SECOND EPISTLE
with and the earth and men’s works therein shall be The certainty of this dissolution of material thin
is a call to holiness of life and to an earnest expectation of His
. Then—because the day of God has come—the whole fabric of the universe shall be burned up. But we expect, according to His }-romise, new heavens and a new earth—the home of righteousness. (iv.) 31418 The steadfastness of believers tn the strength of this . Wherefore having these hopes, be diligent that you may found of the Lord at His coming blameless. And regard the Lord’s long-suffering as salvation, as Paul said to you, and as he says in all his letters, dealing in them with these matters—letters in which are many dificult sayings which those who lack learning and stability twist and eee ee ees tas eat cam iedne
3. DOCTRINE OF THE EPISTLE.—(1) The doctrine of God. (a) The Father. The term πατήρ is used
oa tion to the Incarnate Son (117. God is word (command) was the Creator and is
the Sustainer of the universe (35-7). He is above the limitations of time (3%). He inflicts punish- ment on and men (2.5), and thus the ἡμέρα κρίσεως (37) is described as ἡ τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμέρα (3%). αὖ He is long-suffering, and delays jud ent (3°, cf. 35). He gave His witness to the Incarnate Son (117. Men can know God (1°) and can partake of the Divine nature (15). The phrase θεία φύσις (12) refers rather to what God essentially is; the paar ἡ μεγαλοπρεπὴς δόξα (117) to God as revealing imself by outward signs. (ὁ) The Son. Nothing is said of the pre-existence of the Lord. The term θεός is, however, applied to Him in 11 τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν x. σωτῆρος ᾿Ιησοῦ Xp.; contrast the order in 1? τοῦ θεοῦ x. ᾿Ιησοῦ τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν, and compare 11} 318 τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Kx. σωτῆρος ᾿Ιησοῦ Χριστοῦ. Compare the phrase ἡ θεία δύναμις αὐτοῦ (15), and note how He is closely joined with the Father as the object of man’s knowledge (1*). In 115 it seems the preferable, if not the necessary, interpretation to take παρουσία of the First rather than of the Second Coming, for (a) the context speaks of history and not prophecy ; (8) the word itself, though as a fact elsewhere in the NT and in this pitts (3* 22) it is used of the Second Coming, naturally bears this meaning * (cf. ἔλευσις, Ac 7). If this interpretation of 1" be the true one, then the gens of the Incarnation is described as dealing with τὴν τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν ᾿Τησοῦ Χριστοῦ δύναμιν καὶ rapovclay—the Lord’s essential power and His coming to the world. His μεγαλειότης was revealed on the Mount of Transfiguration. He purchased men (i.e. by His blood, ef. Rev 5°), and so became their absolute Master (δεσπότης, 2'; cf. δοῦλος. . . "I. Xp., 1). The term σωτήρ, as applied to Him, is characteristic of this Epistle (1 Δ 9% 3238), His kingdom is described in the words of Daniel (3" ᾧ 77, cf. 1 Mac 2%) as an αἰώνιος βασιλεία (cf.
k 1%, Rev 11"). He will fulfil His promise to return (3). (c) The Holy Spirit. The only mention of the Holy Spirit is in reference to His controlling inspiration of the ancient prophets (1*).
(2) Redemption.—In regard to our Lord, it was wrought out by Him in His act whereby He pur- aimee men (2'); in regard to Christians, it is brought into contact with each one in the xa@a-
cubs which parts the new from the old life (1°). The Divine ‘calling’ and ‘choice’ of men are re- garded as closely related (τὴν κλῆσιν x. ἐκλογήν, 1°; note the vinculum of the common article). Human effort is needed to give them an abiding validity (βεβαίαν). In 1 (τοῦ καλέσαντος ἡμᾶς) it is uncertain (a) whether the ἡμᾶς refers to Christians generally or to the apostles in particular; (8) whether the ὁ καλέσας reters to the Father or to Christ. Much stress is laid on conduct and on the cultivation of Christian virtues (1°), Knowledge (ἐπίγνωσις, 1* * 2; γνῶσις, 1° 318) has a pre-eminent position assigned