PETER, SECOND EPISTLE
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to it. The object of knowledge is the Father (124) and Christ (18 2” 3%); in 16 γνῶσις a without further definition. The knowledge of God and of Christ is the means whereby men escape the evil of the world (2) and receive grace and peace (1*) and spiritual endowments (15. The cultivation of Christian excellences leads to fruit- fulness in regard to this knowledge (15), which is not a final but a progressive knowledge (3), Since it is closely allied to χάρις (3), it is clearly a spiritual and not an intellectual attainment. On the other hand, the γνῶσις of 15 (without a definition of its object) is apparently ‘knowledge’ generally ; it is described as Aye link between ἀρετή and ἐγκράτεια. The end of the Divine promises is that men should become θείας κοινωνοὶ φύσεως (1*), The goal of Christian diligence is the entrance into the Lord’s ‘ eternal kingdom’ (1").
(3) Creation.—The cause of creation was ‘the word (command) of God’ (3°). But at least in regard to the earth further (physical) details are given—yj ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ δι᾽ ὕδατος συνεστῶσα. Prob- ably the interpretation given by (£cumenius (quoted by Field, Notes on Translation of the NT p. 242) is the true one—7 γῇ ἐξ ὕδατος μέν, ὡς ἐξ ὑλικοῦ αἰτίου" δι᾿ ὕδατος δέ, ὡς διὰ τελικοῦ (sic lege pro διατελικοῦ)" ὕδωρ yap τὸ συνέχον τὴν γῆν, οἷον κόλλα τις ὑπάρχον αὐτῇ. Inv. the universe is described as consisting of ‘the heavens’ (the vault of heaven), the stars (στοιχεῖα), the earth.
(4) Angelology. —It is clearly laid down that there once was ‘a fall’ of certain angels (ἀγγέλων ἁμαρτησάντων, 24), and that their sin was followed by Divine vengeance. God committed them to ‘pits of darkness,’ there to be kept for (final) judgment. In a later passage of the Epistle (2") there is an obscure reference to the ministry of angels. The false teachers (it is there said) δόξας οὐ τρέμουσιν, βλασφημοῦντες, ὅπου ἄγγελοι ἰσχύϊ x. δυνάμει μείζονες ὄντες οὐ φέρουσιν κατ᾽ αὐτῶν παρὰ Κυρίῳ βλάσφημον κρίσιν. It must remain doubtful if car’ αὐτῶν refers to the false teachers or (as the parallel in Jude*- suggests) to the δόξαι just mentioned. In either case, angels appear to be represented as bringing before the Lord tidings as to the conduct of created beings, whether angels or men.
(5) Eschatology.—Fallen angels and unrighteous men alike undergo fomporary punishment until the time of their final doom (2**). The day, when ‘the promise of his coming’ is fulfilled, variously descri as ἡμέρα κρίσεως (2° 37), ἡμέρα κυρίου (3%), ἡ τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμέρα (313), has three aspects—(a) In regard to the sinful: Τὸ the ungodly it will be a ἡμέρα... ἀπωλείας (37, cf. 2' 3156); and of this ‘destruction’ the overthrow of the Cities of the Plain is the type (2°). The disclosure as to the angels who sinned does not go beyond the simple idea of κρίσις (2*); (8) In regard to the universe: * Dissolution’ (τούτων... πάντων λυομένων, 3") is the destiny of all parts of the material universe. The means of this dissolution will be fire (πυρὶ τηρούμενοι 37, καυσούμενα 3, πυρούμενοι, καυσούμενα 313, (y) In regard to the righteous: The dis- solution of ‘the heavens and earth that now are’ will usher in the fulfilment of the Divine promise of ‘new heavens and a new earth.’ The spiritual character of the new universe is insisted on—ér ols δικαιοσύνη κατοικεῖ (3). In an earlier passage of the Epistle (1'), where the meaning and the construction are doubtful, it seems to be implied that that day will be the dawn of such full daylight ‘in the hearts’ of the faithful that the ‘lamp’ of prophecy will be no more needed.
4. tar WRITER OF THE EPISTLE, ITS READERS, THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF ITS COMPOSITION, AS (1) The
ad ᾿ .| REPRESENTED IN THE EPISTLE ITSELF.
* Compare, ¢.g., Ign. Philad. 0, τὴν wapevriay τοῦ σωτῆρος... νὴ Writer. The writer speaks as ‘Simon (Symeon’
nye naa Tighitout on Veo. Apo. A ae ον Peter, bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ.’ | ’ ie Oe Oe
=
798 PETER, SECOND EPISTLE
PETER, SECOND EPISTLE
He refers to two, possibly to three, occasions in his discipleship—(a) his presence on the Mount of Transfiguration (18) ; (5) the Lord’s revela- tion to him in regard to his death (1); (c) the Lord’s call of himself and of other disciples (1. The last reference is doubtful (see above,
. 809). The Epistle does not assert that he Pad visited those to whom he writes; though it is not unnatural to suppose that this is im- plied in 1% 833. But he had written to them one earlier letter (3'), the object of which had been, what the object of the present letter was, viz. to kindle their minds to remember the teach- ings of the ancient prophets and of the apostles who had instructed them. He calls St. Paul ‘our beloved brother,’ and he was acquainted with several of his Epistles, and especially with one which that sponte had written to those whom he is now addressing. He himself now writes under a sense that his death is imminent (1); and he promises that, so long as he lives, he will still remind them of his teaching, and that he will make
rovision that after his decease they should always Tis able to call it to mind. Nothing in the letter, it should be added, reveals the place where he writes, his companions, or his plans. (2) The re- cipients of the etter. Unless we assume that the former Epistle referred to in 81 is 1 P, nothing is said in the Epistle to show where its intended recipients dwelt. The two phrases, τοῖς ἰσότιμον ἡμῖν λαχοῦσιν πίστιν (11, cf. Jude 4), and ἀποφυγόντες τῆς ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ φθορᾶς (14), make it prob- able that they were Gentile rather than Jewish converts. But the language is too general to warrant a certain inference. Some at least of the apostles had been among their teachers (32), and it appears from 1” that they were not recent con- verts. From their past we turn to their future. The Epistle warns them of the advent among them of certain false teachers. It is an assumption— though it is a proepie assumption—that the three passages of the Epistle which speak of false teachers—2'-™, 351 3'°_refer to the same persons. Taking this identification for granted, we note the following points in the description of these enemies of the truth: (1) Their life and teaching are such that in effect they deny the rule of Christ and His law (2!) ; (2) they are themselves immoral, and Ὁ life and teaching they infect others (2% 10-12%. 18.); (3) they are insubordinate to authority (2°); (4) they are influenced as teachers by greed of gain (2% 32-14); (5) as teachers they are plausible and crafty (2% 1* 1%); (6) their teaching is empty rhetoric (218); (7) they ridicule the idea of Christ’s return (3°) ; (8) they support their false teaching by an unscrupulous appeal to Scripture (316). Such are the notes of the false teaching which will arise ἐπ᾿ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν (3°).