voke a smile from one who has felt the nervous grip of the first epistle, and which becomes palpably absurd if we admit, as of course Dr. Davidson does not, the authenticity of the second. The “mild tone” assuredly is not dominant there; but, in any event, it would be strange if the letters did not show traces of the mellowing of years, and of the ripening of the spirit of Christ in this once passionate and headstrong disciple. The second chapter of the second epistle is no feeble reminder of the Peter who smote off the ear of Malchus.
The graphic and picturesque character of these letters is nota- ble. In the two epistles, containing eight chapters, the longest of which consists of but twenty-five verses, there are one hun- dred and nineteen words which occur nowhere else in the New Testament. Picture-words abound, such as @pvdpevos, roaring (1, v. 8); éaAtcac3e, arm yourselves (1, iv. 1); émixddruppa, cloke (A, ii. 16); bysodv, put to silence, lit., muzzle (1, i. 15) ; cKxorss, froward, lit., awry or twisted (1, ii. 18); exrevas, fer- vently, lit., on the stretch (1, i. 22); amodeow, putting off (2, 1. 14); e€od0s, decease (2, i. 15); Scavydgew, dawn (2, i. 19); avypnpos, dark or dry (2,1. 19); émidvaws, interpretation, lit., untying (2, i. 20); orpeBrodow, wrest, as with a windlass (2, iii. 16), and many others.
The same graphic character appears in what may be styled reminiscent words or phrases, in which the former personal ex- perience of the writer is mirrored. Thus, gird yourselves with humility (1, v. 5, see note there) recalls the picture of the Lord girded with a towel and washing the disciples’ feet. Zo look into (1, i. 12) expresses a stooping down to gaze intently, and carries us back to the visit of Peter and John to the sepulchre on the morning of the resurrection, when they stooped down and looked into the tomb. In feed the flock (Rev., zend, 1, v. 2) is reflected Christ’s charge to Peter at the lake. The recurrence of the word drpocwrodijprras, without respect of persons (1, i, 1%), used in a kindred form by Peter, Acts x. 34, would seem to indicate that the scene in the house of Cornelius was present to his mind; and be watchful (1, v. 8) may have been suggested by the remembrance of his own drowsiness in Gethsemane, and of Christ’s exhortation to watch. So, too, it is interesting to read