Noah the eighth person. So the A. V., literally. Rev. is more perspicuous however: Woah with seven others. Compare 1p Pets ii. 20,
A preacher («zjpuxa). Lit., a herald. Compare the kin- dred verb xnptcca, to preach, everywhere in New Testament. The word herald is beautifully suggestive, at many points, of the office of a gospel minister. In the Homeric age the herald partook of the character of an ambassador. He summoned the assembly and kept order in it, and had charge of arrangements at sacrifices and festivals. The office of the heralds was sacred, and their persons inviolable ; hence they were employed to bear messages between enemies. The symbol of their office was the herald’s staff, or caduceus, borne by Mercury, the herald-god. This was originally an olive-branch with fillets, which were afterward formed into snakes, according to the legend that Mercury found two snakes fighting and separated them with his wand, from which circumstance they were used as an emblem of peace. Plato (“ Laws,” xii., 941) thus speaks of the fidelity
Cu. IL] THE SECOND GENERAL EPISTLE OF PETER. 693
entailed by the office: “If any herald or ambassador carry a false message to any other city, or bring back a false message from the city to which he is sent, or be proved to have brought back, whether from friends or enemies, in his capacity of herald or ambassador, what they have never said—let him be indicted for having offended, contrary to the law, in the sacred office and appointment of Hermes and Zeus, and let there be a pen- alty fixed which he shall suffer or pay if he be convicted.” In later times, their position as messengers between nations at war was emphasized. In Herodotus (1., 91), the word herald is used as synonymous with apostle. “ Alyattes sent a herald («npuxa) to Miletus in hopes of concluding a truce, ete. The herald (amdaroXos) went on his way to Miletus.” A priestly house at Athens bore the name of «ypuxes, heralds.
Bringing in (érd£as). The verb may be said to be used by Peter only. Besides this passage and ver. 1, it occurs only at Acts v. 28, where Luke probably received the account from Peter as the principal actor: “ye intend to bring upon us (érayayeiv) this man’s blood.”
6. Turning into ashes (reppocas). Only here in New Testament.
Having made them an example (imddeuypa tederxas). Compare 1 Pet. ii. 21. The word for example is condemned as unclassical by the Attic grammarians, and mapddevypa is substi- tuted, which means, properly, @ sculptor’s or a painters model, or an architect's plan.
7. Just (Sixaiv). Occurring three times in vv. 7, 8.
Vexed (xatarovovpevov). Only here and Acts vii. 24. Kara gives the force of worn down. So Rev., sore distressed.
With the filthy conversation of the wicked (i710 tijs TOV aSécpov év acedyela avactpopfs). Lit., by the behavior of the lawless in wantonness. Rev., the lascivious life of the wicked.
694 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Cu. IL.
Life or behavior (avactpopfjs). See on 1 Pet.i. 15. Woeked (adécpov), lit., dwwless. Only here and ch. iii. 17. Wanton- ness (acenyeig), see on Mark vii. 22.
8. Dwelling (éycarovxav). Only here in New Testament. Dwelling, and therefore suffering continually, from day to day.
In seeing (@réupare). Only here in New Testament. Usu- ally of the look of a man from without, through which the vexation comes to the sowl. “ Vexed his righteous sow/.”
Vexed (éBacavitev). See on Matt. iv. 24, torments. The original sense is to test by touchstone or by torture. See on toiling, Mark vi. 48. Rev. gives zormented, in margin.
Unlawful (dvowois). Rev., dawless. Only here in New Tes- tament with ¢hings. In all other cases it is applied to persons.
9. Godly (edceBets). Used by Peter only. Compare Acts x. 2,7. The reading at Acts xxii. 12, is evAaPrs, devout. See on ch, i. 3.