With their own deceivings (év tats amatas aitov). The Rev., however, follows another reading, which occurs in the parallel passage Jude 12: aydmaus, love-feasts, the public ban- quets instituted by the early Christians, and connected with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Rev. renders revelling in their love-feasts, though the American Committee insist on de- cewings. On the abuses at these feasts, see 1 Cor. xi. 20-22. For avtov, their own, the best texts read adtérv, their.
While they feast with you (cuvevwyovpevor). The word originally conveys the idea of swmptwous feasting, and is ap- propriate in view of the fact to which Peter alludes, that these sensualists converted the love-feast into a revel. Compare Paul’s words, 1 Cor. xi. 21, “one is hungry and another
Cu. IL] THE SECOND GENERAL EPISTLE OF PETER. 699
drunken.” This seems to favor the reading d@yarais. The word occurs only here and Jude 12.
14. Eyes. Another illustration of Peter’s emphasis on s¢ght. It is the instrument of evil no less than of good. Compare Matt. v. 28.
Adultery (uovyan Sos). Lit., an adulteress, but used as an adjective Matt. xii. 39; xvi. 4.
That cannot cease (dxatamavotous). Only here, in New Testament. Compare hath ceased (1 Pet. iv. 1).
Beguiling (Se\ed{ovres). Only here, ver. 18, and Jas. i. 14. From &é\eap, @ bait. An appropriate word from Peter the fisherman. Rev., enticing.
Unstable (acrnpixrovs). A compound of the word at 1 Pet. y. 10, stablish. See note there, and on 2 Pet. i. 12.
An heart they have exercised (xapdiav yeyupvacpernv éyovtes). The A. V. is awkward. Better, Rev., having @ heart exercised. Exercised is the word used for gymnastic training, from which gymnastic is derived.
With covetous practices. The A. V. follows the old read- ing, mAeoveElaus. The best texts read mreoveelas, covetousness. Rev., therefore, rightly, 7 covetousness.
Cursed children (xatdpas réxva). Lit., children of cursing; and so Rev. See on Mark iii. 17, and 1 Pet. i. 14.
15. Right (ed9etav). Lit., straiyht, which is the radical meaning of right.
Are gone astray (émdavijIncav). See on Mark xiir 24.
Following (é£axorovSjcavtes). See on ch. i. 16; ii. 2. Com- pare Jude 11.
700 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (Ca, 11
The way. Note the frequent occurrence of the word way in the story of Balaam (Num. xxii.), and Peter’s use of the same phrase, as here, the right ways of the Lord, in Acts xiii. 10.
Bosor. Rev. gives Beor, the Old Testament form of the name.
Wages of unrighteousness. See on ver. 13.
16. Was rebuked (ércyéw éoyev). Lit., had a rebuke. The word for rebuke only here in New Testament.
For his iniquity (éd/as wapavouias). Rev., his own trans- gression. His own, see on ch.i. 3. Transgression, from mapa, contrary to, and vouos, law. Only here in New Testament. Compare the kindred verb zrapavoyéw, also occurring but once, Acts xxiii. 8, where see note on contrary to the law.
The dumb ass. Inserting an article not in the text, and omitted by Rev.
Ass (u7rofuytov). Lit., beast of burden. An animal subjected to the yoke. From to, beneath, and fvyov, a yoke. See on Matt xxi. 5.
Speaking (ddeyEdwevov). The verb is found in Peter only, here and ver. 18, and in Acts iv. 18, a Petrine narrative. It is well chosen, however. The verb denotes the utterance of a sound or voice, not only by man, but by any animal having Jungs. Hence, not only of men’s articulate cries, such as a battle-shout, but of the neigh of the horse, the scream of the eagle, the croak of the raven. It is also applied to sounds made by inanimate things, such as thunder, a trumpet, a lyre, the ring of an earthen vessel, showing whether it is cracked or not. Schmidt (‘‘Synonymik”) says that it does not indicate any physical capability on the part of the man, but describes the sound only from the hearer’s stand-point. In view of this general sense of the verb, the propriety is apparent of the de- fining phrase, with man’s voice.