I. n srpog, Simon Peter) At the beginning of his former Epistle he had only placed his surname : here he adds his name also ; at the close of his life reminding himself of his former con- dition, before he had received his surname. The character of this Epistle agrees in a remarkable manner with the former Epistle of Peter, and with the speeches of the same apostle in the Acts. See note on ch. ii. 22, iii. 1. It contains three parts, as the former Epistle.
I. The Inscription, i. 1, 2.
II. A RENEWED STIRRING UP OF A PURE FEELING ; ill which, —
1. He exhorts those who are partakers of the same faith that they increase in the divine gifts, and give all diligence to their growth in grace, and in the know- ledge of Jesus Christ, 3—11.
2. He adds incitements :
1. From the firmness of true teachers, 12-21.
2. From the wickedness of false teachers, ii. 1—22
3. He guards them against scoffers :
1. He refutes their error, iii. 1—9.
2. He describes the last day, with suitable exhorta- tions, 10-14.
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III. The Conclusion ; in which
1. He declares the agreement between himself and St Paul, 15, 16.
2. He repeats the sum of the Epistle, 17, 18.
— dovXog xoci anoaroXog, a servant and apostle ) a servant , as of the Lord Jesus ; an apostle of the same, as Christ. — /VoV/^ov, equally precious) Faith has its preciousness , inasmuch as it lays hold of precious promises ; ver. 4. The faith of those who have seen Jesus Christ, as Peter and the rest of the apostles, and of those who believe without having seen Him, is equally precious , flowing from Jesus Christ : it lays hold of the same righteousness and salvation ; 1 John i. 3 ; 1 Pet. i. 8. — with us) the apostles ; ver. 18. — Xa^oScv, who have received) They did not acquire it for themselves. — sv dixaiofi'jvf), through the righteousness) This is the ground of the expression, equally precious. It is this righteousness of God which is prior to faith ; for faith depends upon the righteousness. Respect- ing this righteousness of God , comp. Rom. i. 17, iii. 26, notes. The title of Saviour (2w rrjpog) is appropriately added.
2. ’Ey Iki'/vugu rov Kvp/ov qfcouv, through the knowledge of our Lord) This short and simple reading seems to have been the original reading both of the Latin translator, and a little previously of the apostle himself. For this Epistle presupposes the knowledge of God; ver. 3 ; but it particularly urges the knowledge of our Lord , namely, Jesus Christ; ver. 8, ii. 20, iii. 18, where the conclusion answers to this beginning.1
3. 'ng <7 ravra ij/i/v, as all things to us) There is a wonderful cheer- fulness in this exordium, beginning with the exhortation itself, add , etc., ver. 5. For this is the object of the Epistle ; ver. 13, iii. 1. All things , in this passage, and all , ver. 5, have reference to one another ; for as the Protasis is here, so is the Apodosis there. As has the effect of explaining, as 2 Cor. v. 20. Comp, altogether the parable of the ten virgins, Matt. xxv. The flame is that which is imparted to us by God and from God, without any labour on our part : but the oil is that which man ought to add by his own diligence and faithfulness, that the flame may be fed and increased. Thus the matter is set forth without a parable in this passage of Peter : in ver. 3 and 4, we have the flame ; but in ver. 5 and 6,
1 BC read 'Invov before rov Kvp/ov YipZv. A adds Xptarov: so both Syr. Versions. Vulg. (Amiat. and other oldest MSS.) reads rov Kvp/ov v\y.uv alone. — E.
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