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were unwillingly, and when compelled by the most powerful com- mand of God, Ex. xx. 4 ; Ps. xxiv. 2, civ. 5-8, cxxxvi. 6 ; Job xxxviii. 10, 11 ; 2 Esdras xvi. 59. — 6vn6roj<ra, standing together) that is, was. The joining together and lasting duration of the earth is pointed out : and thus standing firmly , answers to the word of old. Thomas Burnet, in his Theory of the Earth, ii. 5, applies the par- ticiple (which in the English Version is ambiguous, standing ), not only to the earth, but also to the heavens. By paying attention to this error, you will avoid many things which Burnet has raised upon it. — ru> rou ©sou Xoyw, by the word of God) Gen. i. 6-9. This is constructed with were (ritfav), expressed, and was (fv), understood. The duration of all things is determined by the Word of God, so that it can be neither longer nor shorter.
6. a/ wv, by means of which) by means of the heavens and the earth ; whence the water flowed together. — 6 roVs zot/uog, the world which then was) that is, the human race : for a^rwXs/a, destruction , is not here attributed to the heaven and the earth, as Burnet under- stands it. Comp, the end of ver. 7 and ver. 10-13. The deluge was universal. — anuXero, perished) There follows an emphatic in- crease of the sense by the figure Epitasis1 of judgment and perdi- tion, ver. 7. With this corresponds the saying, they shall perish , they shall be judged , Bom. ii. 12. Before the deluge God said : My Spirit shall not always pass sentence (judgment) upon man , Gen. vi. 3. J udgment is reserved for the last day.
7. 0/ ds vvv ovpavo/y but the heavens which now are) The heavens are the same and the earth is the same, as of old (although they appear to have undergone no slight change at the deluge) : but the mockers speak as though they were not at all the same. The apostle ex- presses their feeling, d?y but , makes an antithesis : by water , and, for or unto fire. Eire shall refute the mockers. This verse also depends upon that , ver. 5. — rti avrou) The article is rarely placed before ccvrou ;2 but it is thus placed, Heb. ii. 4 ; James i. 18. — rsdritavpic- fiew, reserved) Therefore it is that the heavens and the earth do not
1 See Append, on this figure. — E.
2 Nevertheless the reading ayrai, which is set down by the margin of the larger Ed. among those not to be approved of, in the margin of Ed. 2 is put on a level with the reading otvrov; and the Germ. Yers. has “ durch eben das Wort.” — E. B.
Ta eii/Tu is read by AB (according to Lachm.) Yulg. Memph. : and so Lachm. But tu ccvtov , by B (according to Tisch.) C : and so Tisch. Stephens’ Rec. Text omits t£; but not so the Elzev. Rec. Text. — E.
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