trate worse tilings than the worst, is rather to be wondered at, than that they act in the worst way. They esteem themselves happy in their own wretchedness, and the sons of God as destitute of what is for their welfare. — V. g.] There is an antithesis in abides , as ap- plied to God and the saints. Ye that are regenerate have what ye pray for: ch. ii. 2. [Ye have reason to desire to fly forth from the world to God. — Y. g.]
20. "Hx.ii) is come. Thus, Mark viii. 3, note. — bsbwxiv, has given) that is, God: for in the preceding clause also the subject is by implication God , in this sense : God sent his own Son : and to this is referred avrov , of Him , which presently follows. — diavoiav, understanding) not only knowledge, but the faculty of knowing. — r'ov aXyjdn/bv, the True One) Understand, His Son Jesus Christ : as presently afterwards. Whence it is perceived with what great majesty the Son thus entitles Himself: Apocal. iii. 7. — olrog) This , the True One, the Son of God Jesus Christ: to whom the title of Life eternal is befitting. — a/wv/oc, Life eternal) The beginning and the end of the Epistle are in close agreement.
21. ^uXu^ars eaurodg, keep yourselves ) in my absence, that no one deceive you. The elegance of the active verb with the reciprocal pronoun is more expressive than <pvXd%u<r9e, be on your guard. See on Chrysostom de Sacerd. p. 423. — d*b rZv eiduiXuv, from idols) and not only from their worship, but also from all communion and appear- ance of communion with them : Apocal. ii. 14, 20.