thesis answers in ver. 4. — yyctvwevois, beloved) The conclusion cor- responds with the introduction : ver. 21. — nrriprifjjevoig^ preserved ) To be preserved uninjured for Christ, is a subject of joy : John xvii. 2, 11, 15 ; 2 Cor. xi. 2. The sources and completion of salvation are pointed out : and this passage has a kind of anticipatory precaution (vpodepaweiav), lest the righteous should be alarmed by the mention of such dreadful evils. — x>.?jro/s, called ) Calling is altogether the prero- gative of Divine bounty.
2. "E Xsog, x.t.X., mercy , etc.) in a time of wretchedness. Hence it is that mercy is put in the first place : the mercy of J esus Christ, ver. 21 ; peace , in the Holy Spirit, comp. ver. 20 ; love , of God, ver. 21. Here is a testimony concerning the Holy Trinity.
3. n affccv ovoudriv rroioufjysvog ) when I gave all diligence . — yp&peiv — ffurqptag, to write — salvation ) Antithetical to marked out before (fore- written) to judgment : ver. 4. — Kepi, concerning) Here is the design of the Epistle : ver. 20, 21. There is a close agreement between the beginning and the end of the Epistle. — xo/v?js, common ) by equally (“like”) precious faith : 2 Pet. i. 1. The ground of mutual exhor- tation.— Gwrrip/ag , salvation) Even severe admonitions tend to salva- tion.— dvd y%r\v sg^ov) I could not but . — ypd-^ai b[j,?v ^apaxcckm^ to write to you with exhortation) Of all kinds of writing, Jude judged exhor- tation to be most salutary at that time. The word, to write , is in close connection with exhorting. Exhortation is introduced in ver. 1 7 and 18. This is the express design of the Epistle. — sKa.ywv/fyGQai, that ye contend) It is a double duty, to fight earnestly in behalf of the faith, against enemies ; and to build one’s self up in the faith : ver. 20. Comp. Neh. iv. 16-18. — aVag, once for all) The particle expresses great urgency : no other faith will be given. Comp, in the second instance [subsequently, “ afterward”], ver. 5. — leapctdofc/Gfi, delivered) from God. — roTg dyiotg) to all the saints , who are such (i.e. holy) by reason of their most holy faith : ver. 20. Construe this with delivered. — -r/Vrs/, the faith) by which we arrive at salvation : ver. 20, 21.
4. JlccpeiGsduGuv, have crept in unawares) Trapd, under , by the way. — o/ t7ruXui t7rpoysypafjj/j,evoi sig rovro ro xpi/j, a, who were of old forewritten for this judgment) For their coming was predicted, ver. 17 ; and that they should undergo the judgment, which he is about to describe, is evi- dent from the examples of punishments inflicted upon others of similar impurity — examples which have long been written. There is no reference to predestination ; respecting which, however, there is a similar expression, oi ypoupsvng i)g they who are written unto life ,