Ver. 21. οὐ γὰρ θελήματι ἀνθρώπου ἠνέχθη προφητεία ποτέ. With ἠνέχθη cf. vy. 17, 1δ. ἀλλὰ ὑπὸ πνεύμ.... depdpevor, cf. Acts ii, 2. ὥσπερ Φερομένης πνοῆς Bratas. Here we have the only reference to the Holy Spirit in the Epistle, and only in this connexion, viz. as the source of prophetic inspiration. The spirit is an agency rather than an agent. The men speak. The spirit impels. It is of much signific-
aT. τ.
II. 1. ᾿Εγένοντο δὲ καὶ ψευδοπροφῆται ἐν τῷ had, ὑμῖν ἔσονται ψευδοδιδάσκαλοι, οἵτινες παρεισάξουσιν αἱρέσεις * ἄπω-
Yd λείας, καὶ τὸν ἀγοράσαντα αὐτοὺς δεσ v
ance for the interpretation of the whole passage that ἄνθρωποι accupies a position ot emphasis at the end of the sentence, thus bringing into prominence the human agent. The prophets were not ignorant of the meaning of their prophecies, but they saw clearly only the contem- porary political or moral situation, and the principles involved and _iliustrated therein.
Όμαρτεκ II.—Vv. 1-3. The False Teachers and their Fudgment. “Yet there were also false prophets in the ancient community, just as among you there will be false teachers. They will not hesitate to introduce alongside the truth corrupting heresies, even denying their Redeemer, and bringing on themselves swift destruction. Many. will imitate their vicious example, and thereby the way of truth will be discredited. Nay, further, actuated by covetousness, they will make merchandise of you by lying words. Yet you must not think that the judgment passed on all such long ago is
inactive. Their destruction is awaiting them.” Ver. I. ψευδοπροφῆται: ἐν τῷ had.
ἐν τῷ λαῷ is used for the chosen people in LXX. µΨψευδοπροφῆται. A class of False Proohets is frequently mentioned in the Ο.Τ. In the earlier ages it is not suggested that there was conscious deceit on the part of the prophet. His pro- phecy is false, if it is proved so by the event (Jer. xxviii. g). ‘* When a prophet lies, without being inspired by a false or impotent god, it is because God in His anger against Israel’s sin means to destroy him, and therefore put into the prophets 3 Ίνα spirit Ὁ. 7 (Schulz; O17. ΤΗ. i. 257). Cf. 1 Kings xxii. 5 ff. These are the prophets who cry “ peace, peace,” when’ God is really going to bring judg- ment. In the later period superstitious acts and pagan practices, such as spiritu- alism, ventriloquism, professional sooth- saying, became common (e.g. Jer. xxvii. g; Isa. viii. το). The cardinal distinction between the true and the false prophet lay in the moral character of their teaching (Jer. xxiii. 21, 22). Ψψευδοδιδάσκαλοι. The characteristics of their teaching are well-marked in this Epistle. See Intro- duction, pp. 115 ff. Compare Phil. iii. 18 f., ‘‘ enemies of the Cross,’’ who brought tears of shame to the eyes of the Apostle ;