The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Peter — Section 12

(for tLc word q,Oopcl. bns both those meanings) et mali fugam docct" (Bengel). This from "hicb we must escape bas its seat and practical knowledge is gained iu the manly power in lust; working secretly in the lusts self-denying nctivities of the Christinu life, of men's wieked hearts, it manifests its evil e.nd leads on to the fuller knowledge ( i1r£- presence in the world (comp. Gen. vi. 12; ')'V01u-,s) of Christ (vor. 8). l John ii. 16). Ver. 6.-And to knowledge temperance; Ver. 5.-And beside this, giving all rather, self-control ( i-yRpd.-rrn, ). The words diligence; rather, but for this very cause i-yKpci.TE,a ,J,uxiJ$ are the heading of a section also. AuT~ TovTo is frequently used in this in the Greek of Ecolua. xviii. 30, e.nd e.re sense in classioal Greek, but in the New followed immediately by the nmxim, " Go Testament onlv here. It refers back to the not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from last verse. God's precious gifts and promises thine appetites." Thie self-control extends should stimulate us to earnest effort. The over the whole of life, and consists in the verb rendered "giving" mcnns litemlly government of all the appetites; it must be "bringing in by the side;" it is one of learned in the exercise of that practical those graphic and picturesque expressions knowledge which discerns between good which are characteristic of St. Petcr's sty le. and evil. 1'rue knowledge leads on to self- God worketh within us both to will ancl to control, to that perfect freedom which do ; this (both St. Paul and St. Peter teach consists in the service of God; not to that us) is a reason, not for remissness, but for liberty promised by the false teachers, increased exertion. God's grace is sufficient which is licentiousness. And to temperance for us; without that we can do nothing; but patience; and to patience godliness. The by the side (so to speak) of that grace, along practice of self-control will result in patient with it, we mnst bring into play all earnest- endurance; but that endurance will not be ness, we must work out our own salvation mere stoicism ; it will be o. conscious sub- with fear and trembling. The word seems to mission of our human will to the holy will imply that the work is God's work; we can of God, and so ,vill tend to develop and do very little indeed, but that very little strengthen ,uirl~mt., reverence and piety we must do, and for the very reason that towai·ds God (see note on ver. 3). God is working in us. The word (1rapwu- Ver. 7.-And to godliness brotherly kind- ve-yKavns) occurs only here in the New ness; and to brotherly kindness charity. Testament. Add to your faith virtue; The word for "brotherly kindness" (</Jt71.a- literally, mqply in your faith. He does ~•71.q,la) is another link between the two not say, "supply faith;" he assumes the Epistles (see 1 Pet. i. 22; iii 8). "In existence of faith. "He that cometh unto your godliness," St. Peter says, "ye must God must believe." Tbe Greek word (<11r,- develop brotherly kindness, the unfeigned xopii"'f7JrraT<) means properly to "contribute love of the brethren ; " for " every one that to the expenses of a chorus;" it is used loveth him that begat, loveth him also that three times by St. Paul, and, in its simple is begotten of him" (1 John v. 1). And 11s form, by St. Peter in his First Epistle (iv. God is loving unto every man, and "m11keth 11). In usage it came to mean simply to" sup- his sun to rise on the evil and on the good," ply or proYide," the thought of the chorus so Christians, who are taught to be followers being dropped. So we cannot be sure that (imitators) of God (Epb. v. l), must learn in the idea of faith as leading the mystic dance the exercise of love toward the brethren that in the chorus of Christian graces was present larger love which embraces all men in 011 to St. Peter's mind, especially ad the word ever-widening circle (comp. 1 ThcsH. iii.12). occurs again in ver. 11, where no such Thus love, the greatest of e.ll Christian allusion is possible. The fruits of faith are graces ( l Cor. xiii. 13), is the climax in St. in the faith which produces them, as a tree Peter's list. Out of faith, the root, spring the is in its oeed; they must be developed out seven fair fruits of holiness, of which holy of faith, ns faith expands and energizes; love is the fairest o.nd the sweetest ( comp. in the exercise of each grace a fresh grace Ignatius,' Ad Ephea.,' xiv. 'Apx11 µEv ,rlu-Tir1 must issue forth. Virtue is "ell described ,,.b._0$ U c,.-yd.1r71). No grace can remain liy Bengel as "strenuus animi tonus et e.lo11e; each grace, as it is gradually formed Yigor;" it is Christian manliness aud active in the soul, tends to develop and strengthen courage in the good fight of faith. The others; all graces meet in that highest gr11oe word " virtue " ( c,.p,-r-1,), with the exception of charity, without which whosoover liveth of Phil. iv. 8, occurs in the New 'J'estament is counted dead before God. Bengel says only iIJ St. Peler-in this chapter three well, "Prrosens q uisq ue gre.dus subsequentem times, and in 1 Pet. ii. 9, thus forming one parit et facilem reddit, subsequens priorem of the links Letween the two Epistles. And ternperat ac perficit." to virtue knowledge. St. Peter here uses Ver. 8.-For i1 these things be in you, and the simple word -yvwu-,s, discretion, a right abound; literally, for these things belo1iging ::mdersto.nding, "qure malam a bono secernit, to you and abounding make, etc. The wold arr. 1. 1-21.] THE SECOND EPISTLE GBNERAL OF PETEP.. 5