The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Peter — Section 45

,Jesus Olirist. This iR not the knowledge that is mentioned as one c,f the seven virtues, but the mature knowledge that has been twice mentioned. It has been regarded as the meo.ns; now it is regarded as the end, Showing diligence in the practice of the seven virtues, we are to come to a rich appreciative knowledge of Jesus Christ (who interprets God to us). Paul takes our aim to be the being able "to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and clepth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which paseeth knowledge." Peter brings into view the knowledge of Jesus Christ as our Lord, Le. able in hie surpassing power to accomplish all things for us. (2) Negatively. "For he that lacketh these things is blind, seeing only what is near, having forgotten the cleansing from his old sins." We are to practise the virtues ; for there is a great disadvantage in lacking them, The lacking here is not merely the not having them in abundance, but the not having them at all. James says that "faith without works is dead." Peter says here that" he who has not supplied the seven virtues in his faith, instead of appreciating Christ, he is blind," i.e. to his real worth. His idea of blindnesi he brings to this focus-that he is shortsi,qhted. The word is taken from a certnin con- tracting of the eyelids in order to see. He sees what is near, but does not see what is far off. The things of this world bulk largely in his eyes; the distant realities of the eternal world do not come within his vision. The explanation c,f this kind of blindnes3 is his having lapsed. There was a time when he was baptized. Then he was regarded as cleansed from his old sins; and did not that srem to indicate a certain appreciation of Christ? But having forgotten his cleansing, Christ has not worth in his eyes. III. RESUMPTION OF EXHORTATION, 1. Condition restrded. "Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and electiou sure." This is the only use of the address "brethren" in the Epistles of Peter. It indicates greater closeness and urgency in his exhortation. He proceeds in "wherefore the more" on the ad vantage of having the seven virtues in abundance, and the disadvantage of lacking them. What he exhorts them to is increased diligence. The tense used points to their making this diligence a lifelong thing. They were to give diligence with regard to their calling and election, i.e. by God into his kingdom, the latter word referring to the actual separation of the called from the world. This calling and election, looked at from the lower side, was a matter of ur.certainty; they are exhorted to make it a matter of cer- tainty-to allow no doubt to rest on their interest in Christ and title to the kingdom. It is not said how they are to mnke their calling and election sure; bnt the very want of specification points to what wns formerly specified, viz. the practise of the seven virtues; and this is confirmed by what follows. 2. Importance. (I) Negatively. "For if ye do these thinii;s, ye shall never stumble." In "for" there is a falling back on the condition. "Doing these things" may refer to making their calling and election sure; but it is to it as a multiform act, viz. as covering the practice of the seven virtues. If they did these things with due diligence, they would never mnke such a stumble as would prevent their entrance into the kingdom. (:!) Positively. "For thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." It is here that there comes into view the full scope of the condition laid down. It is a condition upon which their interest in a lcingdom depends. It is no mean kingdom; for it is the kingdom presided over by their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 'l'he kingdom of Christ is essentially the same in the present and in the future; hut in its present outward conditions it is to come to an end, in its future conditions it is to be ete1'1!al. It is the entrance into the eternal kingdom that is here promised. Coming to a kingdom is usually celebrated ; so the entrance here must be regarded as a glorious event. This entranco is a gift; and yet it corresponds to previous diligence. This is strikingly brought out in the form of the language. To those who have supplied the seven virtues in their faith it i~ promised thnt there ehall be supplied unto them this glorious entrance. But stress is laid upon thu ldnd of entrance. Thero is n difference between reaping sparingly nnd reaping bountifully. 'l'here is a difference between a righteous man's reward and a prophet's reward. There is a difference between being saved as by fire, and being saved with a golden reward or a silver reward or a reward to be compared to precious stones. So there is o. difference between a bnre entrance and an entrance that is richly supplied. 'l'he richly supplied entrance is only for those who have in tho highest degree been diligent in the practice of the seven virtues. Let this highest prize be the ('bject of  40 ,THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [err. 1. 1-~,...