Salutations to]

by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that

[the brethren.

this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen. (E)

CHAP. V.

(E) Ver. 1-14. The elders exhorted to feed the church-the younger to obey-and all to be sober, watchful, and to resist the devil. The opening of this chapter particularly merits our observation. "The elders among you I exhort," says the apostle Peter," who am also an elder," or fellow-elder. "Elders here, as in other places (says Archbishop Leighton), is a name, not of age, but of office; yet the office is named by that age, which is, or ought to be, most suitably qualified for it; importing that men, though not aged, yet if called to that office, should be noted for such wisdom and gravity of mind and carriage, as may give that authority, and command that respect, which is requisite for persons in their calling: not novices, as St. Paul speaks (1 Tim. iii. 6), but such as young Timothy himself was in humility and diligence. (Phil. ii. 20.) The name of Elders sometimes denotes civil rulers, sometimes pastors of the church. Here it appears that pastors are meant, as the exhortation of feeding the flock evinces ; ... and then the title given to Christ, in the encouragement that is added, confirms this interpretation-The chief Shepherd."

2. The person exhorting styles himself a co-presbyter, or fellow-elder, with them.

"The duty of mutual exhortation lies on Christians at large, though it be little known among the greatest part; but, truly, pastors should be, as in other duties, so particularly in this, eminent and exemplary in their intercourses and converse; saying often one to another, 'Oh! let us remember to what we are called; to how high and heavy a charge; to what holiness and diligence; how great is the hazard of our miscarriage, and how great the reward of our fidelity

It was the privilege of Peter, as of several other of the apostles, to be a witness of the sufferings of Christ; and he was one of those to whom he promised a participation of his glory: much of this he had already witnessed, in the transfiguration and ascension of his Lord; and he was one of those to whom it was assured, that they should "sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matt. xix. 28.)

But to return to this apostolical charge. These elders are enjoined to feed the flock of God. "Every step of the way of our salvation hath on it the print of infinite majesty, wisdom, and goodness, and this among the rest-that men, sinful, weak men, are made subservient in that great work of bringing Christ and souls to meet;

Ver. 12. By Silvanus-Probably that Silvanus (or Silas) who was Paul's companion; 2 Cor. i. 19, &c.

As I suppose-rather, as I reckon," or conclude; as Rom. iii. 28; viii. 18. "The phrase does not imply doubt." Doddr.

Ver. 13. The church that is at Babylon-Literally, "She at Babylon," which some explain of Peter's wife. The word church is, however, supplied in the Syriac, Vulgate, and other ancient Versions; and by Oecumenius.-At Babylon.-There were two Babylons; one in Egypt, the other in Syria: but Larduer says, there is no mention of either church or Bishop at the former place, by any of the writers of the four first centuries. Many commentators, therefore (among whom are eza, Lightfoot, and Dr. Benson), refer to the great Babylon of Assyria: Lardner, however, objects, that this city was "almost deserted in the apostles' days ;" and farther argues, from chap. ii. 13, 14, 17, that Peter wrote from some part of the Roman Empire, which at that

time did not include Babylon, then under the dominion of the Parthians. These difficulties have led to a third opinion, which, indeed, we have adopted from Mr. Horne, in our table of Catholic Epistles (p. 730). This is, that by Babylon, Peter meant Rome; as it is evident John did in the Apocalypse, on account of its being the metropolis of idolatry. This opinion has the general testimony of antiquity. Eusebius, who adopts it, quotes the authorities of Clement of Alexandria, and Papias Bishop of Jerusalem, both of the second century. It was adopted by Jerome; by all writers of the church of Rome; and, among Protestants, by Grotius, Whitby, Hammond, Lardner, Macknight, and many others. See Horne's Crit. Introduction, vol. iv. p. 419, 420.——— Marcus-probably the Evangelist. See Introduction to his Gospel.

Ver. 14. A kiss of charity-Or "love." See Exposition of Rom. xvi.

that by the foolishness of preaching (or what appears so to carnal wisdom), the chosen of God are called, and come unto Jesus, and are made wise unto salvation; and that the life which is conveyed to them by the word of life in the hands of poor men, is by the same means preserved and advanced..... Jesus Christ descended to purchase a church, and ascended to provide and furnish it, to send down his spirit. He ascended and gave gifts, particularly for the work of the ministry; and the great use of them is this-to feed the flock of God." (Abp. Leighton.)

In the discharge of this high office, however, they are cautioned against constrainedness, covetousness, and usurpation; not for filthy lucre, neither as being lords over God's heritage, but examples to the flock. And now comes the reward. "When the

Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall re ceive a crown-a crown of glory-a crowa that fadeth not away; that is, an immor tal crown. Thus does our venerable and inspired apostle exhort and animate to duty his brethren in the ministry. The rest of the chapter is miscellaneous, addressed to the younger Christians generally, es horting them to humility and submission under the mighty hand of God, casting their care upon him, and at the same tin: cautioning them against the active mai of their great eneiny, the devil; agai whom we can never be too much upon our guard.

"Now let the feeble all be strong,

And make Jehovah's arm their song;
His shield is spread o'er every saint;
And thus protected-who shall faint?

CHAP. I. Ver. 1. Simon Peter.-Margin and the Greek, "Simeon Peter." This has been objected to; but Simeon seems to have been the Hebrew way of pronouncing this name, being used by the apostle James in Acts xv. 14. It should, in candour, be confessed, that this Epistle was not generally received in the Christian church before the fourth century. There are, however. several probable allusions to it in the apostolical Fathers; and, from the fourth century, it seems to have been generally received and read among the other Scriptures: and though its inspiration was at first doubted by some, it was not reckoned among the spurious Scriptures, then too common. The Epistle is, however, so excellent, and (except chapter ii.) so similar in style and spirit to the first Epistle, that we believe it is

now almost universally admitted into the stored Canon. See Horne's Crit. Introd., vol. iv. p. 4426; and Macknight's Preface to the Epistle.

Ibid. The righteousness of God and our Secur -Marg." of our God and Saviour." So Mr. Gr ville Sharp, Dr. Wordsworth, Bp. Middleton, and Dr. Pye Smith. Messiah, vol. ii. Note, p. 599, Se Exposition of Rom. iii. 20-31.

Ver. 3. To-Marg. "By "glory and virtut.If we take the textual rendering, it means that we are called to practise the one, and enjoy the other if the margin, it may import, that by a display of these in the gospel, we are called to embracet

Ver. 4. The divine nature-Doddr. "A divint nature;" i. e. the new nature conferred in rege neration.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as

[and good works.

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.

Ver. 5. Add to your faith virtue.-Doddr., and many others, take "virtue" here in the sense of courage, or fortitude-" Add to, or associate with, your faith, courage to profess it, and knowledge to defend it," &c.

Ver. 7. Charity. See Note on 1 Peter iv. 8.

Ver. 9. Is blind-i. e. partially so.-Cannot see far off-Doddr." short-sighted." But Bochart explains the word here used (muopazon), as meaning to wink the eyes against the light-not being able to endure it. He is followed by Macknight. Ver. 10. Make your calling and election sure.Mackn. "firm." That is, by a holy life demonstrate your calling and electiou.

Ver. 11. An entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly-i, e. a free admittance, and a hearty welcome.

Ver. 12. In the present truth-i. e. in that of which he was now treating; namely, that diligence in religion was the way to perseverance.

Ver. 13. I think it meet, &c.-This is supposed by some to be a sort of apology for writing again so soon after his first epistle; i. e. probably within a year.

Ver. 14. Put off this my tabernacle.-Compare 2 Cor. v. 1-5.

Ver. 15. Moreover.-Doddr. "But." (Gr. de.). Ver. 16. Were eye-witnesses.-See Matt. xvii. 1-5.

Ver. 19. A more sure word of prophecy-or prophetic word. Some critics think the comparative degree is here used for the superlative, and render it, a most pure word," &c. See Doddr.

Ibid. A light-(Gr. " a lamp.")——In a dark place. Some have supposed this an allusion to the lamp (or candlestick) which was burnt in the holy place but the word (auchmero) strictly means a filthy, as well as dark place-" a dark hole-a cellar." Such is this world without divine revelation. -The day star-(Gr. Phosphoros). By this name the Greeks meant the planet Venus, or the morning star-a name which our Lord appropriates to himself, Rev. xxii. 16.

Ver. 20. Private interpretation. - Owen and Doddr." impulse." Mackn. " invention." Hammond thinks this has a reference to the word given at starting in the Olympic games. They did not speak of their own accord; they did not "run without being sent." See Rom. x. 15.

The origin]

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy

[of prophecy.

men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (A)

CHAP. 1.

(A) Ver. 1-21. The writer, after his apostolical salutation, congratulates all true believers on their privileges, and exhorts to universal obedience.-The Epistle opens with an avowal of some of the most important and consolatory truths of the New Testament. Not only does it contain an express testimony to the divinity of our Saviour, but it attributes our salvation solely to the merits of his righteousness, and the agency of his Spirit, through the instrumentality of faith-faith, which is rendered precious by its object and its effects; bringing us into a saving acquaintance with" exceeding great and precious promises," and animating us to the observance of every Christian virtue. And in these St. Peter urges to the utmost diligence and energy, in order that our calling and election may thereby be certified to our own minds, and demonstrated to others; and that, finally, we may obtain an abundant-that is, a certain and triumphant admission into the heavenly and everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: and thus not only be conquerors, but "more than conquerors -not only gain a victory, but a triumph also; and be received with the plaudit of our Lord and Master-" Well done, thou good and faithful servant! enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!" (Matt. xxv. 21.)

The apostle Peter now enters into his own circumstances and feelings. He was at this time, we suppose, at Rome, with his "beloved brother Paul," as he calls him (chap. iii. 15), “ready to be offered " as a sacrifice for the truth, and waiting for the summous to "put off his fleshly tabernacle," and put on robes of celestial glory. And the object of the present Epistle avowedly was, to leave behind him a memorial of his principles and experience, that the church might always "have them in remembrance." At the same time, he takes the opportunity to assure them of the truth and certainty of the important facts on which his faith and principles were built. For whereas he had informed them of the power and glory which should

attend the second coming of the Lord Je sus from heaven, he had himself received a demonstration of it, when he witnessed his transfiguration on the mount, and heard from heaven that important testimony-" This is my well-beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

This to him was fully satisfactory, but to them he recommends "a more sure arising from the fulfilment of the sacre! word of prophecy"-meaning the evidence Scriptures; particularly in reference to Christ's incarnation and sufferings, deat and resurrection; the fulfilment of which was an assured earnest of his second coming, and future glory.

In this interesting passage, three things particularly present themselves to our at tention:

1. The nature of prophetic evidence. It was a light (or lamp) shining in a dark (or obscure) place: and dark indeed would the world have been, but for the lamp of divine revelation. We see this in the state of the heathen world, which was like the darkness of Egypt- darkness that might be (and must have been) felt." Even in the Jewish world, it was like a midnight sky, illuminated only by the twinkling of the stars, until at length the Mosaic dispensa tion was established, with its system types and emblems, which made the Jewish church" fair as the moon:" still, however, it was night till the "Day dawned, and the morning star" of Christianity

arose.

Ver. 21. In old time.-Marg. "At any time." So Mackn.-Spake as they were moved.-Doddridge, 760

False prophets predicted.]

CHAP. II.

UT there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in

[Deliverance for the just.

the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not

what St. Paul says, that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God." (2 Tim. iii. 16.) Now, to this word we are required to yield ourselves implicitly; availing ourselves, in the present state, of all the information and comfort we can derive from

it, until the night of mortality shall pass away; until eternity shall dawn, and our mortal powers sink in death. Then Christ, "the morning star, shall arise in our hearts," and his beams create our everlasting day.

CHAP. II. Ver. I. Damnable heresies.-Literally (says Mackn.), "Heresies of destruction," or "destructive heresies." So Doddr.-Denying the Lord that bought them.-The word here used for "Lord" (despotes), signifies a master, when connected with servants, and a sovereign, when with subjects. It being doubted whether this word is in any other place applied to Christ, makes it questionable here: but see 1 Tim. ii. 21; and compare Jude 4.

66

Ver. 2. Pernicious.-The Margin says, 66 some copies read lascivious ways." Mackn. says," more than twenty MSS. read thus."

Ver. 3. With feigned words.-Doddr. "Deceitfal words."Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not.-Mackn." To them, the punishment [threatened] of old (Jude 4) lingereth not."

Ver. 4. Hell-Greek, Tartarus. Homer describes these doleful regions as "a deep gulf under the earth, with a brazen entrance." (Iliad, bk. viii.) Hesiod also speaks of Tartarus as the place where the Titans (or rebellious giants) are bound with chains in thick darkness. (Theog.) Compare Jude, ver. 6. The word is used only in these two places in the New Testament.

Ver. 5. The eighth person-Perhaps meaning the head of his family, containing eight persons. (1 Peter iii 20.) But Bishop Pearson supposes Noah to have been the eighth Patriarch who was a preacher of righteousness, which is very possible, though he was the tenth person from Adam in the genealogy; for we are not sure that all of them were preachers.

Ver. 6. Into ashes-i. e. burnt them into ashes by a storm of fire and brimstone. See Gen. xix. 2330, and Exposition. An ensample-i. e. example. Ver. 9. Temptations-i. e. trials. See Note on James i. 2.

Ver. 10. In the lust of uncleanness -This is supposed to refer to the sin of Sodom above-mentioned. Compare Jude 7.—— -Despise government.-Margin, "dominion."--To speak evil-Literally," to blaspheme dignities;" implying falsehood, as well as abuse. The dignities here meant are magistrates. See Rom. xiii. 1-4.

Ver. 11. Against them-i. e. dignities or magistrates: but the Margin says, some copies read, against themselves;" though it should rather be, as Macknight says, "against each other." The common version is, however, best supported.