Commentary on 2Peter (No. F061)

Introduction

This Second Epistle of Peter was attacked very early in the time frame of the Church because it was written in support of the views of the Church as expressed by Paul and of the Epistle of Jude (cf. Heresy in the Apostolic Church (No. 089)). It attacks Antinomianism as does Jude (cf. Commentary on Jude (F065)). See also the comments on Chapter 3:10ff below. It and Jude were attacked as later writings by others rather than the serious warnings they were to the Churches of God that warned of the coming of the Antinomian attacks on the Laws of God and the confusion and misuse of the Grace of God rather than the position of Grace strengthening the Law of God. The opposition to the Law and the Testimony came from the early devotees of Baal and the Mother Goddess Cults that entered Christianity through the system of Attis and Adonis, (and Mithras of the Army) and Ashtoreth, Isis, Easter etc. These Antinomians ultimately took over the control of the textual criticism of the handling and texts of the Bible and ultimately the Antinomian sects they and the Mariolaters of the Mother Goddess Cults formed (cf. Antinomian Destruction of Christianity by Misuse of Scripture (No. 164C); Forgeries and Mistranslations in the Bible (No. 164F); Antinomian Attacks on the Covenant of God (No. 096D) and Antinomian Denial of Baptism (164E)).

Their attacks on the Laws of God were to see vast numbers of pseudo-Christians diverted into the Mystery and Sun cults and disqualified from the First Resurrection and the millennial system. Remember that the elect of the Saints are those that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith and Testimony of Jesus Christ (Rev. 12:17; 14:12). Anyone who says that the Law of God is done away will not enter the First Resurrection and is disqualified from the Kingdom of God. Attacking the authorship of Jude and the Second Epistle of Peter will merely ensure they are killed before the Millennium at the Coming of the Messiah and the Host. Unless they repent, they will be consigned to the Second Resurrection and the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:7-15. There they will be re-educated.

The text states quite clearly that it is written by Simon Peter (Gr. Sumeon as in Acts 15:14). It is written to those that (having) obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of the God of us and saviour Jesus Christ.

The blessing at verse two is that grace and peace be multiplied to the Church in the Knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. This clearly Unitarian position is as the blessing and doxology in Jude. The calling as in Jude is through the Knowledge of God by His Divine Prescience and Predestination (No. 296). This calling is again in line with the doctrine outlined by Paul in Romans 8:29-30.

Verse four then deals with the immorality and corruption in the world and how that detracts from the sharing of the elect in the divine nature following Jude’s development and Peter’s thrust in the First Epistle regarding the persecution.

The steps move from virtue and knowledge to steadfastness and self control to godliness in taking on the Divine Nature. It is through godliness in the Holy Spirit that we proceed to the Love of God and then to the love of our neighbour as ourself as we are given in the Two Great Commandments as the paramount structures of the Law of God (L1). It is through these fruits of the Holy Spirit we display the nature of Christ and by their demonstration we display the calling and election and placement in the kingdom of God and our cleansing from sin, for as we are told by John, sin is transgression of the Law of God (L1) (1Jn. 3:4).

The Kingdom under Jesus Christ is the First Resurrection mentioned by John in Revelation 20:1-7. Anyone who says that when they die they go to heaven is not a Christian and denies the structure of Scripture. Here at the end of the First chapter Peter knows that soon he will die. In verse 17 he refers to The Transfiguration (No. 096E) which we also saw was the thrust of the position of Jude and the necessity and calling of Enoch. Christ received, at the Transfiguration, honour and glory from the Father through the voice borne to him from the Majestic Glory (confirming John 5:37).

In verse 19 we are told that the Morning Star who is Jesus Christ, the star that was to come out of Jacob (Num. 24:17), is to be confirmed in us as we are also told in Revelation 2:28.

In verse 20 Peter confirms that Scripture is of no private interpretation and thus denies the right of humans to reinterpret and change Scripture. Thus the Antinomians had to undermine and destroy the Second Epistle to support the changes and move from Sabbath to Sunday, which were to occur from the Second to the Fourth Century (111-366 CE) from Rome.

Verse 21 shows that no Scripture came by men other than as moved by God through the Holy Spirit. From these texts in the First Chapter alone the authenticity of the Second Epistle had to be attacked.

2Peter Chapter 1

¹Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours in the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: ²May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.³His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,⁴by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, that through these you may escape from the corruption that is in the world because of passion, and become partakers of the divine nature.⁵For this very reason make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,⁶and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,⁷and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.⁸For if these things are yours and abound, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.⁹For whoever lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.¹⁰Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will never fall; ¹¹so there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.¹²Therefore I intend always to remind you of these things, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.¹³I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to arouse you by way of reminder,¹⁴since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.¹⁵And I will see to it that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.¹⁶For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.¹⁷For when he received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,"¹⁸we heard this voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.¹⁹And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.²⁰First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, ²¹because no prophecy ever came by the impulse of man, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

So here no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. It is all God breathed or inspired and thus immutable. Scripture cannot be broken (Jn. 10:34-36).

Next, in the Second Chapter, Peter prophesies of the rise of false teachers in the Churches of God that bring in destructive heresies. The extreme heresies even to the denial of Christ and the salvation of God brought destruction upon them. The First Destruction is the loss of the Holy Spirit and their position in the First Resurrection. They will be given over to licentiousness through their sin and Antinomianism and attacks on the laws of God. Here (vv. 2-3) Peter warns of the greed of the Antinomians and their exploitation of the Church in which they revile the Truth (No. 168).

2Peter Chapter 2

¹But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.²And many will follow their licentiousness, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled.³And in their greed they will exploit you with false words; from of old their condemnation has not been idle, and their destruction has not been asleep.

Note here Peter refers to The God (Ho Theos) consigning the Angelic Host to Tartaros to await the judgment which as Paul says is conferred on the elect (1Cor. 6:3) (cf. Judgment of the Demons (No. 080)). He then takes the sequence on as we see in Jude over Noah, Sodom and Gomorrah and the ungodly. God ordered the rescue of righteous Lot, who was vexed by their lawlessness in the transgression of the Law of God.

By these acts Peter shows us that the righteous can be saved from trial and the lawless kept for later judgment and this denies the heretical doctrine of heaven and hell as pushed by the Antinomian Gnostics (cf. also the First Resurrection (No. 143A)).

⁴For if [The] God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell [Tartaros] and committed them to pits of nether gloom to be kept until the judgment;⁵if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven other persons, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;⁶if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomor'rah to ashes he condemned them to extinction and made them an example to those who were to be ungodly;⁷and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the wicked⁸(for by what that righteous man saw and heard as he lived among them, he was vexed in his righteous soul day after day with their lawless deeds),⁹then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,¹⁰and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and wilful, they are not afraid to revile the glorious ones,¹¹whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a reviling judgment upon them before the Lord.¹²But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and killed, reviling in matters of which they are ignorant, will be destroyed in the same destruction with them,¹³suffering wrong for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their dissipation, carousing with you.¹⁴They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children!¹⁵Forsaking the right way they have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Be'or, who loved gain from wrongdoing,¹⁶but was rebuked for his own transgression; a dumb ass spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.¹⁷These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm; for them the nether gloom of darkness has been reserved.¹⁸For, uttering loud boasts of folly, they entice with licentious passions of the flesh men who have barely escaped from those who live in error.
¹⁹They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved.²⁰For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overpowered, the last state has become worse for them than the first.²¹For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.²²It has happened to them according to the true proverb, The dog turns back to his own vomit, and the sow is washed only to wallow in the mire.

From verse 14 onwards we see that the sinners who transgress the Law of God are taken after the sins of Balaam son of Beor who taught Israel to transgress the law of God and by so doing cut them off from God (cf. The Doctrine of Balaam and Balaam’s Prophecy (No. 204) and The Nicolaitans (No. 202)).

From verse 21f. the text shows that the doctrine of once saved always saved is a lie and those who teach it are condemned to sin and to the Second Resurrection and the Great White Throne Judgment (No. 143B).

In chapter 3:1 Peter then says quite plainly that this is the second letter he has written to the elect. Both are to arouse the minds of the elect to action. They both have a specific purpose through the Holy Spirit under the direction of God. The First Epistle is to warn of the coming persecution and the Second is to warn of the Antinomianism and Sin of the Church that would soon be upon them and which would affect the Church over its entirety unto the Witnesses (No. 135) and the Messiah.

As it was through Antinomianism that Satan would attack and damage the Church, it was important that the Second Epistle had to be undermined. Those who did and do are judged more severely that those they deceive (Jas. 3:1).

We now go to the prophecy of the Last Days.

The world that then was, was created by God as we see from Job 38:4-7 and was destroyed, becoming tohu and bohu and had to be restored by the elohim as sent by God (Gen. 1:1-2ff).

It is in this text that we see that the time frame of the prophecy is tied to the six days in Genesis where a day is but a thousand years unto the lord and a thousand years is but a day. Hence the six working days represent the period of the Adamic Creation and the Seventh Day Sabbath is the millennial rest of the Messiah. This key text had to be undermined to destroy the structure of prophecy (cf. Outline Timetable of the Age (No. 272)).

Indeed the scoffers and heretics do say “where is the promise of his coming?” Many also say there is no God. Others say the law is “done away”. They will not enter the Millennial Sabbath of God under Messiah. These fools and godless heretics will not enter the millennial system and will die before it begins.

2Peter Chapter 3

¹This is now the second letter that I have written to you, beloved, and in both of them I have aroused your sincere mind by way of reminder;²that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.³First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions⁴and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation."⁵They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water,⁶through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.⁷But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.⁸But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.⁹The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.¹¹Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,¹²waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire!¹³But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.¹⁴Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.¹⁵And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,¹⁶speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.¹⁷You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability.¹⁸But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

The Day of the Lord, from Chapter 3:10ff.

The reference to the Day of the Lord and the dissolving of the heavens is a long period of time. It concerns the Coming of the Messiah and the First Resurrection (No. 143A) and the thousand years of the millennial system followed by the 100 years of the Second Resurrection and the Great White Throne Judgment (No. 143b) and the end of the Lake of Fire which is the Second Death. After that God and the Heavenly Jerusalem will come to the earth and be established here over Jerusalem as the City of God (No. 180). Then the system will be reorganised and the earth cleansed by fire with all of us as spiritual beings.

The text means that at the end of the Second Resurrection after the Great White Throne Judgment then God will descend upon the earth and a great change will be undertaken. The text from 2Pet. 3:10ff also draws on Amos 5:18-20 and Joel 2:28-32. Job 14:12-13 also says much the same. The procedures of the Day of the Messiah are clearly laid down and the Millennium does not presuppose a new heaven (cf. The Wars of the End Series Parts 1, Part II, Part III, Part IIIB, Part IV; Part IVB; Part V, Part VB)).

The Days of Joel in the Last Days were held by Peter in Acts to have started from Pentecost in 30 CE with the Holy Spirit. Thus the Last Days and the Day of the Lord originated with the formation of the Church, as the demons were subject to them under the Apostles from 27-29 CE as the Third Phase of the creation (Lk. 10:1,17) (cf. Rule of the Kings Part III: Solomon and the Key of David (No. 282C) and Rule of the Kings Part IIIB: Man as the Temple of God (No. 282D)).

Bullinger’s Notes on 2Peter (for KJV)

Chapter 1

Verse 1

Simon. Greek. Sumeon, as in Acts 15:14.

Jesus Christ. App-98.

have. Omit.

obtained. Greek. lanchano. See Acts 1:17.

like precious. Greek. isotimoe. Only here.

faith. App-150.

through. App-104.

righteousness. App-191.

of, &c. = of our God and, &c.

God. App-98.

Verse 2

multiplied. Compare 1 Peter 1:2 and Jude 1:2.

knowledge. App-132.

Jesus. App-98.

Lord. App-98.

Verse 3

divine. Greek. theios. See Acts 17:29.

power. App-172.

given = been given. It is the same perfect passive translated "are given" in 2 Peter 1:4. Greek. doreo. See Mark 15:45.

that pertain unto = for. App-104.

godliness. See 1 Timothy 2:2.

through. App-104. 2 Peter 1:1.

hath. Omit.

to = to His own, as the texts.

virtue. See Philippians 1:4, Philippians 1:8.

Verse 4

Whereby = By (App-104. 2 Peter 1:1) which.

exceeding = the exceeding.

promises. Greek. epangelma. Only here and 2 Peter 3:13.

that = in order that. Greek. hina.

partakers. See 1 Corinthians 10:18.

escaped. Greek. apopheugo. Only here and 2 Peter 2:18, 2 Peter 2:20.

corruption. Greek. phthora. See Romans 8:21.

Verse 5

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton. Seven "ands" in verses: 2 Peter 1:5-7.

beside this, giving. Literally bringing in by the side of (Greek. pareisphero. Only here) this very thing.

diligence. Greek. spoude, as Jude 1:3.

add = minister, or supply. Greek. epickoregeo. See 2 Corinthians 9:10.

Verse 6

temperance = self-control. Greek. enkrateia. See Acts 24:25.

Verse 8

if, &c. = these things existing (Greek. huparcho. See Luke 9:48) in you, and abounding.

make = render. Greek. kathistemi. First occurance: Matthew 24:45.

barren = useless. Greek. argos. See Matthew 12:36.

nor. Greek. oude.

Verse 9

that lacketh, &c. = to whom these things are not (App-105) present.

and cannot, &c. = being short-sighted. Greek. muopazo. Only here.

and hath, &c. = having received forgetfulness (Greek. lethe. Only here).

that he was purged from = of the cleansing (Greek. katharismos. See Hebrews 1:3) of.

old sins = sins of long ago (Greek. palai).

Verse 10

give diligence = be diligent. Greek. spoudazo. See noun in 2 Peter 1:5.

calling. See Romans 11:29.

sure. Greek. bebaios. See Romans 4:16.

if ye do = doing.

never = by no means (App-105) at any time.

fall = stumble. Greek. ptaio. See Romans 11:11.

Verse 11

entrance. Same word in Hebrews 10:19.

ministered. Same as "add", 2 Peter 1:5.

abundantly. Greek. plousios. See Colossians 3:16.

into. App-104.

Verse 12

not. App-105.

negligent. Greek. ameleo. See 1 Timothy 4:14.

put . . . in remembrance. Greek. hupomimnesko. See John 14:26.

established. Compare 1 Peter 5:10.

the present truth = the truth which is present (Compare 2 Peter 1:9), i.e. which is your possession.

Verse 13

as long as = for (App-104) such (time) as.

tabernacle. Greek. skenoma. See Acts 7:46.

stir . . . up. App-178. "

by putting you in = in.

remembrance. Greek. hupomnesis. See 2 Timothy 1:5.

Verse 14

shortly. Greek. tachinos. Only here and 2 Peter 2:1 (swift).

I must put off = is the putting off of. Greek. apothesis. See 1 Peter 3:21.

hath. Omit, and supply "also".

shewed = declared. Greek. deloo. See 1 Corinthians 1:11. Compare John 21:18, John 21:19.

Verse 15

endeavour. Same as "give diligence", 2 Peter 1:10.

decease. Greek. exodos. See Luke 9:31.

to have, &c. = to make remembrance (Greek. mneme. Only here) of these things.

always = at every time. Greek. hekastote. Only here.

Verse 16

followed. Greek. exakoloutheo. Only here and 2 Peter 2:2, 2 Peter 2:15.

cunningly, &c. Greek. sophizo. See 2 Timothy 3:15.

fables. See 1 Timothy 1:4.

coming. See Matthew 24:3 (first occ).

were = became.

eyewitnesses. Greek. epoptes. Only here. The verb in 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Peter 3:2. Compare Luke 1:2.

majesty. Greek. megaleiotes. See Acts 19:27.

Verse 17

Father. App-98.

came = was borne. Greek. phero, as in 1 Peter 1:13 (brought).

such. Greek. toiosde. Only here. Implying emphasis. The usual word is toioutos, which occurs 61 times.

from = by. App-104.

excellent. Greek. megaloprepes. Only here. Compare 2 Peter 1:16.

beloved. App-135.

Son. App-108.

well pleased. See Matthew 3:17; Matthew 12:18; Matthew 17:5.

Verse 18

heaven. Singular. See Matthew 6:9, Matthew 6:10.

holy. Because, and while, the Lord was there.

Verse 19

a more sure, &c. = the prophetic (Greek. prophetikos. See Romans 16:26) word (App-121.) more sure.

whereunto = to which.

that ye take heed = taking heed; "in your hearts" should follow here.

dark. Greek. auchmeros. Only here.

dawn. Greek. diaugazo. Only here.

day star. Greek. phosphoros. Only here.

arise. It will be a fulfillment of Numbers 24:17. Malachi 4:2. Not a spiritual experience.

Verse 20

Knowing. App-132.

is = comes.

any private = its own. Greek. idios.

interpretation. Greek. epilusis. Only here. The verb epiluo is found in Mark 4:34 (expounded), and Acts 19:39 (determined). This shows that the meaning is that prophecy is not self-originated by the speaker.

Verse 21

in old time = at any time. Greek. pote.

by. No preposition. Dative case.

of. The texts read apo, from.

spake. App-121.

moved = borne along. Greek. phero, as in 2 Peter 1:17.

the Holy Ghost = Divine power. No art. App-101.

Chapter 2

Verse 1

were = arose.

false prophets. Greek. pseudoprophetes. Compare Matthew 24:11, Matthew 24:24. Luke 6:26. Acts 13:6. 1 John 4:1.

people. See Acts 2:47.

even as, &c. Read, as among you also, &c.

false teachers. Greek. pseudodidaskalos. Only here.

who = such as.

privily . . . in. Greek. pareisago. Only here. Compare Romans 5:20 and Galatians 1:2, Galatians 1:4.

damnable heresies = heresies (Acts 5:17) of destruction, or perdition (Greek. apoleia). See John 17:12.

even denying = denying even.

Lord. App-98.

bought. See Matthew 13:44, Matthew 13:46.

and bring upon = bringing upon. Greek. epago. See Acts 5:28.

swift. See 2 Peter 1:14.

destruction. See "damnable", above

Verse 2

follow. See 2 Peter 1:16.

pernicious ways. Greek. apoleia, as 2 Peter 2:1, but the texts read "lasciviousnesses". Greek. aselgeia. See Romans 13:13.

by reason of. App-104. 2 Peter 2:2.

evil spoken of = blasphemed, as 1 Peter 4:4.

Verse 3

covetousness. Greek. pleonexia. First occurrence Mark 7:22.

feigned = formed, i.e. fabricated. Greek. plastos. Only here.

make merchandise of. Greek. emporeuomai. See James 4:13.

judgment. App-177.

now, &c. = from (App-104.) of old (as in 2 Peter 3:5).

lingereth. Greek. argeo. Only here. Compare 2 Peter 1:8.

damnation. Same as "destruction", 2 Peter 2:1.

slumbereth. Greek. nustazo. Only here and Matthew 25:5.

God. App-98.

spared. See Acts 20:29.

the. Omit.

that = when they.

cast . . . down to hell, and = having thrust down to Tartarus.

delivered. See John 19:30.

chains. Greek. seira, a cord. Only here. The texts read "pits". Greek. seiros.

darkness. Greek. zophos. Only here, 2 Peter 2:17, and Jude 1:6, Jude 1:13.

to be. Omit.

judgment. App-177.

Verse 5

And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton (App-6) in verses: 2 Peter 2:5-7.

old = ancient. See Matthew 5:21.

world. App-129.

saved = preserved. Same word John 17:12.

the eighth. A Greek. idiom for himself and seven others.

preacher. App-121.

righteousness. App-191.

ungodly. Greek. asebes. See App-128.

Verse 6

turning . . . into ashes. Greek. tephroo. Only here.

condemned. App-122.

overthrow. Greek. katastrophe. See 2 Timothy 2:14.

making = having made.

ensample. Greek. hupodeigma. See John 13:15.

unto = of.

that after should. Literally about to. live ungodly. Greek. asebeo. Only here and Jude 1:15. Compare 2 Peter 2:5.

Verse 7

delivered = rescued. As in 2 Corinthians 1:10.

just. App-191.

Lot. As believing Jehovah, Lot was justified. We do not know all his life, and we do not know all implied by the rest of this verse and by 2 Peter 2:8.

vexed = oppressed. See Acts 7:24.

with = by. App-104.

filthy conversation = behaviour (see Galatians 1:1, Galatians 1:13) in (Greek. en) lasciviousness (Greek. aselgeia. See 1 Peter 4:3).

wicked = lawless. Greek. athesmos. Only here and 2 Peter 3:17.

Verse 8

that righteous man = the just one. Compare 2 Peter 2:7.

dwelling. Greek. enkatoikeo. Only here.

seeing. Greek. blemma. Only here.

vexed. Greek. basanizo. Transl "torment", except Matthew 14:24. Mark 6:48 (where see note). Revelation 12:2.

righteous. Same as "just", above.

Verse 9

Lord. App-98.

knoweth. App-132.

godly. Greek. eusebes. See Acts 10:2.

out of. App-104.

temptations = temptation. See 1 Peter 1:6.

the = a.

punished. Compare Job 21:30.

Verse 10

uncleanness. Greek. miasmos. Only here. Compare 2 Peter 2:20.

government = dominion. Greek. kuriotes. See Ephesians 1:21. Jude 1:8.

Presumptuous = Daring. Greek. tolmetes. Only here. self willed. Greek. authades. See Titus 1:7.

are not afraid = do not tremble.

speak evil of = blaspheme, as 2 Peter 2:2.

dignities. Literally glories. Greek. doxa. Seep. 1511. Only here and Jude 1:8 used as a title.

Verse 11

which are = though being.

power. App-172.

might. App-172. Compare Psalms 103:20. 2 Thessalonians 1:7.

railing. Greek. blasphemos, as 1 Timothy 1:13.

accusation. App-177.

before. App-104. Compare Jude 1:9. Zechariah 3:1, Zechariah 3:2.

Verse 12

natural. Greek. phusikos. See Romans 1:26.

brute. Greek. alogos. See Acts 25:27.

beasts = living creatures. Greek. zoon. Same as Hebrews 13:11.

to be taken, &c. = for (App-104.) capture (Greek. halosis. Only here) and destruction (Greek. phthora. See Romans 8:21).

understand not = are ignorant of. Greek. agnoeo.

utterly perish. Greek. kataphtheiro. See 2 Timothy 3:8. The texts read "even perish" (kai phtheiro).

corruption. Greek. phthora, as above.

Verse 13

reward = wages. Greek. misthos.

unrighteousness. App-128. Compare 2 Peter 2:15 and Acts 1:18.

as they, &c. = reckoning it (as they do).

to riot = living delicately. Greek. truphe. Only here and Luke 7:25. Compare James 5:5.

the day time. Literally a day.

Spots. Greek. spilos. Here and Ephesians 5:27.

blemishes. Greek. momos. Only here. Compare 2 Corinthians 6:3 (blamed).

sporting themselves = living delicately. Greek. en-truphao. Only here. Compare trupho, above.

with = in. App-104.

deceivings. Greek. apate. See Ephesians 4:22. Some texts read "love feasts". Greek. agape, as in Jude 1:12. Compare 1 Corinthians 11:21.

feast with. Greek. suneuocheomai. Only here and Jude 1:12.

Verse 14

adultery = an adulteress.

that cannot cease. Greek. akatapaustos. Only here.

sin. App-128.

beguiling. See James 1:14.

unstable. Greek. asteriktos. Only here and 2 Peter 3:16.

souls. App-110.

an heart, &c = having a heart.

exercised. See 1 Timothy 4:7. covetous practices = covetousness.

cursed children = children (App-108.) of (the) curse.

Verse 15

Balaam. See Numbers 22:5 note.

Bosor. See 2 Peter 22:5 (note). Some texts read "Beor".

loved. App-135.

wages. Same as reward, 2 Peter 2:13.

Verse 16

was rebuked = had rebuke (Greek. elenxis. Only here).

his = his own.

iniquity. App-128. Only here.

dumb. See Acts 8:32.

ass. Greek. hupozugion. Only here and Matthew 21:5.

speaking. See Acts 4:18.

forbad = hindered.

madness. Greek. paraphronia. Only here. Compare 2 Corinthians 11:23.

prophet. App-189. Balaam delivered Jehovah"s messages (Numbers 23:5, Numbers 23:16; Numbers 24:4, Numbers 24:13), however unwillingly. He afterwards became a minister of Satan, in the counsel he gave Balak (Numbers 31:8, Numbers 31:16).

Verse 17

wells. Greek. pege. Always translated "fountain", except here and John 4:6, John 4:14.

without water. Greek. anudros. Only here; Matthew 12:43 (dry). Luke 11:24 (dry), and Jude 1:12.

clouds. The texts read "mists" (Greek. homichle. Only here)

carried = driven.

tempest. Greek. lailaps. Here and Mark 4:37. Luke 8:23.

mist. Same as "darkness", 2 Peter 2:4.

for ever. App-151. a. But the texts omit.

Verse 18

great swelling. Greek. huperonkos. Only here and Jude 1:16.

vanity. Greek. mataiotes. See Romans 8:20.

allure. Same as "beguile", 2 Peter 2:14.

through, &c. Literally by (dative case) lasciviousnesses. See "filthy", 2 Peter 2:7.

clean = indeed. Greek. ontos. See 1 Corinthians 14:25.

escaped. See 2 Peter 1:4. The texts read "scarcely" or "but just (Greek. oligos) escaping".

live. Greek. anastrepho. See 1 Peter 1:17.

Verse 19

are = being. Greek. huparcho. See Luke 9:48.

servants. App-190.

a man. App-123.

overcome. Greek. hettaomai. See 2 Corinthians 12:13.

brought in bondage = enslaved. App-190. Add "also".

Verse 20

pollutions. Greek. miasma. Only here. Compare 2 Peter 2:10.

knowledge. See 2 Peter 1:2, 2 Peter 1:3, 2 Peter 1:8.

Lord. App-98.

Jesus Christ. App-98. Compare 2 Peter 3:18.

entangled. Greek. empleko. See 2 Timothy 2:4.

latter end. Literally last things.

is = is become.

beginning = first.

Verse 21

not. App-105.

known. App-132.

turn = turn back.

from. App-104.

unto = to.

Verse 22

it is = there hath.

according to = the (fulfillment) of.

true. App-175.

proverb. Greek. paroimia. See John 10:6.

turned = turned back.

vomit. Greek. exerama. Only here.

again. Omit. Quoted from Proverbs 26:11.

sow. Greek. hus. Only here.

washed. App-136.

wallowing. Greek. kulisma. Only here. Compare Mark 9:20.

mire. Greek. borboros. Only here.

Chapter 3

Verse 1

second. This shows that the epistle is addressed to the same readers as is the first.

which. Plural Hence the insertion of both.

stir up. App-178. See 2 Peter 1:13.

pure. See Philippians 1:1, Philippians 1:10 (sincere).

minds = mind.

by way of = in.

remembrance. See 2 Peter 1:13.

Verse 2

That ye may = To.

be mindful. See 2 Timothy 1:4.

words. Greek. rhema. See Mark 9:32.

us the. The texts read "your".

apostles. App-189.

Lord. App-98.

Verse 3

last days. See Acts 2:17. 2 Timothy 3:1.

scoffers = mockers. Greek. empaiktes. Only here and Jude 1:18.

walking. All the texts add after walking, "in (App-104.) mockery". Greek. empaigmone. Only here. Compare Hebrews 11:36.

after. App-104.

Verse 4

coming. See Matthew 24:3.

since = from (App-104.) the (day).

fell asleep. App-171.

continue. Greek. diameno. See Galatians 1:2, Galatians 1:5.

Verse 5

this, &c. Literally this is hid from (Greek. lanthano. See Acts 26:26) them willing (App-102.) it.

God. App-98.

heavens. Plural See Matthew 6:9, Matthew 6:10.

of old. Greek. ekpalai. See 2 Peter 2:3.

earth. App-129.

standing = consisting. Greek. sunistemi. See Colossians 1:17.

the. Omit.

in = through. App-104. 2 Peter 3:1. The reference is to Psalms 24:2; Psalms 136:5, Psalms 136:6. Compare Genesis 1:6, Genesis 1:7.

Verse 6

Whereby = By (App-104. 2 Peter 3:1) which (means).

the world, &c. Literally the then world (App-129.)

overflowed. Greek. katakluzo. Only here. Compare 2 Peter 2:5.

perished. See John 17:12.

Verse 7

kept in store = treasured up.

unto = for.

against = unto. App-104.

the = a. judgment. App-177.

perdition. See John 17:12.

Verse 8

be not, &c. Literally let not this one thing be hidden (as 2 Peter 3:6) from you.

with. App-104.

LORD. App-98.

Verse 9

is not slack = does not delay. See 1 Timothy 3:15.

concerning. App-17.

some men. App-124.

count = reckon. Same word "account", 2 Peter 3:15.

slackness. Greek. bradutes. Only here.

to us-ward = toward (App-104.) us, but the texts read "you".

Verse 10

in the night. The texts omit. Compare 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 1 Thessalonians 5:4.

with a great noise = with a rushing sound. Greek. rhoizedon. Only here.

elements. See Galatians 1:4, Galatians 1:3.

melt = be dissolved. Greek. luo, to loose. Compare App-174.

with fervent heat = being burnt up. Greek. kausoo. Only here and 2 Peter 3:12.

therein = in (App-104.) it.

burned up. See 1 Corinthians 3:15.

Verse 11

dissolved. See "melt", 2 Peter 3:10.

be. See Luke 9:48.

conversation. See 1 Peter 1:15.

godliness. See 1 Timothy 2:2.

Verse 12

Looking for. App-133. See Luke 3:15 (be in expectation).

hasting unto = hastening. Greek. speudo. Elsewhere intransitive. Luke 19:5. Acts 22:18; &c. Man can neither hinder nor advance the kingdom of God. But here the meaning is "Looking for, yes and earnestly looking for, the coming of the day of God".

wherein = on account of (App-104. 2 Peter 3:2) which (plural)

being on fire. See Ephesians 6:16 (fiery).

melt. Greek. tekomai. Only here.

Verse 13

according to. App-104.

promise. See 2 Peter 1:4. Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22.

new. Greek. kainos. See Matthew 9:17.

wherein = in (App-104.) which.

dwelleth. See Acts 2:5.

Verse 14

such = these.

be diligent. See 2 Peter 1:10.

of Dative case. No preposition.

without spot. See 1 Timothy 6:14. blameless. Greek. amometos. See Philippians 1:2, Philippians 1:15.

Verse 15

hath written = wrote. Some think this refers to the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Verse 16

also, &c. = in all his epistles also.

speaking. App-121.7.

some. App-124. (neut).

hard, &c. Greek. dusnoetos. Only here.

unlearned. Greek. amathes. Only here. Compare Acts 4:13. 1 Corinthians 14:16. 2 Timothy 2:23.

unstable. See 2 Peter 2:14.

wrest. Greek. strebloo. Only here and in Septuagint of 2 Samuel 22:27 (m. wrestle). It means to strain or twist, and so to torture. Occurs in Apocrypha.

also, &c. = the other (App-124.) Scriptures also. Note that St. Paul"s epistles are called "Scripture".

unto. App-104.

destruction. Same as "perdition", 2 Peter 3:7.

Verse 17

know. before. Greek. proginosko. App-132.

lest = in order that (Greek. hina) not (Greek. me, as in 2 Peter 3:8).

led away. Greek. aunapagomai. See Romans 12:16. Galatians 1:2, Galatians 1:13.

wicked. See 2 Peter 2:7.

fall. Greek. ekpipto. Occurances: Galatians 1:5, Galatians 1:4.

stedfastness. Greek. sterigmos. Only here. The verb in 2 Peter 1:12.

PO Box 369, WODEN ACT 2606, AUSTRALIA