2 Peter 1

2 Peter 1:1

SImon] Gr. Symeon, as it is translated, Acts 15:14. The name of one of Jacobs son, Genesis 29:33. and of another godly man, Luke 2. 25. He is called Simon also, Matthew 10:2. John 21:16. as we commonly call him. It seems that this was the name that was given him by his parents, at his circumcision.

Peter] A sirname given him by Christ, John 1:42. It may be, to distinguish him from Simon the Canaanite, who was also an apostle, Matth. 10. 2, 4. It was renewed, upon his confession, Matth. 16. 16, 17, 18. The former name, Simon, comes from a word that signifies hearing. This later name, Peter, signifies a stone. The name imports, an hearer, and firm observer of Gods word; and such an one indeed this apostle was, Matthew 7:24.

A servant] See on Revelation 1:1.

an apostle] One called by Christ immediately, Matthew 10:2. and sent to preach the Gospel in any part of the world, Matthew 28:19. and having authority over all Churches, 1 Corinthians 9:1. compared with 2 Corinthians 11:28.

of Jesus Christ] See on Matthew 1:1. Revelation 1:1.

to them] To whom this epistle was written. See on chap. 3. vers. 1.

that have obtained] The Greek word, in the primitive signification of it, signifieth getting a thing by lot, as inheritances were sometimes divided, Joshua 14:2. yet it is used for obtaining a thing any other way.

like] In substance, not equall in degree; for faith might be stronger in the apostle then it was in them to whom he writ, Romans 1:12. 2 Corinthians 4:13. Titus 1:4.

precious faith] 1 Peter 1:7. It is called so, in regard of the precious promises it lays hold upon, v. 4. which belong alike to all believers.

with us] Apostles, as 1 John 1:3. and other Christians, Jude v. 3. 2 Corinthians 1:21. Or, with me. See on 1 John 1:1; 1 John 1:3.

through the righteousnesse] By the merits of Christ, who hath deserved for us both grace and glory. Gr. in the righteousnesse. Our faith rests on Christs merits. Or, by Gods mercy and bounty. So the word is used, 2 Corinthians 9:9. Faith then comes not by any desert of ours, but from Christs merits, or Gods mercy, or by Gods faithfulnesse in keeping his promises, Psalms 89:33. Luke 18:18. 1 John 1:9.

of God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ] Gr. of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. See on Jude v. 25.

2 Peter 1:2

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you] See on 1 Pet. 1. 2. Revelation 1:9.

through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus] That is, through faith in God, and Christ made known to us, Isaiah 53:11.

our Lord] 1 Corinthians 8:6.

2 Peter 1:3

According as his divine power] It may be referred to that that went before. Let grace and peace be multiplied to you, according to the riches of his provisions for us. Or to the words following: As God hath given us all things, &c. so adde to your faith, vertue, &c. v. 5. So Paul begins, after salutation, 1 Timothy 1:3. Or, O how hath his divine power, &c. Romans 11:33.

hath given unto us] To us Christians, to enjoy: or, to us apostles, to preach to you, that ye may be partakers of the divine nature, v. 4.

all things that pertain unto life and godlinesse] All things needfull to preserve our naturall or spirituall life here. Or, all things requisite to bring us to heaven hereafter, and to enable us to live godlily here.

through the knowledge of him] See on v. 2.

that hath called us] God, 1 Peter 1:15. Or, Christ, Romans 1:6.

to glory and vertue] To glory in heaven, and vertue on earth. Or, by glory and vertue: That is, by a glorious and powerfull Gospel. Or, employing his glorious power to convert us, Ephesians 1:19. and Ephesians 3:6.

2 Peter 1:4

Whereby] By which glory and power appearing in the preaching of the Gospel. Or, Because that. Seeing God hath made such glorious promises to us, he hath given us all things needfull for grace and glory.

are given] Or, he hath given; as v. 3.

unto us] See on v. 3.

exceeding great and precious promises] Promises of very great matters, and things of high price and account.

that by these] By these promises: or, by these things given us, v. 3.

you might be partakers of the divine nature] Not of Gods substance, which is incommunicable; but have excellent graces given us, whereby we are made like to God in wisedom and holinesse, wherein the image of God, after which man was at first created, consists, Ephesians 4:24. Colossians 3:10.

having escaped] Gr. having fled from. It shews the nature of our victory over sin, which consists in fleeing from it, chap. 2. 18. 20. 1 Corinthians 6:18.

the corruption] Of sin: or, of destruction, as chap. 2. 12, 19.

in the world through lust] In worldly men, by reason of wicked desires reigning in them, 1 John 2:15-16.

2 Peter 1:5

And besides this] It is not enough to flee corrupt lusts, but we must also get store of vertue. Or, And for this very thing also. Gods grace to us, should make us strive to encrease his graces in us. Or, So do this very thing also. So the first particle is translated, Jeh 6. 57. As God hath given you great benefits, v. 3. so do ye seek to adde grace to grace. Or, Therefore do ye also this very thing. So the first particle is translated, 1 Corinthians 15:13. And if the beginning of the third verse be read by way of exclamation, it answers well to it.

giving] Gr. bringing in besides. As not having done enough in avoiding lusts, unlesse ye be pious.

all diligence] The greatest diligence that ye can possibly. The word comes from another word in the original, that signifies to make haste, as diligent men use to do, who omit no occasions to at complish their just ends.

Adde to your faith] To your confidence in Christ, whereby ye are justified before God.

vertue] Morall vertues, which may make you acceptable in the sight both of God and of men, Phis. 4. 8. 1 Per. 3. 4.

knowledge] Get more knowledge of Christ daily, Philippians 3:8; Philippians 3:10.

2 Peter 1:6

temperance] Power in your selves to moderate your affection toward outward things, as the word imports.

patience] Abiding under troubles with quietnesse, as the derivation of the word implies.

godlinesse] Well worshipping of God, to wit, according to his will.

2 Peter 1:7

brotherly kindnesse] Love to the saints, Hebrews 13:1. which are our brethren in Christ, Matthew 23:8.

charity] Whereby we are to love, not our brethren onely, but others also, Galatians 6:10. 1 Thess. 3. 12. and 5. 15.

2 Peter 1:8

be in you, and abound] Be plentifully in you, Col. 3. 16.

they make you, that ye shall neither, &c.] Ye shall not onely not be negligent and unfruitfull, but also be painfull in good works, and see fruit of your faith, v. 5.

be barren] Gr. be idle. They are idle, not onely who do nothing, but also who use not the gifts they have to their best improvement and advantage.

unfruitfull] As fruits are pleasing to us, so are good works to God; and are therefore called fruits, Matthew 12:33. Galatians 5:22. 1 Thessalonians 1:4. Colossians 3:20. Hebrews 13:16.

in the knowledge] In exercising your knowledge. That you know of Christ, will make you fruitfull in good works.

of our Lord Jesus Christ] See on v. 2.

2 Peter 1:9

is blinde, and cannot see far off] Or, is blinde, or cannot see far off. If he be not stark blinde in these spirituall things, he is so weak sighted that he cannot clearly discern such high mysteries.

that he was purged from his old sins] That he made a profession in baptism, that his former sins were purged away by the blood of Christ.

2 Peter 1:10

Wherefore the rather] Because of the dangers mentioned, v. 9. Or, Wherefore the more. Be the more carefull to do it.

brethren] By regeneration, and adoption, and union with Christ by saith, we are made the children of God, and brethren spiritually, Philippians 4:1.

given diligence] See on v. 5.

to make your calling and election sure] Gr. firm, or slable. To get good grounds to assure you that ye were elected before the world, and are called out of the world. For it is sure enough in it self, by Gods decree and immutability, 2 Timothy 2:19. Malachi 3:6. John 6:40. and John 13:1. Romans 11:29.

for if ye do these things] Continuance then in well-doing, is the way to get and keep assurance of salvation.

ye shall never fall] Jude v. 4. Our life is likened to a race, 1 Corinthians 9:24. we must take heed lest we fall, and come short of the prize set before us. The children of God may fall into some sins by weaknesse; but never so as to lose the goal, v. 11. Psal. 15. 1, 5. Romans 11:11. Or, ye shall never stumble. While ye are carefull so to do, as before, ye shall go on smoothly towards heaven, without falling into any sin. For Gods servants sin, most commonly, for want of heeding their way, 1 John 2:10.

2 Peter 1:11

an entrance] A large passage into the kingdom of glory in the life to come.

abundantly] John 10:10. If ye be full of good works, ye shall have abundant reward, 1 Corinthians 9:9. and 1 Corinthians 15:58. 2 Joh. v. 8.

2 Peter 1:12

Wherefore I will not be negligent] Because an holy life here, gives assurance of so great glory hereafter, I will not cease to minde you of it.

of these things] To encrease your former graces, v. 5.

though ye know them] Romans 15:15. 1 John 2:21. For we oft forget, through multitude of worldly businesses, what we know of holy and heavenly things.

in the present truth] Now more fully taught then under the old testament, and generally believed by Christians.

2 Peter 1:13

I think it meet] In regard of their naturall sluggishnesse. Or, I think it a just thing. For he was an apostle, and it was his duty to do it, 1 Corinthians 6:19.

in this tabernacle] Our bodies are like tents set up for our souls to converse in for a time, and easily pulled down, 2 Corinthians 5:1.

to stir you up] For we are very drousie in spirituall things, at the best, and had need to be rouzed up, 2 Timothy 1:6. chap. 4. 1.

2 Peter 1:14

Knowing] Very probably, by divine revelation, as it is likely Paul did also, 2 Tim. 4. 6.

that shortly I must put off] It seems he was old then, when he wrote this epistle: for old-age was promised to him, John 21:18.

〈◊〉 our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me] As is from God now revealed to me: or, in that manner as he sometimes foretold me John 21:18-19.

2 Peter 1:15

after my decease] Gr. going out: To wit, out of this world by death; as Luke 9. 31.

to have these things always in remembrance] Or, to have whereby ye may always remember these things. As I will always call upon you, while I live (as v. 12, 13.) so I will leave you this epistle, as upon record, that may ever put you in minde of these things, when I am dead.

2 Peter 1:16

For we have not followed] Because I have taught Gods truth, therefore I would have it remembred after my death: whereas, if I had delivered fables, growing now towards my death, I should rather repent of it, and be willing to have them forgotten, and buried with me.

cunningly devised fables] Woven together so artificially, that they might seem to be true, although indeed they be most false. Store of such had the Jews, and heathen poets in those days, and the Mahometans and papists have in these times.

power and coming] Powerfull coming in the flesh, which our Saviour Christ shewed in effectuall perswading many to believe what he taught, and confirming it by miracles, Matth. 7. 28, 29. and 8. 7, 8. Luke 24. 19. 32. Romans 1:4.

eye-witnesses] Matth. 17. 1, 2. John 1:14. 1 John 1:1. Luke 1:2.

of his majestie] Hebrews 1:3. Of his glorious appearance, Matthew 17:2.

2 Peter 1:17

honour and glory] Heb. 2. 7, 9. God attired him like his son, and owned him for his son, Matth. 17. 2, 5.

from the excellent glory] Exceeding great glory, such as became (God) the speaker, as the Greek word imports.

This is my beloved Son] Matthew 17:5. and Matthew 3:17.

2 Peter 1:18

we heard] I Peter, and James, and John, Matthew 17:1. Or the singular for the plural: we, that is, I. See 1 John 1. 1, 3, 4.

when we were with him] Not far off from him; for then we might have been more easily deceived; but in his company.

in the holy mount] The mount whereon he was transfigured; which what mount it was, is uncertain. It is called holy, because God appeared there; as the ground where God appeared to Moses is called holy, Exodus 3:5.

2 Peter 1:19

We have also] Lest any should not believe Peter, but think the former apparition mentioned by him to be a fiction of his, he cites the prophets, as acknowledgers of Christs glory, and foretellers of his coming, 1 Pet. 1. 10, 11.

a more sure word] That is, a most sure, or very sure word. A comparative, for a superlative; as Acts 25:10. 1 Corinthians 13:13. for the former vision being from God also, as the prophecies were, was in it self as sure as they. Or, more sure then those cunning fables, which many follow, v. 16. Or, more firm, as it is in the Greek. The prophecies were, by long use, more setled in the hearts of the godly Jews, who believed all the prophets spake to come from God, John 5:45. and 9: 29. Luke 24:27. Acts 26:22-23. and therefore might sooner perswade them, then the report of a voice from heaven, although that were sure also. Pauls doctrine was examined by the prophets, Acts 17:11.

of prophecie] Psalms 2:7. and Psalms 110:1.

untill the day down] The times of the law were like the night, wherein candles were lighted; the time of the Gospel like day-light, wherein the sun shines. Or, by the light in a dark place, may be meant the revelation of Gods truth here; and by the day, the vision of Christ in heaven.

the day-star] Christ, Rvel. 2. 28. and 22. 16.

2 Peter 1:20

of any private interpretation] Such as ariseth out of mans own brains, and not out of the Scripture it self. He condemns not one mans or few mens interpretation or a place of Scripture, differing from others; for God may at first reveal a truth by one or few men, which afterwars may be embraced by many.

2 Peter 1:21

For the prophecie came not] It belongeth to God, the authour of prophecie, to give the sense of it.

in old time] Or, at any true.

by the will of man] They could not prophesie when they would, or what they would, 2 Kings 4. 27. and 21. 14. but when and what God would.

holy men of God] Or, those holy men of God: To wit, the prophets, who were holy. Such are called, Men of God, Psalms 90:1. 1 Timothy 6:11. 2 Timothy 3:17.

as they were moved] Gr. carried. Gods Spirit acquainting them with the things they knew not, directed them in the words, that they might not erre. God shewed them things above nature, and gave them a will to publish them, though sometimes they were unwilling to do it, Jeremiah 20:9.