12 BELOVED, be not surprised at the fiery persecution among you, which cometh to pass for your trial, as though some strange thing befel you: 13 but be glad, inasmuch as ye share the sufferings of Christ; that, when his glory shall be manifested, ye may be also glad with exceeding joy.

Jesus Christ; to whom belong-will be manifested; 2 feed the eth praise and dominion to the flock of God which is among ages of ages. Amen. you, being overseers of it, not by constraint, but willinglý; nor for base gain, but with a ready mind; 3 nor as domineering over those alloted to you, but as being examples to the flock. 4 And, when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive an unfading crown of glory.

5 Likewise, ye younger, be subject to the elder. Yea, all of you [be subject] one to another, and be clothed with humility: for "God resisteth the proud; but bestoweth favour on the humble."

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye: for the spirit of glory, and of power, and of God, resteth upon you. [On their part he is evil-spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.] 15 For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busy medler in other men's affairs. 16 But if any one suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this account.

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 having cast all your anxiety upon Him, inasmuch as He careth for you. 8 Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the impostor walketh about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour: 9 whom resist, stedfast in the faith; knowing that the same sufferings are undergone by your brethren who are in the world.

17 For the time is come when this condemnation must begin from the house of God: and if it begin from us, what will the end be of those who believe not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous be scarcely preserved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let those also, who

10 NOW the God of all favour, himself, who hath called us to his aionian glory in Christ Jesus, after ye shall have sufsuffer according to the will offered a short time, prepàre, God, commit the keeping of support, strengthen, [establish] their lives to him in well-doing, [you.] 11 To him be [glory and] dominion to the ages of ages. Amen.

as to a faithful creator.

CH. V. 1 THE elders that are among you I exhort, that am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and an heir also of the glory which

12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I have written in few words; exhorting you, and testifying that

this is the true favour of God | 14 Salute ye one another with in which ye stand. 13 The a kiss of love. Peace be with church which is at Babylon, cho- you all who are in Christ [Jesen together with you, saluteth sus.] you: and so doth Mark, my son.

THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER.*

CHAP. I. 1 SIMON Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obtained like precious faith with us, through the justification of our God, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 favour and peace be multiplied to you, through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

and to patience godliness, 7 and to godliness brotherly-kindness, and to brotherly-kindness love.

8 For these things being in you, and abounding, they will make you thrive and bear fruit in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he who hath not these things is blind, closing his eyes, and hath forgotten his former purification from his sins.

3 SEEING that his divine power hath given us all things relating to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who hath called us by his glory and virtue 4 (through which very great and precious promises are given to us, that through these ye might be partakers of a divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world 12 WHEREFORE I will not be through evil desire :) 5 now, to negligent to remind you always this end, use all diligence, of these things; though ye know and add to your faith fortitude, them, and be established in the and to fortitude knowledge, 6 present truth. 13 Yet I think and to knowledge temperance, it right, as long as I am in this and to temperance patience, tabernacle, to stir you up, by

10 Wherefore, brethren, more earnestly endeavour to make your calling and election sure: for, if ye do these things, ye will never fall: 11 for thus an entrance into the aionian kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ will be richly ministered to you.

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"This epistle is placed by Eusebius amongst those books of the New Testament, the genuineness of which was disputed in the primitive ages. Of these Dr. Lardner says, they should be allowed to be publicly read in Christian assemblies for the edification of the people, but not to be alledged as affording alone sufficient proof of any doctrine.' Lardner's Hist. of the Apostles, vol. i. ch. ii. Some have thought the first and third chapters genuine, but from the difference of style have doubted of the second." Im. Ver. note.

who will privily bring in destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them; bringing on themselves swift destruction. 2 (And many will follow their impurities; on account of whom the way of truth will be evil-spoken of.) 3 And 16 For we did not follow cun-through covetousness they will ningly devised fables, when we make a gain of you by their made known to you the power feigned words: but the condemand appearance of the Lord Je-nation, long since foretold, now sus Christ, but were eye-wit- lingereth not, and their destrucnesses of his majesty. 17 For tion slumbereth not. he received from God the Father honour and glory, when such a voice came 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 on the holy mountain.

reminding you; 14 knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ declared to me. 15 So I will endeavour that ye may always be able, after my decease, to make mention of these things.

4 For if God spared not the angels who_sinned,* but cast them down to tartarus, and delivered them up to chains of darkness to be reserved for condemnation; 5 and spared not the old world, but preserved eight persons, among whom was Noah, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought the flood on the world of ungodly men; 6 and turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, and condemned them with an utter overthrow, making them an example to those who should afterward be ungodly; 7 but delivered righteous Lot, who was grieved by the impure behaviour of lawless men: 8 (for that righteous man, while he among them seeing and hearing, tormented his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds ;) 9 so the Lord knoweth how to deliver those who are godly out of trial, and to

19 We have also the word of prophecy more confirmed; to which ye do well that ye attend, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star rise in your hearts: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture giveth its own interpretation. 21 For prophecy came not at any time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were mov-dwelt ed by a holy spirit.

CH. II. 1 [BUT there were also false prophets among the Jewish people; as there will be also false teachers among you,

*"Or, if God spared not the messengers who had sinned, i. e. the spies who were sent to explore the land of Canaan, etc. See Simpson's Essays, p. 205, etc. But, if the common interpretation be admitted, it will not establish the popular doctrine concerning fallen angels. For, 1. The epistle itself is of doubtful authority. 2. From the change of style this is the most doubtful portion of the epistle. 3. By those who admit the genuineness of the epistle, this chapter is supposed to have been a quotation from some ancient apocryphal book, and the apostle might not mean to give authority to the doctrine, but to argue with his readers upon known and allowed principles. See Sherlock's Diss., and Benson, and Doddridge's (Introductions to this epistle. The epistle of Jude is supposed to allude to, or quote from, the same apocryphal work." Im. Ver. note.

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reserve those who are unrighte-| live in error. 19 While they ous to a day of judgment to be promise them freedom, they thempunished: 10 but chiefly those selves are the slaves of corrupwho walk after the flesh with tion: for by whatever any one polluted desires, and despise do- is overcome, by that he is also minion. Presumptuous, and self- enslaved. willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities: 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might,* bring not a blaspheming accusation against them [before the Lord.] 12 But these, as brute creatures led by nature, made to be taken and destroyed, blaspheming in things of which they are ignorant, will be destroyed in their corruption of themselves; 13 and will receive the reward of unrighteousness, accounting it pleasure to riot in the day-time; blemishes and spots, rioting in their love-feasts, while they banquet with you; 14 having eyes full of adultery, and which cannot cease from sin; alluring the unstable; having a heart exercised in covetousness; cursed children, 15 who have forsaken the right path, and gone astray, and followed the way Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the reward of unrighteousness, 16 but received a rebuke for his transgression: the dumb beast of burden speaking with man's voice, forbad the madness of the prophet.

17 These are as wells without

water, and as clouds driven away by a storm; to whom the blackness of darkness is reserved [to the age.] 18 For when they speak very great swelling words of falsehood, they allure, by carnal desires and impurities, those who had nearly escaped from such as

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20 For if, having escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are entangled in them again, and overcome, their last state is worse than their first. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it hath happened to them according to the true proverb, “ The dog hath returned to his own vomit; and the sow that had washed herself, to her wallowing in the mire."]

CH. III. 1 THIS second epistle, beloved, I now write to you; in both which I stir up your pure understanding by reminding you; 2 that ye may remember the words formerly spoken by the holy prophets, and the commandment of us the apostles of our Lord and Saviour: 3 knowing this first, that great scoffers will come in the latter days, walking after their own evil desires, 4 and saying, "Where is the promise of his appearance? for, since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."

5 For of this they are wilfully ignorant, "that the heavens were made of old by the word of God, and the earth also,

See the note on ver. 4. Compare also Jude, ver. 9.

which standeth out of the water and in the water: 6 which things being so, the world that then was, having been overflowed with water, was destroyed. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now, are reserved by his word, and are kept for fire at a day of condemnation, and of the destruction of ungodly men.

vens will be set on fire* and will be dissolved, and the elements will be greatly heated and will melt? 13 Nevertheless, according to his promise, we look for new heavens, and a new earth, in which righteousness will dwell.

14 WHEREFORE, beloved, since ye look for these things, endeavour to be found by him 8 But, beloved, be not igno-in peace, spotless and unrerant of this one thing; that one provable: 15 and account that day is with the Lord as a thou- the long-suffering of our Lord sand years, and a thousand years is salvation: as our beloved as one day. 9 The Lord is not brother Paul also, according to slow concerning his promise, the wisdom given him, hath as some count slowness; but is written to you; 16 as also in all long-suffering towards us, not his epistles, speaking in them willing that any should perish, of these things: of which things but that all should come to re- some are hard to be underpentance. 10 But the day of the stood, which the unlearned and Lord will come as a thief; in unsteadfast wrest, as they do which day, the heavens will pass also the other scriptures, to away with a great noise, and their own destruction. the elements will be greatly heated and dissolved, the earth also and the works on it will be burned up.

17 Since therefore, beloved, ye know these things before, beware lest ye be led away with the error of the wicked, and. fall from your own steadfastness. 18 But grow in the favour and knowledge of our Lord and Sa

11 Since therefore all these things will be dissolved, what kind of persons ought ye to be

in all holy behaviour and godli-viour Jesus Christ. To him be ness; 12 looking for and earn- glory, both now and to the day estly desiring the coming of the of the age. [Amen.] day of God, in which the hea

"This in a literal sense is impossible, because the heavens are incombustible. Nor is it reasonable to believe that an event so little countenanced by natural appearances as that of the destruction of the earth by a general conflagration, is the subject of a divine prediction. It is well known that in the language of prophecy great political changes and revolutions are foretold under the symbol of terrible convulsions in the natural world. In this language our Lord foretells the approaching desolation of Jerusalem, Matt. xxiv. 29. And in language precisely similar, borrowed indeed from the prophet Joel, the apostle Peter himself, Acts ii. 31, describes the calamities of the Jewish nation which were then impending. It can hardly admit of a doubt that the sublime language of this context is to be interpreted in a similar manner. The 13th verse is a quotation from Isaiah lxv. 17, where the new heavens and the new earth are universally understood to signify the gospel dispensation. Consequently, "the heavens and the earth which are now," ver. 7, must necessarily signify the Jewish dispensation, or the then moral state of the world, which must pass away to make room for the promulgation of the Christian religion. But this revolution cannot take place without producing great changes and convulsions in the political world; which in prophetic language, is expressed by the heavens being on fire, the elements melting, and the earth with the works on it being burned up." Im. Ver. note.