Hilary of Arles — Commentary on Scripture

2 Peter 1:1

In his second letter Peter describes himself both as Simon and as a servant, in order to show that he was humble and obedient. In his first letter he confined himself to the name Peter, which had been given to him by the Lord himself and signified that he was the chief of the apostles, but here he reverts to his original name Simon in order to show those who preferred to forget his Jewish origins that he had not rejected them.

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2 Peter 1:3

Here Peter is talking about the Scriptures, the miracles which Christ did in the flesh, the work of baptism and the doctrine which was preached, all of which bring us into the enjoyment of eternal life.

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2 Peter 1:4

Just as God stepped out of his nature to become a partaker of our humanity, so we are called to step out of our nature to become partakers of his divinity.

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2 Peter 1:9

If these virtues are present, we can see God, but if they are absent, we are blind.

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2 Peter 1:10

Peter is telling us that we should not be content with our baptism but should go on and grow in our faith.

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2 Peter 1:11

Here Peter reminds us that the entrance into heaven is the narrow way of following God’s commandments.

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2 Peter 1:12

The people to whom Peter is writing already know what he has to say because they have read his first letter. The truth which he has to share with them is the New Testament, for as Paul said: “The old has passed away, and all things are made new in Christ.”

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2 Peter 1:13

Peter thought that it was right to call Gentiles to faith, but the Jews did not. This is why he expresses himself like this here.

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2 Peter 1:14

The Lord Jesus showed Peter that his end was near either by a revelation through the Holy Spirit or by his response to Peter when he said: “Get behind me, Satan” or perhaps by dreams and visions in the night.

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2 Peter 1:15

By writing to them often Peter hoped to leave something behind him after his death.

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2 Peter 1:17

The one who received glory and honor was not inferior to the one who bestowed these things, because it was in his human flesh that the Son received them, not in his eternal divinity.

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2 Peter 1:18

Tradition says that the transfiguration took place on Mt. Tabor.

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2 Peter 1:19

The light which shone on them was the light of Scripture.

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2 Peter 1:20

You must take care when interpreting the Scriptures not to be too greatly fixated upon the places, times and people who wrote them down, as if they were merely human compositions. Rather you ought to rely on the clarity and sufficiency of the Spirit.

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2 Peter 2:1

It is typical of false teachers that they cannot accept the full equality of the persons of the Trinity.

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2 Peter 2:2

They revile the way of truth because they have turned orthodox doctrine into heresy, or because they have rejected the rule given to them at their baptism, or because they have abandoned the way of truth.

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2 Peter 2:3

The destruction of these people comes from none other than the God of Israel, who is never idle or asleep.

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2 Peter 2:4

The angels sinned in three ways, by their pride, by their envy and by their lust. In this verse it is made clear that sin can occur even if it is not done overtly in the flesh. It is obvious that the essence of sin is consent to do evil.

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2 Peter 2:5

The ungodliness of those who lived in the time from Adam to Noah was what caused the flood.

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2 Peter 2:14

These people even greeted one another with kisses which were full of lust. What was meant to be a sign of peace was transformed into adultery by those who had turned away from God.

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