Magyar

Hilary of Arles

Nicene & Post-Nicene · AD 325–500 · 167 passages across 8 books

Commentary

101–120 of 167
2 Peter 2:19

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

A man is the slave of whatever vice controls him.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 2:20

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

It is always worse to sin knowingly than to sin in ignorance.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 2:21

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

To know the way of righteousness is to know Christ and the holy gospel. Peter is talking here about people who have been baptized after professing faith in Jesus but who have then turned away from him.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 3:1

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

Peter makes a point of mentioning that this is his second letter, so that the recipients will not doubt its authenticity.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 3:3

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

Here Peter prophesies what will happen in the future, for we must always remember that there are prophets in the New Testament too.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 3:4

And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

People were talking this way as if the flood had never occurred and as if fire had never come down from heaven in the past.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 3:5

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:

The whole creation is basically formed out of water, even if it is solidified in the form of earth or elevated in the way that heaven is.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 3:8

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Just as a man works for a day and afterwards remembers what he has done, so God does not forget even after a thousand years. It may be a long time before he gets round to punishing sinners, but when he does so he uses his power in a single instant.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 3:11

Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

As you wait for the end of all things, you must live holy lives according to the three laws—the Old Testament, the New Testament and the law of nature—and you must keep faith in the Trinity, which is the law of godliness.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 3:12

Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

You are waiting for the end as the virgins waited for the bridegroom.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 3:14

Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

When he returns, Christ wants to find you spotless in your faith and uncorrupted in the chastity of your body.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 3:15

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;

Note that Paul wrote to them not according to the wisdom which he possessed but according to the wisdom which was given to him specifically for that purpose.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 3:16

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Peter says this because he himself was overwhelmed by Paul’s brilliance.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

2 Peter 3:18

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Grow in the faith which is yours by baptism and in the knowledge which comes from putting that faith into practice.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Things are going well for Gaius because his soul is carrying on in good works as the will of his mind directs him.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 3 JOHN

3 John 1:3

For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

The truth of Gaius’s life was seen in the perfection of his works. He was a man who went about without any guile in thought, word or deed. Instead of that, he followed the commandments of God to the best of his ability.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 3 JOHN

3 John 1:6

Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

Visitors praised Gaius to the rest of the church because of his generous hospitality to those who were in God’s service.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 3 JOHN

3 John 1:7

Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

This means that the servants of God have accepted no assistance from those who are not believers.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 3 JOHN

3 John 1:9

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

This verse teaches us that we ought to bear the abuse of those who insult us with equanimity, but sometimes we have to protest it because if we do not do so, these people will corrupt the minds of those who might otherwise have heard something good about us.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 3 JOHN

3 John 1:12

Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

Demetrius was highly regarded by everybody because of his virtue. Some people take this verse to mean that he was criticized by everyone, but I cannot see how such an interpretation is possible.

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 3 JOHN

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