Hilary of Arles

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

Commentary

61–80 of 167

For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

The gospel is preached to the Gentiles who are dead in sin, but this may also refer to the fact that when the Lord was buried in the tomb he went to preach to those who live in hell.

1 Peter 4:7

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Peter is saying that once the gospel has been preached to the Gentiles the end will have come.

1 Peter 4:12

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

The trials and temptations which come to Christians are nothing new. The prophets of the Old Testament suffered exactly the same things. All such trials find their meaning and culmination in the cross of Christ. The servant is not greater than his master. If Christ suffered, how can we expect to get off any more lightly?

1 Peter 4:15

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Our suffering must not be like that of the thief on the cross, who suffered because he was a murderer, even though he himself confessed that Christ had done no wrong. Nor should we be like Ananias and Sapphira, who tried to steal what belonged to God. Even less should we imitate Simon Magus, who denounced the apostles to Nero and who tried to buy their gifts with gold and silver.

1 Peter 4:16

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

If you suffer as a Christian, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Think of James the son of Zebedee or Stephen. However awful the trials you suffer may be, learn to glory in them, not to be upset by them. Christ’s glory is revealed in the church when it suffers.

1 Peter 5:1

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

It is by exhortation and constructive criticism that the flock of the Lord is to be set straight.

1 Peter 5:2

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Here Peter is telling the leaders of the church exactly what the Lord told him: “Feed my sheep.”

1 Peter 5:3

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

Even though you may have authority over the church in what you say or in the office which you occupy, you should never have a superior attitude toward others.

1 Peter 5:5

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

By “young men” Peter means everyone who occupies a subordinate role in the church. But note that those who are superiors must also act humbly, for humility is what should be common to both.

1 Peter 5:9

Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

There is a world of difference between God and the devil. If you resist God, he will destroy you, but if you resist the devil, you will destroy him.

2 John 1:1

The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

The elect lady is clearly a church to which the letter is written. It is elect in faith and mistress of all virtues.

2 John 1:2

For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

By “truth” John is referring to the Holy Spirit, because love is always the work of the Spirit.

2 John 1:4

I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.

The saints are always overjoyed to see the results of truth at work.

2 John 1:8

Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

Here John is warning people not to fall away into heresy or to revert back to the Old Testament law once they have received the New.

2 John 1:10

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

Here you see an example of excommunication in the New Testament, both from table fellowship at home and from table fellowship in church.

2 John 1:13

The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.

John unites the leaders of the churches in peace because they are sisters in the faith of the church and daughters of God by baptism.

2 Peter 1:1

Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

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.

2 Peter 1:3

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

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.

2 Peter 1:4

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

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.

2 Peter 1:9

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

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

All writers

Who was this?

Hilary of Arles, also known as Hilarius, served as a bishop in Southern France during the fifth century. He died in 449. He is recognized as a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions, where his feast day is observed on 5 May.

Wikipedia

Works cited

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 1 PETER 40
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER 38
INTRODUCTORY TRACTATE ON THE LETTER OF JAMES 38
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 1 JOHN 30
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 3 JOHN 7
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON JUDE 6
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 JOHN 5
HONORATUS, PREFACE 3 1
INTRODUCTORY OMMENTARY ON 2 JOHN 1