Commentary on 2 Peter, Commentary on 2 Peter volume 1 · Chapter 1 · Verse 1
VER. I.
Simon Peter, a Servant, and an Apostle of IESVS CHRIST, to them that have obtained like precious Faith with us, through the righteouſneſſe of God, and our Saviour IESVS CHRIST.
THE Bookes of the New Teſtament have been diſtinguiſhed into three kindes: Hiſtoricall, Doctrinall, and Propheticall. 1. Hiſtoricall; ſuch as containe the Birth, Life, Death, and Reſurrection of our Bleſſed SAVIOVR, with his Divine Sermons, and Miraculous Actions; written by the foure Evangeliſts: Seconded by the memorable and famous Storie of the Acts of his Apoſtles. 2. Doctrinall; ſuch as concerne our inſtruction in the knowledge of Chriſt, and teach us the way of ſalvation. Theſe are the holy Epiſtles of Saint Paul, S. Iames, S. Peter, S. Iohn, and S Iude. 3. Propheticall; ſuch as foretell the eſtate and condition of the Church militant to the end of the World: of which kinde is the Revelation of S. Iohn the Divine Yet doth not this diſtinction debarre the Hiſtory from altogether medling with Prophecie, nor the Propheticall part from touching upon Hiſtory, nor the Doctrinall part from the uſe of both the former. So the Evangeliſts, that wrote the ſtory of Chriſt, do nevertheleſſe abound with heavenly Doctrines, containing in them the life-giving Sermons of that Supreme Biſhop of our ſoules: Neither are they withou plentifull predictions; as of the deſtruction of Ieruſalem, and the end of the world. So the holy Apoſtles, in their Epiſtles, together with their doctrines, by which they build up the Church, do alſo propheſie of future things: as S. Paul doth of the Calling of the Iewes, and of the comming of Antichriſt; and the laſt Chapter of this preſent Epiſtle, hath been aptly called, Saint Peters Prophecie.
Concerning which, there have ariſen two ancient doubts, like clouds to obſcure the light of the Truth. Some have queſtioned the authority of this Epiſtle: others, the Author. 1. For thoſe that have contradicted the Authority of it, excluding it out of the number of the Canonicall Bookes,aHiſt. 3. cap. 25. Euſebius, bLib. 2. Hiſt. cap 46.Nicephorus, cDe viris illuſtr. in Petro.Hierome, anddHom. 18. in Ezek. Gregorie, make mention of them. They tell us of ſome ſuch quarrellers, they tell us not their names: Such there were, but who they were, they do not ſay. Therefore, let their opinion be buried in the duſt with them: for, this Booke lives while they are dead. 2. For the Author, ſome have denyed it to be S. Peters: and to this error, the ſuppoſed diverſity of the ſtile hath induced them. As if the ſame Author might not diverſifie his ſtile upon due occaſion, according to the difference of the matter, or argument upon which, or difference of the perſon to whom he writes. The Epiſtle to the Hebrewes is of a more accurate ſtile, than S. Pauls other Epiſtles: Yet by an univerſall conſent it is agreed upon to be S. Pauls. Certainly, the Author of this muſt be ſome grand Impoſtour, if hee were not one of thoſe three Apoſtles,Matth. 17.1. that were preſent at Chriſts transfiguration upon the Mount: where hee ſolemnely profeſſeth himſelfe to have beene. The three witneſſes of Chriſts Clarification there, were Peter, and Iames, and Iohn: No man affirmes Iames or Iohn to be the Author of this Epiſtle, therefore it muſt be Peter. And if he were not the Author of it, with what impudence ſhould another Secretary call himſelfe Simon Peter, a ſervant and an Apoſtle of Ieſus Chriſt? To alledge, that Paul, Gal. 2.11.writing to the Galatians, doth plainly teſtifie, that he withſtood Peter to the face, and that hee was to be blamed: therefore it is not likely, that Peter would write ſo faire an Encomium of Paul, 2 Pet. 3.15.& ita admirandum praedicare. Such Critickes are farre from the ſanctified ſpirit of an Apoſtle: for they, without reſpect to their private affections, or particular praiſes, ſought only the truth of the Goſpell, and the glory of their Maſter IESVS CHRIST.
The Majeſtie of the HOLY GHOST appeares in every line of it; therefore the Authority is indubitate. The Name prefixed warrants it to be S. Peters, therefore we cannot denie the Author. It remaines only, that we directly come to the matter: In which proceeding, the Spirit of Illumination direct me to write, and the Spirit of Sanctification direct you to read; that all of us, beleeving and living according to the holy Doctrine delivered, the Name of God may be glorified, and our deare ſoules everlaſtingly ſaved, through our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Amen.