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2Pe_2:18. Cf. Jud_1:16.
ὑπέρογκα γὰρ ματαιότητος φθεγγόμενοι ] The γάρ does not serve to explain the figurative words, 2Pe_2:17 (as formerly in this commentary), for, as Hofmann justly says, “the description of their conduct contained in this verse goes far beyond those figurative statements as to their nature.” It must be referred either, with Wiesinger, to the judgment expressed in 2Pe_2:17,
οἷς … τετηρ . being included,—or, as is done by Hofmann, to the relative clause only; the former is probably the more correct view.[79]
ὙΠΈΡΟΓΚΟς , “swelling;” in the classics used also of style. ΜΑΤΑΙΌΤΗς gives the nature of the swelling, high-sounding speeches (“the proud words,” Luther); Luther aptly: “since there is nothing behind them.” The word ΦΘΕΓΓΌΜΕΝΟΙ (besides in Act_4:18, to be found only here and in 2Pe_2:16) is here the more appropriate that it is used chiefly of loud speaking.
ΔΕΛΕΆΖΟΥΣΙΝ ] Cf. 2Pe_2:14.
ἘΝ ἘΠΙΘΥΜΊΑΙς ΣΑΡΚῸς ἈΣΕΛΓΕΊΑΙς ] ἘΝ is commonly taken as equivalent to ΔΙΆ , and ἈΣΕΛΓ . as an apposition to ἘΠΙΘ .: “through the lusts of the flesh, through debauchery” (de Wette, Brückner, Wiesinger, probably Schott too); but thus there is a felt want of a ΚΑΊ , or of a second ἘΝ , and the ἘΠΙΘΥΜΊΑΙ of the seducers, too, are not to be considered as the means of allurement. Hofmann explains: “by means of fleshly lusts, which they awaken in them, through acts of wantonness, the enjoyment of which they hold out to them;” but here relations are introduced to which the text makes no allusion. It is therefore better to take ἘΝ ἘΠΙΘΥΜΊΑΙς Σ . as designating the condition of the seducers, and ἈΣΕΛΓΕΊΑΙς as the dat. instrum.: “in the lusts of the flesh (i.e. taken in them, governed by them) they allure by voluptuousness those who,” etc.; Steinfass correctly: “it is part of their ἐπιθ . σαρκ . that they seek to allure the members of the church;” he is wrong, however, when he explains the ἈΣΕΛΓΕΊΑΙς as that to which they allure them. Luther translates wrongly: “through lasciviousness to fleshly lust;” ἘΝ ἘΠΙΘΥΜΊΑΙς is not equal to ΕἸς ἘΠΙΘΥΜΊΑς .
ΤΟῪς ὈΛΊΓΩς ἈΠΟΦΕΎΓΟΝΤΑς ] ὈΛΊΓΩς , ἍΠ . ΛΕΓ ., is hardly to be found elsewhere. It expresses both time and measure, and corresponds to the English: “hardly, just” (thus also Schott). Wiesinger and Hofmann understand it only of measure, equivalent to “little;” Hofmann understands it of space: “they are a little way escaped from those who walk in error.” The pres. of the verb shows that they are, as it were, still in the act of flight from their former condition, and are not yet firmly established in the new; cf. 2Pe_2:14 : ψυχὰς ἀστηρίκτους .
τοὺς ἐν πλάνῃ ἀναστρεφομένους ] not an adjunct co-ordinate with what goes before; Luther: “and now walk in error;” but the accus. is dependent on ἈΠΟΦΕΎΓΟΝΤΑς , and ΟἹ ἘΝ ΠΛΆΝῌ ἈΝΑΣΤΡΕΦΌΜΕΝΟΙ are those from whom the persons who are being seduced have separated themselves, those who are not Christians, especially the heathen, who lead a life ἘΝ ΠΛΆΝῌ (Wiesinger, Schott, Brückner, Fronmüller, Hofmann); Steinfass incorrectly understands by the expression the ΨΕΥΔΟΔΙΔΆΣΚΑΛΟΙ .
[79] Bengel: Puteus et nubes aquam pollicentur; sic illi praegrandia jactant, quasi lumina ecclesiae; sed hi putei, hae nubes nil praebent; praegrandia illa sunt vanitatis.