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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - 2 Peter 2:19 - 2:19
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19. ἐλευθερίαν κ.τ.λ. This degeneracy of liberty into licence was a constant danger. πάντα ἔξεστιν· ἀλλʼ οὐ πάντα συμφέρει (1Co 10:23). Gal 5:13 μόνον μὴ τὴν ἐλευθερίαν εἱς ἀφορμὴν τῇ σαρκί. 1Pe 2:16 μὴ ὡς ἐπικάλυμμα ἔχοντες τῆς κακίας τὴν ἐλευθερίαν. Men have been found in all ages to say either openly or in effect: “Rules made for weaker brethren do not apply to me: I have penetrated into the mysteries of divine things, and know that what my body does cannot affect my soul.” But this, as our writer points out, is just where they are mistaken; they become slaves of the most abject kind to their habits and passions. Yet, slaves as they are, they dare to promise freedom to others!
ᾧ γάρ τις ἥττηται, τούτῳ δεδούλωται: so Sophocles in old age spoke of passion as a λυττῶν καὶ ἄγριος δεσπότης from whom he had escaped. Whoever committeth sin is the slave of sin, Joh 8:34 : cf. Rom 6:16.
Another kindred thought is that in Wis 11:16 διʼ ὧν τις ἁμαρτάνει, διὰ τούτων κολἀζεται: a ruling idea in the Apocalypse of Peter.