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John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 2:22

But it is happened unto them, according to the true proverb ,.... Which is true, both in fact and in the application of it, and which lies in the Scriptures of truth, at least the first part of it, Proverbs 26:11 . The dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire ; which expresses the filthy nature of sin, signified by vomit, mire, and dirt, than which nothing is more abominable and defiling; and also the just characters of these... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way - As Balaam did, who, although God showed him the right way, took one contrary to it, preferring the reward offered him by Balak to the approbation and blessing of God. The way of Balaam - Is the counsel of Balaam. He counselled the Moabites to give their most beautiful young women to the Israelitish youth, that they might be enticed by them to commit idolatry. See the notes on Numbers 22:5 , etc., and Numbers 23:1 ; (note), etc. The son of Bosor... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:16

The dumb ass, speaking with man's voice - See the note on Numbers 22:28 . The madness of the prophet - Is not this a reference to the speech of the ass, as represented in the Targums of Jonathan ben Uzziel and Jerusalem? "Wo to thee, Balaam, thou sinner, thou madman: there is no wisdom found in thee." These words contain nearly the same expressions as those in St. Peter. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:17

These are wells without water - Persons who, by their profession, should furnish the water of life to souls athirst for salvation; but they have not this water; they are teachers without ability to instruct; they are sowers, and have no seed in their basket. Nothing is more cheering in the deserts of the east than to meet with a well of water; and nothing more distressing, when parched with thirst, than to meet with a well that contains no water. Clouds that are carried with a tempest - ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:18

They speak great swelling words of vanity - The word ὑπερογκα signifies things of great magnitude, grand, superb, sublime; it sometimes signifies inflated, tumid, bombastic. These false teachers spoke of great and high things, and no doubt promised their disciples the greatest privileges, as they themselves pretended to a high degree of illumination; but they were all false and vain, though they tickled the fancy and excited the desires of the flesh; and indeed this appears to have been... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:19

While they promise them liberty - Either to live in the highest degrees of spiritual good, or a freedom from the Roman yoke; or from the yoke of the law, or what they might term needless restraints. Their own conduct showed the falsity of their system; for they were slaves to every disgraceful lust. For of whom a man is overcome - This is an allusion to the ancient custom of selling for slaves those whom they had conquered and captivated in war. The ancient law was, that a man might... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:20

The pollutions of the world - Sin in general, and particularly superstition, idolatry, and lasciviousness. These are called μιασματα , miasmata , things that infect, pollute, and defile. The word was anciently used, and is in use at the present day, to express those noxious particles of effluvia proceeding from persons infected with contagious and dangerous diseases; or from dead and corrupt bodies, stagnant and putrid waters, marshes etc., by which the sound and healthy may be infected... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:21

For it had been better for them not to have known - For the reasons assigned above; because they have sinned against more mercy, are capable of more sin, and are liable to greater punishment. The holy commandment - The whole religion of Christ is contained in this one commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbor as thyself." He who obeys this great commandment, and this by the grace of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:22

According to the true proverb - This seems to be a reference to Proverbs 26:11 ; : קאו אל שב ככלב kekeleb shab al keo ; as the dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool repeateth his folly. In substance this proverb is found among the rabbins; so Midrash Ruth, in Sohar Chadash, fol. 62: Orphah is returned to her mire, Ruth persevered in spirit; and again, Ibid. fol. 64: "Orphah, which is הבהמית נפש nephesh habbehemith , the bestial soul, is returned to her mire." The Greeks have... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:15

Verse 15 As he has hitherto referred to the injury they did by the example of a perverse and corrupt life, so he again repeats, that they spread by their teaching the deadly poison of impiety, in order that they might destroy the simple. He compares them to Balaam, the son of Bozor, who employed a venal tongue to curse God’s people. And to shew that they were not worthy of a long refutation, he says that Balaam was reproved by an ass, and that thus his madness was condemned. But by this means... read more

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