SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:18
Mas creced en la gracia, y el conocimiento de nuestro Seor y Salvador Jess, el Cristo. A l sea gloria ahora y hasta el día de la eternidad. Amn.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 3:18
Verse 18. But grow in grace] Increase in the image and favour of God; every grace and Divine influence which ye have received is a seed, a heavenly seed, which, if it be watered with the dew of heaven from above, will endlessly increase and multiply itself. He who continues to believe, love, and obey, will grow in grace, and continually increase in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, as his sacrifice, sanctifier, counsellor, preserver, and final saviour. The life of a Christian is a growth; he is at first born of God, and is a little child; becomes a young man, and a father in Christ. Every father was once an infant; and had he not grown, he would have never been a man. Those who content themselves with the grace they received when converted to God, are, at best, in a continual state of infancy: but we find, in the order of nature, that the infant that does not grow, and grow daily, too, is sickly and soon dies; so, in the order of grace, those who do not grow up into Jesus Christ are sickly, and will soon die, die to all sense and influence of heavenly things.
There are many who boast of the grace of their conversion; persons who were never more than babes, and have long since lost even that grace, because they did not grow in it. Let him that readeth understand.
To him.] The Lord Jesus, be glory - all honour and excellency attributed, both now - in this present state, and for ever, eiv hmeran aiwnov, to the day of eternity - that in which death, and misery, and trial, and darkness, and change, and time itself, are to the righteous for ever at an end: it is eternity; and this eternity is one unalterable, interminable, unclouded, and unchangeable DAY! Amen.] So let it be! and so it shall be! Though this word is wanting in some reputable MSS., get it should be retained, as it has here more than usual authority in its support.
Subscriptions to this epistle in the VERSIONS: The end of the Second Epistle of Peter the apostle. - SYRIAC.
The Second Epistle of Peter the apostle is ended. - SYRIAC PHILOXENIAN.
Nothing in the printed Vulgate.
The end of the epistles of blessed Peter the apostle, the rock of the faith.- ARABIC.
The Second Epistle of Peter is ended; and glory be to God for ever and ever! - AETHIOPIC.
Nothing in the COPTIC.
The end of the Second catholic Epistle of St. Peter. - COMPLUTENSIAN POLYGLOT.
The end of the Second Epistle of St. Peter. - BIB. LAT., edit. antiq.
Subscriptions in the MANUSCRIPTS; Of the second of Peter. - CODEX ALEXANDRIUS, and CODEX VATICANUS.
Of the catholic epistle of Peter. - CODEX EPHREM.
The Second Epistle of the holy Apostle Peter. - Other MSS.
WE have now passed over all the canonical writings of Peter that are extant; and it is worthy of remark that, in no place of the two epistles already examined, nor in any of this apostle's sayings in any other parts of the sacred writings do we find any of the peculiar tenets of the Romish Church: not one word of his or the pope's supremacy; not one word of those who affect to be his successors; nothing of the infallibility claimed by those pretended successors; nothing of purgatory, penances, pilgrimages, auricular confession, power of the keys, indulgences, extreme unction, masses, and prayers for the dead; and not one word on the most essential doctrine of the Romish Church, transubstantiation. Now, as all these things have been considered by themselves most essential to the being of that Church; is it not strange that he, from whom they profess to derive all their power, authority, and influence, in spiritual and secular matters, should have said nothing of these most necessary things? Is it not a proof that they are all false and forged; that the holy apostle knew nothing of them; that they are no part of the doctrine of God; and, although they distinguish the Church of Rome, do not belong to the Church of Christ? It is no wonder that the rulers of this Church endeavour to keep the Scriptures from the common people; for, were they permitted to consult these, the imposture would be detected, and the solemn, destructive cheat at once exposed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 18. But grow in grace , etc.] In the gifts of grace, which, under a divine blessing, may be increased by using them: gifts neglected decrease, but stirred up and used, are improved and increase. And though men are to be thankful for their gifts, and be contented with them, yet they may lawfully desire more, and in the use of means seek an increase of them, which may be a means of preserving themselves, and others, from the error of the wicked. Moreover, by grace may be meant internal grace. The work of grace is gradual; it is like a grain of mustard seed, or like seed cast into the earth, which springs up, it is not known how, first the blade, then the ear, then the full corn in the ear; saints are first babes, and from children they grow to young men, and from young men to fathers. There is such a thing as growth in grace, in this sense; every grace, as to its act and exercise, is capable of growing and increasing; faith may grow exceedingly, hope abound, love increase, and patience have its perfect work, and saints may grow more humble, holy, and self-denying: this is indeed God's work, to cause them to grow, and it is owing to his grace; yet saint, should show a concern for this, and make use of means which God owns and blesses for this purpose, such as prayer, attending on the word, and looking over the promises of God, for an increase of faith; recollecting past experiences, and looking to the death and resurrection of Christ for the encouragement of hope, and to the love of God and Christ, for the stirring up of love to both, and to the saints; considering the sufferings of Christ, the desert of sin, and the glories of another world, to promote patience and self-denial, and the pattern of Christ, to excite to humility; though grace may also intend the Gospel, the knowledge of which is imperfect, and may be increased in the use of means, and which is a special preservative against error, a growth in which saints should be concerned for: and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; of his person, office, and grace, than which nothing is more valuable, and is to be preferred to everything; it is the principal thing in grace, and is the beginning and pledge of eternal life, and will issue in it; for an increase of which, and a growth in it, the word and ordinances are designed; and nothing can be a greater security against error than an experimental growing knowledge of Christ. The Syriac version adds, and of God the Father; and so some copies read: to him [be] glory, both now, and for ever ; or to the day of eternity; that is, to Christ, who is truly God, or otherwise such a doxology would not belong to him, be ascribed the glory of deity, of all divine perfections; the glory of all his offices and work as Mediator; the glory of man's salvation; and the glory of all that grace, and the growth of it, together with the knowledge of himself, which saints have from him; and that both in this world, and that which is to come. Amen ; so be it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 11-18 - From the doctrine of Christ's second coming, we are exhorted to purit and godliness. This is the effect of real knowledge. Very exact an universal holiness is enjoined, not resting in any low measure of degree. True Christians look for new heavens and a new earth; free from the vanity to which things present are subject, and the sin the are polluted with. Those only who are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and sanctified by the Holy Ghost, shall be admitted to dwell in this holy place. He is faithful, who has promised. Those, whose sin are pardoned, and their peace made with God, are the only safe an happy people; therefore follow after peace, and that with all men follow after holiness as well as peace. Never expect to be found a that day of God in peace, if you are lazy and idle in this your day, in which we must finish the work given us to do. Only the diligen Christian will be the happy Christian in the day of the Lord. Our Lor will suddenly come to us, or shortly call us to him; and shall he fin us idle? Learn to make a right use of the patience of our Lord, who a yet delays his coming. Proud, carnal, and corrupt men, seek to wres some things into a seeming agreement with their wicked doctrines. But this is no reason why St. Paul's epistles, or any other part of the Scriptures, should be laid aside; for men, left to themselves, perver every gift of God. Then let us seek to have our minds prepared for receiving things hard to be understood, by putting in practice thing which are more easy to be understood. But there must be self-denial an suspicion of ourselves, and submission to the authority of Chris Jesus, before we can heartily receive all the truths of the gospel therefore we are in great danger of rejecting the truth. And whateve opinions and thoughts of men are not according to the law of God, an warranted by it, the believer disclaims and abhors. Those who are le away by error, fall from their own stedfastness. And that we may avoi being led away, we must seek to grow in all grace, in faith, an virtue, and knowledge. Labour to know Christ more clearly, and mor fully; to know him so as to be more like him, and to love him better This is the knowledge of Christ, which the apostle Paul reached after and desired to attain; and those who taste this effect of the knowledg of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, will, upon receiving such grac from him, give thanks and praise him, and join in ascribing glory to him now, in the full assurance of doing the same hereafter, for ever __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
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