h are carried about by
winds: trees of the autumn, unfruitful, twice dead, plucked up by the
roots:
1:13. Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own confusion:
wandering stars, to whom the storm of darkness is reserved for ever.
1:14. Now of these Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied,
saying: Behold, the Lord cometh with thousands of his saints:
Prophesied... This prophecy was either known by tradition, or from some
book that is since lost.
1:15. To execute judgment upon all and to reprove all the ungodly for
all the works of their ungodliness, whereby they have done ungodly: and
for all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against God.
1:16. These are murmurers, full of complaints, walking according to
their own desires: and their mouth speaketh proud things, admiring
persons, for gain's sake.
1:17. But you, my dearly beloved, be mindful of the words which have
been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
But you, my dearly beloved, be mindful, etc... He now exhorts the
faithful to remain steadfast in the belief and practice of what they had
heard from the apostles, who had also foretold that in aftertimes (lit.
in the last time) there should be false teachers, scoffing and
ridiculing all revealed truths, abandoning themselves to their passions
and lusts; who separate themselves from the Catholic communion by
heresies and schisms. Sensual men... carried away and enslaved by the
pleasures of the senses.
1:18. Who told you that in the last time there should come mockers,
walking according to their own desires in ungodlinesses.
1:19. These are they who separate themselves, sensual men, having not
the Spirit.
1:20. But you, my beloved, building yourselves upon your most holy
faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
1:21. Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ, unto life everlasting.
Building yourselves upon your most holy faith... Raising by your
actions, a spiritual building, founded, 1st, upon faith; 2d, on the love
of God; 3d, upon hope, whilst you are waiting for the mercies of God,
and the reward of eternal life; 4th, joined with the great duty of
prayer.
1:22. And some indeed reprove, being judged:
1:23. But others save, pulling them out of the fire. And on others have
mercy, in fear, hating also the spotted garment which is carnal.
And some indeed repove being judged... He gives them another instruction
|