24. you . . . and . . . the rest--The three
oldest manuscripts omit "and"; translate then, "Unto you, the rest."
as many as have not--not only do not hold, but are free
from contact with.
and which--The oldest manuscripts omit "and"; translate,
"whosoever."
the depths--These false prophets boasted peculiarly of their
knowledge of mysteries and the deep things of God;
pretensions subsequently expressed by their arrogant title,
Gnostics ("full of knowledge"). The Spirit here declares their
so-called "depths," (namely, of knowledge of divine things) to be
really "depths of Satan"; just as in
Re 2:9,
He says, instead of "the synagogue of God," "the synagogue of
Satan." HENGSTENBERG thinks the teachers
themselves professed to fathom the depths of Satan, giving loose
rein to fleshly lusts, without being hurt thereby. They who thus think
to fight Satan with his own weapons always find him more than a match
for them. The words, "as they speak," that is, "as they call them,"
coming after not only "depths," but "depths of Satan," seem to favor
this latter view; otherwise I should prefer the former, in which case,
"as they speak," or "call them," must refer to "depths" only, not also
"depths of Satan." The original sin of Adam was a desire to know
EVIL as well as good, so in HENGSTENBERG'S view, those who professed to know "the
depths of Satan." It is the prerogative of God alone to know evil
fully, without being hurt or defiled by it.
I will put--Two oldest manuscripts have "I put," or "cast." One
oldest manuscript reads as English Version.
none other burden--save abstinence from, and protestation
against, these abominations; no "depths" beyond your reach, such as
they teach, no new doctrine, but the old faith and rule of practice
once for all delivered to the saints. Exaggerating and perfecting
Paul's doctrine of grace without the law as the source of justification
and sanctification, these false prophets rejected the law as a rule of
life, as though it were an intolerable "burden." But it is a "light"
burden. In
Ac 15:28, 29,
the very term "burden," as here, is used of abstinence from fornication
and idol-meats; to this the Lord here refers.
JFB.
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