2. In hope of eternal life--connected with the whole preceding
sentence. That whereon rests my aim as an apostle to promote
the elect's faith and full knowledge of the truth, is, "the hope of
eternal life"
(Tit 2:13; 3:7;
Ac 23:6; 24:15; 28:20).
that cannot lie--
(Ro 3:4; 11:29;
Heb 6:18).
promised before the world began--a contracted expression for
"purposed before the world began (literally, 'before the ages of
time'), and promised actually in time," the promise springing from
the eternal purpose; as in
2Ti 1:9,
the gift of grace was the result of the eternal purpose "before
the world began."
JFB.
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