[65] By the word _prophecy_ the idea meant to be conveyed in Jewish language seems to be very generally misconceived. It is regarded as exactly synonymous to _prediction_. Nothing can be more erroneous. In New Testament language in particular, it is no less applicable to past events than to future. Witness, "Prophecy who is it that smote thee." Luke 17:64. In the Greek, the word is occasion, it meant evidently neither more nor less than _speak out_. Hence it came to signify speaking in public: hence again, speaking as a statesman: hence again, writing as a statesman, as well as speaking. Not that a statesman could ever or can ever be a statesman, and in the above sense, _a prophet_, without being a _predictor_ likewise: as often as any proposed measure is on the carpet, such he must be, or what he says must be nothing to the purpose. Merely by uttering a prediction concerning future events, Paul would not have included, in his prophecy, any such pretension, as that of a supernatural communication received from the Almighty: but, the one here in question was one which, supposing it true, could not have come from any other source. [66] Here we have a sort of retractation. This shows how he was frightened. [67] Here he gives the intermediate warning; thence the respite. [68] Here we see the rival of Paul's god: and we see how dangerous an one. [69] Like enough; but in the same unintelligible style, in which he tells all men all things. [70] All's well that ends well: the friends of the Almighty may now dismiss their fears. [71] Here we see the rival of the Almighty sunk into the ape of Satan. What if he and Satan had made an alliance? Happily they could not agree, or time was wanting for settling the conditions. [72] All power, with _lying_ to boot. But for the above-mentioned assurance, who would not have trembled for Paul's God? [73] This was fighting the ape of Satan with his own weapons. But--this God of Paul's creation--in what, except an ultimate superiority of power, is he distinguishable from Satan and his ape? Those, who have been so quicksighted of late in the discovery of blasphemy, and so bent on punishing it,--have they ever found so clear a case as this which is before us? Would not they have begun at the more proper end, had they begun with the editors of these Epistles? [74] For this damnation,--on the present as on so many other occasions, those who are so eager to believe, that all who differ from them on a question of evidence, will be consigned to everlasting torments, are indebted to the right reverend translators: the original says _condemned_. This may be understood to mean--_damned_ in the ordinary sense of the word _damned_, or whatever less unpleasant result may be more agreeable.