This description of true religious knowledge is followed by an arraignment of false prophets and speculative heresy. It is possible that the teaching of definitely false doctrine was already combined with previously existing immoral practice. The verse (ii. 1) in which the writer speaks of false _teachers_, refers to the rise of these heretics as future. But in other verses of the chapter the "self-willed" teachers are spoken of as already active. We gather from iii. 16 that the licence which is so sternly rebuked was a system in which St. Paul's doctrine of justification by faith was represented as a justification of vile indulgence. Although this part of the Epistle is a paraphrase of Jude, it is not a mere reproduction. A new feature in 2 Peter is that the heretics were sceptical concerning the second coming of Christ (iii. 4). They argued that since the death of "the fathers," _i.e._ the first followers of Christ, the world continued as before. St. Peter urges that the deluge came, though its coming was doubted, and also that it must be remembered that the Lord does not reckon time as men do. A period which is long to us is not long to Him. The day of the Lord will come suddenly "as a thief in the night," and in view of judgment the readers are exhorted to holiness and patience. {254} ANALYSIS Salutation, a list of Christian graces which are to be successively blended with faith, a reminder of the truth of Christianity as testified by the words of God at the Transfiguration, and by the light of prophecy (i.). Denunciation of the false teachers who are guilty of gross sin and blindly follow their lower instincts (ii.). Allusion to the former letter, rebuke of those who disbelieve in the last judgment, the coming of the day of the Lord and the destruction of the world, exhortations to holiness, diligence needed, the long-suffering of Christ witnessed to by Paul, growth in grace (iii.). [1] _H. E._ iii. 3. [2] The priority of 2 Peter is strongly defended by Spitta, in his _Der Zweite Brief d. Petrus_, 1885. [3] This is very clearly stated by Dr. G. B. Stevens in his valuable _Theology of the New Testament_, although he decides against the genuineness of 2 Peter. [4] This is done by Harnack, who places Jude between A.D. 100 and 130. {255} CHAPTER XXIII THE EPISTLES OF ST. JOHN THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF JOHN [Sidenote: The Author.]