FRAGMENTS ON THE SECOND EPISTLE OF ST. PETER
A Ver. 6. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in time. He does not say "He will exalt" simply, but adds "in time," teaching us to await that exaltation which is truly in the world to come. Ver. 14. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. Amen. See how, when he suggests what is to be done, he seals them with prayer, placing peace as a seal upon the things he has set forth.
ON THE SECOND EPISTLE OF ST. PETER
B CHAPTER ONE. Ver. 2. Grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord. There is nothing equal to this peace; for this reason we pray and beseech, invoking the angel of peace, and everywhere we seek peace in the churches, peace in prayers, peace in supplications, in greetings. And universally, and again, and a third time, and often, the presiding officer of the Church gives it: "Peace to you." For what reason? Because it is the mother of all good things, it is the foundation of joy. C For this reason, Christ also ordered the apostles, when entering houses, to announce this first, as a presage of all good things. "Into whatever house," he says, "you enter, first say: Peace to this house." If this is wanting, all things are in vain. And Christ said to the disciples: "My peace I give to you." It makes a way for charity.
Ver. 5, 7. And this same thing, bringing in all diligence, add in your faith virtue, and in virtue knowledge, and in knowledge continence, and in continence patience, and in patience godliness, and in godliness brotherly love, and in brotherly love charity. What are these things that have just been mentioned? Virtue, knowledge, continence, patience, godliness, D brotherly love, charity; which must not only be in us, but also abound. For if their presence is useful, their abundance is much more so. What then is the utility of them? They generate confidence in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. I mean in his second appearing, when he comes to judge the living and the dead. It is a great and truly superexcellent good to have confidence before the divine and fearful judgment seat.
Ver. 9. For he to whom these things are not present is blind, and groping with his hand. Hearing these things, then, let us fortify ourselves on all sides and attend to what is said, and let us purify ourselves from worldly