μυωπάζων : “short-sighted”. Only once elsewhere in Greek literature in Ps. Dionys. Eccl. Hier. ii. 3. This is one of the words to which exception has been taken in 2 Peter. It is both rare, and it seems to contradict τυφλός. Spitta and Von S. translate “wilfully blind”. Mayor (p. 61.) (following Beza Grotius, Huther, etc.) interprets the word as limiting τυφλός. “He who is without the virtues mentioned in 2 Peter 1:5-7 is blind, or to put it more exactly is shortsighted; he cannot see the things of heaven, though he may be quick enough in regard to worldly matters.” λήθην λαβὼν. A periphrastic form. Cf. Jos. Ant. ii. 6, 9; also 2 Timothy 1:5; Hebrews 11:29. τοῦ καθαρισμοῦ τῶν πάλαι αὐτοῦ ἁμαρτιῶν. Is the reference to baptism? This view is rendered very probable by the use of πάλαι. For the idea of cleansing from pre-baptismal sin, cf. Barnabas, xi. 11, Hermas, Mand. iv, 3. Vis. ii. 1. Spitta adheres to the general interpretation of καθ. as the work of Christ on the moral life. Cf. 2 Peter 2:20-22; 1 John 3:3. While καθαρισμός is used of the ceremonial washings of the Jews, John 3:25, it is also used of the work of Christ in Hebrews 1:3 (cf. Zahn. Introd. ii. 232).

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Old Testament