Teks -- Jude 1:3 (NET)

Condemnation of the False Teachers

1:3 Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Robertson: Jud 1:3 - Beloved

Beloved ( agapētoi ).

As in 3Jo 1:2.

Robertson: Jud 1:3 - All diligence

All diligence ( pāsan spoudēn ).

As in 2Pe 1:5.

Robertson: Jud 1:3 - Of our common salvation

Of our common salvation ( peri tēs koinēs hēmōn sōtērias ).

See this use of koinos (common to all) in Tit 1:4 with pistis , while in 2Pe 1:1 we have isotimon pistin , which see.

Robertson: Jud 1:3 - I was constrained

I was constrained ( anagkēn eschon ).

"I had necessity"like Luk 14:18; Heb 7:27.

Robertson: Jud 1:3 - To contend earnestly

To contend earnestly ( epagōnizesthai ).

Late and rare (in Plutarch, inscriptions) compound, here only in N.T. A little additional (epi ) striving to the already strong agōnizesthai (agōn contest). Cf. 1Ti 6:12 agōnizou ton kalon agōna .

Robertson: Jud 1:3 - For the faith

For the faith ( tēi - pistei ).

Dative of advantage. Here not in the original sense of trust, but rather of the thing believed as in Jud 1:20; Gal 1:23; Gal 3:23; Phi 1:27.

Robertson: Jud 1:3 - Once for all delivered

Once for all delivered ( hapax paradotheisēi ).

First aorist passive participle feminine dative singular of paradidōmi , for which see 2Pe 2:21. See also 2Th 2:15; 1Co 11:2; 1Ti 6:20.

Vincent: Jud 1:3 - Beloved

Beloved

Occurring at the beginning of an epistle only here and 3Jo 1:2.

Vincent: Jud 1:3 - When I gave all diligence

When I gave all diligence ( πᾶσαν σπουδὴν ποιούμενος )

Lit., making all diligence; the phrase found only here. In Heb 6:11, we find " shew diligence" (ἐνδεικνυσθαι ) ; and in 2Pe 1:5, " adding diligence." See note there.

Vincent: Jud 1:3 - The common salvation

The common salvation

The best texts add ἡμῶν , of us . So Rev., " our common salvation."

Vincent: Jud 1:3 - It was needful

It was needful ( ἀνάγκην ἔσχον )

Lit., I had necessity. Alford, I found it necessary. Rev., I was constrained.

Vincent: Jud 1:3 - Earnestly contend

Earnestly contend ( ἐπαγωνίζεσθαι )

Only here in New Testament.

Vincent: Jud 1:3 - The faith

The faith

The sum of what Christians believe. See on Act 6:7.

Vincent: Jud 1:3 - Once

Once ( ἅπαξ )

Not formerly, but once for all. So Rev., " No other faith will be given," says Bengel.

Wesley: Jud 1:3 - When I gave all diligence to write to you of the common salvation

Designed for all, and enjoyed by all believers. Here the design of the epistle is expressed; the end of which exactly answers the beginning.

Wesley: Jud 1:3 - It was needful to exhort you to contend earnestly

Yet humbly, meekly, and lovingly; otherwise your contention will only hurt your cause, if not destroy your soul.

Wesley: Jud 1:3 - For the faith

All the fundamental truths.

Wesley: Jud 1:3 - Once delivered

By God, to remain unvaried for ever.

JFB: Jud 1:3

Design of the Epistle (compare Jud 1:20-21).

JFB: Jud 1:3 - all diligence

(2Pe 1:5). As the minister is to give all diligence to admonish, so the people should, in accordance with his admonition, give all diligence to have all Christian graces, and to make their calling sure.

JFB: Jud 1:3 - the common salvation

Wrought by Christ. Compare Note, see on 2Pe 1:1, "obtained LIKE precious faith," This community of faith, and of the object of faith, salvation, forms the ground of mutual exhortation by appeals to common hopes and fears.

JFB: Jud 1:3 - it was needful for me

Rather, "I felt it necessary to write (now at once; so the Greek aorist means; the present infinitive 'to write,' which precedes, expresses merely the general fact of writing) exhorting you." The reason why he felt it necessary "to write with exhortation," he states, Jud 1:4, "For there are certain men crept in," &c. Having intended to write generally of "the common salvation," he found it necessary from the existing evils in the Church, to write specially that they should contend for the faith against those evils.

JFB: Jud 1:3 - earnestly contend

Compare Phi 1:27, "striving together for the faith of the Gospel."

JFB: Jud 1:3 - once, &c.

Greek, "once for all delivered." No other faith or revelation is to supersede it. A strong argument for resisting heretical innovators (Jud 1:4). Believers, like Nehemiah's workmen (Neh 4:17), with one hand "build themselves up in their most holy faith"; with the other they" contend earnestly for the faith" against its foes.

JFB: Jud 1:3 - the saints

All Christians, holy (that is, consecrated to God) by their calling, and in God's design.

Clarke: Jud 1:3 - When I gave all diligence

When I gave all diligence - This phrase, πασαν σπουδην ποιουμενος, is a Grecism for being exceedingly intent upon a subject; taking it up seriously with determination to bring it to good effect. The meaning of the apostle seems to be this: "Beloved brethren, when I saw it necessary to write to you concerning the common salvation, my mind being deeply affected with the dangers to which the Church is exposed from the false teachers that are gone out into the world, I found it extremely necessary to write and exhort you to hold fast the truth which you had received, and strenuously to contend for that only faith which, by our Lord and his apostles, has been delivered to the Christians.

Some think that St. Jude intimates that he had at first purposed to write to the Church at large, on the nature and design of the Gospel; but seeing the dangers to which the Churches were exposed, because of the false teachers, he changed his mind, and wrote pointedly against those false doctrines, exhorting them strenuously to contend for the faith

Clarke: Jud 1:3 - The common salvation

The common salvation - The Christian religion, and the salvation which it brings. This is called common because it equally belongs to Jews and Gentiles; it is the saving grace of God which has appeared to every man, and equally offers to every human being that redemption which is provided for the whole world.

Calvin: Jud 1:3 - When I gave diligence // Of the common salvation // And exhort you

3.When I gave diligence. I have rendered the words σπουδὴν ποιούμενος, “Applying care:” literally they are, “Making diligence.” But many interpreters explain the sentence in this sense, that a strong desire constrained Jude to write, as we usually say of those under the influence of some strong feeling, that they cannot govern or restrain themselves. Then, according to these expounders, Jude was under a sort of necessity, because a desire to write suffered him not to rest. But I rather think that the two clauses are separate, that though he was inclined and solicitous to write, yet a necessity compelled him. He then intimates, that he was indeed glad and anxious to write to them, but yet necessity urged him to do so, even because they were assailed (according to what follows) by the ungodly, and stood in need of being prepared to fight with them. ¹⁹⁰

Then, in the first place, Jude testifies that he felt so much concern for their salvation, that he wished himself, and was indeed anxious to write to them; and, secondly, in order to rouse their attention, he says that the state of things required him to do so. For necessity adds strong stimulants. Had they not been forewarned how necessary his exhortation was, they might have been slothful and negligent; but when he makes this preface, that he wrote on account of the necessity of their case, it was the same as though he had blown a trumpet to awake them from their torpor.

Of the common salvation. Some copies add “your,” but without reason, as I think; for he makes salvation common to them and to himself. And it adds not a little weight to the doctrine that is announced, when any one speaks according to his own feelings and experience; for vain is what we say, if we speak of salvation to others, when we ourselves have no real knowledge of it. Then, Jude professed himself to be (so to speak) an experimental teacher, when he associated himself with the godly in the participation of the same salvation.

And exhort you. Literally, “exhorting you;” but as he points out the end of his counsel, the sentence ought to be thus expressed. What I have rendered, “to help the faith by contending,” means the same as to strive in retaining the faith, and courageously to sustain the contrary assaults of Satan. ¹⁹¹ For he reminds them that in order to persevere in the faith, various contests must be encountered and continual warfare maintained. He says that faith had been once delivered, that they might know that they had obtained it for this end, that they might never fail or fall away.

Defender: Jud 1:3 - needful

The word "needful" connotes a sense of urgency. Jude had been planning to write a straightforward exposition of the doctrines associated with the "common salvation" - that is, the great salvation held in common by all who had been "sanctified," "preserved" and "called" (Jud 1:1). Instead, the Holy Spirit constrained and compelled him to write in defense of the faith which even then was under intense Satanic attack.

Defender: Jud 1:3 - earnestly contend

Used only this one time in the New Testament, "earnestly contend" is from the Greek epagonizomai. It was used to refer to athletes intensely agonizing in the grueling training for a coming contest. Thus, Jude graphically stresses the urgency of defending the faith (Phi 1:7, Phi 1:17; 1Ti 6:19, 1Ti 6:20; 2Ti 4:1-4; Tit 1:9; 1Pe 3:15). The defense of the gospel is no indifferent matter to be left to a few specialists, but one to which all believers should be trained and committed.

Defender: Jud 1:3 - the faith

"The faith" is not in reference to the simple trust we place in Christ in salvation, but to the entire body of Christian truth as revealed in the Holy Scriptures.

Defender: Jud 1:3 - once delivered

That is, the faith that was delivered once-and-for-all to the saints (that is, to all true believers) for guarding and keeping safe. As Paul wrote Timothy: "Keep (that is 'guard') that which is committed to thy trust" (1Ti 6:20)."

TSK: Jud 1:3 - when // common // that ye // which // the saints

when : Rom 15:15, Rom 15:16; Gal 6:11; Heb 13:22; 1Pe 5:12; 2Pe 1:12-15, 2Pe 3:1

common : Isa 45:17, Isa 45:22; Act 4:12, Act 13:46, Act 13:47, Act 28:28; Gal 3:28; Tit 1:4; 2Pe 1:1

that ye : Neh 13:25; Jer 9:3; Act 6:8-10, Act 9:22, Act 17:3, Act 18:4-6, Act 18:28; Phi 1:27; 1Th 2:2; 1Ti 1:18, 1Ti 6:12; 2Ti 1:13, 2Ti 4:7, 2Ti 4:8; Rev 2:10, Rev 12:11

which : Deu 9:10, Deu 21:9; Act 20:27; 1Co 15:3; Gal 2:5; 2Pe 3:2

the saints : Eph 1:1; Phi 1:1; Col 1:2

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Jud 1:3

When I gave all diligence to write unto you: the apostle here declares the first cause of his writing to them, viz. his own inclination and readiness, according to the duty of his place, (as an apostle), so to do: q. d. Being of myself willing, and earnestly desirous to promote your welfare, when absent from you, by writing unto you.

Of the common salvation; i.e. those things which concern the salvation of us all in common, or that salvation which is common to us all; there being but one salvation for all believers, and one way to it.

It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you; the second reason of his writing, viz. the necessity of it, in respect of the danger they were in, as follows, Jud 1:4 .

That ye should earnestly contend; by constancy in the faith, zeal for the truth, holiness of life, mutual exhortation, prayer, suffering for the gospel, &c.; against those that would pervert the gospel.

For the faith; the doctrine of the gospel; faith is taken for the object of faith.

Which was once; either, once for all, because it was delivered by all the apostles as the only unchangeable rule of governing their lives, and obtaining salvation, to which nothing is to be added, and from which nothing is to be taken away; or it implies, that it was therefore delivered to them that they might never forsake it, and that if they do, they miss of their salvation, as being never like to have another way made known to them.

Delivered unto the saints; viz. by God, not invented by men.

PBC: Jud 1:3

See Philpot: THE EARNEST CONTENTION FOR LIVING FAITH

See WebbSr: CONTEND FOR THE FAITH

II. Vs. 3 The Purpose Of Jude’s Writing (earnestly contend for the faith)

Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Jude in this verse is making writing very important. Note that he uses the word "write" twice in Jude 1:3. Two subjects that he is writing about: one, common salvation; two, earnestly contend for the faith. The writing has been done with "diligence" and "needful."

Word study: write

Strong’s SGreek: 1125. grapho grapho (graf’-o); a primary verb; to "grave," especially to write; figuratively, to describe: KJVdescribe, write (- ing, -ten). (DIC)

Lu 1:3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

Joh 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Ac 1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.

Ro 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

1Co 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

2Co 2:3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

Ga 1:20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

Php 3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. (KJV)

This is not an exhaustive look at the word "write," just a few verses in the New Testament and each writer setting forth something very important. I will deal with this word in more detail later on in this study. For now please note, we are in a day of great delusion:

2Th 2:7-14 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (KJV)

I am going on my 50th year of preaching. Every year that goes by, the so call church has let down its standards in every way. It is not hard in these days for a pastor, that truly has the desire for his people to grow in grace and truth, to have a weeping heart. There is no problem in seeing how the Old Testament Prophets and New Testament writers wept over the conditions of their day and as promised in the scriptures things will wax worse and worse. Take heart, dear reader, if your heart is like mine? I look at Moses, Joseph, Jeremiah, Daniel to name just a few that had to stand regardless what their day was like or how the people reacted to the teaching of God’s Word. In Joh 16:33 says, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (KJV)

When we correlate this thought "earnestly contend for the faith" there is no doubt that God’s Word is written only to God’s people. Further it is their responsibility to know, protect, guard, and live by the Word. Note the definitions of these words "earnestly, and contend." In the original Greek these two words are one. Our translators were not wrong in translating this into the English.

Word study: earnestly contend

Strong’s SGreek: 1864. epagonizomai epagonizomai (ep-ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee); from SGreek: 1909. epi and SGreek: 75. agonizomai; to struggle for: KJV- earnestly contend foreign (DIC)

Note: Next two definitions make up the above word. To know what this word is and where it comes from, (earnestly, contend) helps to clarify and understand.

Strong’s SGreek: 1909. epi epi (ep-ee’); a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution with the genitive case, i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the det.) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.: KJV- about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, wherefore-), in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-) on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through (- out), (un-) to (- ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively). (DIC)

Strong’s SGreek: 75. agonizomai agonizomai (ag-o-nid’-zom-ahee); from SGreek: 73. agon; to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or genitive case (to endeavor to accomplish something): KJV-fight, labor fervently, strive. (DIC)

Next is the correlative scripture: Lu 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Joh 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. (KJV)

Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (KJV)

1Ti 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

2Ti 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: We are living in sad days and the teaching of God’s people is defeat rather than victory. No doubt we are human and still in our carnal flesh. Yet these scriptures and hundreds more like them show that the child of God is a different being, with heavenly power by Christ in you, the Holy Spirit. Also See:

Lu 1:1-4 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed. (KJV)

There was a time in history when Baptist had the reputation of being knowledgeable of God’s Word (Bible) and a people that lived by it. What about today (2003)? When I have in the past studied what is called the "classics," commentaries and theology books and Baptist were written of in the debates; they were called ignorant and uneducated. Yet when reading in the debates the Baptist quoted the Word of God (Bible) while others tried using their great intellect, as does a lawyer. You may reason with the greatest of legal mind but please remember God and His Written Word are final.

Lu 1:1-4 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us, 2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word; 3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, 4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Note in Luke’s writing Lu 1:3 "perfect understanding," Lu 1:4 "know the certainty." In today’s mind most men think we can only have opinions. Luke did not receive his knowledge first hand, to begin with, his knowledge came from Paul. We also have Paul’s writings. This does not negate the fact that Luke was one of the verbal inspired writers of God’s Word. I do not believe that we can write another inspired book of the Bible as Luke did, but I do believe in "perfect understanding, and know the certainty." What is lacking today, in most cases, is serious students that will not leave God’s Word alone, but read it constantly, learn its grammar, history, purpose, and even its original language. Some would say that is education. There is no place in the Scriptures where it tells a man to be ignorant. Others call the Apostles and Disciples ignorant because of their occupation, not because they literally were. All one has to do, is study Jewish culture and you will find that they were not brought up ignorantly.

Jude is writing and reminding of the "common salvation" that the child of God is to "earnestly contend for" and this must be done in "the faith." For this to be done one must first have knowledge and possession of "common salvation." Knowledge will come only as God’s children read and study His Word. As God’s child one can only "earnestly contend for the faith" as they practice the knowledge they gain and share with others their blessings. Keep in mind Faith comes by imputation, but the furtherance of faith comes through God’s Word. See Ro 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Elder Roger Palmer

Haydock: Jud 1:3

Being very solicitous to discharge my duty of an apostle, in writing and instructing you in the common concern of your salvation, I judge it necessary at present to write this letter, to exhort you to contend earnestly, [1] and stand firm in the Christian faith. (Witham)

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[BIBLIOGRAPHY]

To contend earnestly, supercertari, which has an active sense, of which there are divers examples. See Estius and P. Alleman, Greek: epagonizesthai.

Gill: Jud 1:3 - Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you // of the common salvation // needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you,.... The apostle calls the persons he writes unto "beloved"; as they were of God, and by him and other saints; and he signifies his diligence in writing to them: and the subject of his writing was,

of the common salvation; which designs either the Gospel, sometimes called salvation, in opposition to the law, which is a ministration of condemnation; and because it is a declaration of salvation, and a means of it; and may be said to be "common", because preached to all, Jews and Gentiles: or Jesus Christ the Saviour himself, who is also sometimes called "salvation", because he was called and appointed to it, and undertook it, and is become the author of it; and may be said to be a "common" Saviour, not of all men, but of all his people; of his whole body, the church, and every member of it, and of all sorts of men, in all nations: or else that spiritual and eternal salvation wrought out by him, which is common, not to all men, for all are not saved with it, but to all the elect of God, and true believers in Christ; the love of God is common to them all alike; the choice of them to eternal salvation is the same; the covenant of grace, the blessings and promises of it, are equally shared by them; and they are bought with the same price of Christ's blood, and are justified by the same righteousness, and are regenerated, sanctified, and called by the same grace, and shall possess the same glory: there is but one way of salvation, and that is not confined to any nation, family, community, or sect among men. The Alexandrian copy and two of Beza's, and the Syriac version, read, "our common salvation"; and two other of Beza's copies and the Vulgate Latin version read, "your common salvation"; the sense is the same: it was

needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints; by the "faith" is meant the doctrine of faith, in which sense it is used whenever faith is said to be preached, obeyed, departed, or erred from, or denied, or made shipwreck of, or when exhortations are made to stand fast, and continue in it, or to strive and contend for it, as here; and which is sometimes called the word of faith, the faith of the Gospel, the mystery of faith, or most holy faith, the common faith, and, as here, faith only; and designs the whole scheme of evangelical truths to be believed; such as the doctrine of the Trinity, the deity and sonship of Christ, the divinity and personality of the Spirit; what regards the state and condition of man by nature, as the doctrines of the imputation of Adam's sin to his posterity, the corruption of nature, and the impotence of men to that which is good; what concerns the acts of grace in the Father, Son, and Spirit, towards, and upon the sons of men; as the doctrines of everlasting love, eternal election, the covenant of grace, particular redemption, justification by the imputed righteousness of Christ, pardon and reconciliation by his blood, regeneration and sanctification by the grace of the Spirit, final perseverance, the resurrection of the dead, and the future glory of the saints with Christ. This is said to be "delivered to the saints": it was delivered by God the Father to Christ as Mediator, and by him to his apostles, who may more especially be meant by "the saints", or holy men; who were chosen to be holy, and to whom Christ was made sanctification, and who were sanctified by the Spirit of God; and this faith, being a most holy faith, is fit for holy men, and only proper to be delivered to them, and preached by them; and by them it was delivered to the churches, both by word and writing; and this delivery of it supposes that it is not an invention of men, that it is of God, and a gift of his, and given in trust in order to be kept, held forth, and held fast; and it was but "once" delivered, in opposition to the sundry times and divers manners in which the mind of God was formerly made known; and designs the uniformity, perfection, and continuance of the doctrine of faith; there is no alteration to be made in it, or addition to it; no new revelations are to be expected, it has been delivered all at once: and therefore should be "earnestly contended for"; for could it be lost, another could not be had; and the whole of it is to be contended for; not only the fundamentals, but the lesser matters of faith; and not things essential only, but also what are circumstantial to faith and religion; every truth, ordinance, and duty, and particularly the purity of faith, and its consistency: and this contention includes a care and solicitude for it, to have it, own it, and hold it fast, and adorn it; and for the preservation of it, and for the spread of it, and that it might be transmitted to posterity: and it denotes a conflict, a combat, or a fighting for it, a striving even to an agony: the persons to be contended with on account of it, are such who deny, or depreciate any of the Persons in the Godhead, the assertors of the purity and power of human nature, and the deniers of sovereign, efficacious, and persevering grace: the persons who are to contend with them are all the saints in general, to whom it is delivered; which they may do by bearing an experimental testimony to it, by praying for the continuance and success of it, by standing fast in one spirit in it, and by dying for it; and particularly the ministers of the Gospel, by preaching it boldly, openly, fully, and faithfully, by disputing for it, and writing in the defence of it, and by laying down their lives, when called for: the manner in which this is to be done, is "earnestly", heartily, in good earnest, and without deceit, zealously, and constantly.