Beloved] His love moved him to write this epistle, and should move them to heed it. Good ministers love their people. when I gave all diligence] Or, giving all diligence. Not as if the apostle were one while diligent, and another while negligent; but he waited always for a fit occasion to write to them. The same Greek word signifieth haste: for diligent men make haste to dispatch their work. to write unto you] He was so carefull of them, that when he could not be present to teach them, he wrote to them. There was also an hand of God in it, as in all the other epistles of the apostles, that such in after-ages as could not hear them preach, might enjoy the benefit of their doctrine to the worlds end. of the common salvation] That salvation in which all the elect have a joynt part, Ephesians 4:4. Titus 1:4. it was needfull] For him, as an apostle, 1 Corinthians 9:16. for them, because false teachers rose up among them, who might seduce them, v. 4. Acts 20:26-29. and exhort you] Not to praise you, or reprove you, or barely to intimate to you what you have to do, but to seek to work on your affections by perswasion. that ye should earnestly contend] As wrestlers do for the victory. for the faith] His care to save their souls, made him write to them to keep the faith, which is the way to salvation. Faith is not here taken for Faithfulnesse, as Deuteronomy 32:20. nor for credulity, as James 2:19. nor for confidence, as John 3:16. nor for faith of miracles, as Math. 17. 20. but for the doctrine of the Gospel, which is to be believed. So hope is taken for the thing hoped for, Romans 8:24. Colossians 1:5. once] Justifying faith wrought in the souls of Gods elect, is often given but the doctrine of faith is once, or already given, as v. 5. and never to be changed, Ephesians 4:5. but must be kept in purity and integrity, as it was first delivered, without any alteration. Or, once for all, not to be delivered any more, Hebrews 12:26-27. Hence it is, that a curse is pronounced against such as adde to it, or take away from it, Revelation 22:18-19. Those dreamers mentioned, v. 8. might both adde and take away. Jude biddeth the Christians hold what they had, and refuse the additions and alterations of those false prophets, Galatians 1:8. delivered] From heaven. to the saints] Who live in the Church of God here on earth, v. 1. Romans 1:7.