A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

The third clause in this Application of Enochs prophecy is, that [their mouth speaketh great swelling words.] In Enochs prophecy not only ungodly deeds are noted, but hard speeches; these Gnostics were faulty both ways, both in word and deed: that which is charged here, is a fault in their speech. 'Tis said Dan. 11. 36. The King shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods. In the Septuagint the same phrase is used that is here, [Greek or Hebrew] and so possibly it may imply their blasphemies against God, a crime of which these wretches were guilty in exalting Simon Magus▪ above the true God: or else these swelling words may relate to their boasting of their own knowledge, from whence they were called Gnostics, and Tertullian saith of them, omnes tument, omnes scientiam pollicentur ipsae mulieres haereticae quam sunt procaces! They all swell with pride, and make ostentation of deeper knowledge, their very women▪ how conceited are they! Or else it may signify their proud censures of others, their scorning of the Guides of the Church, as 'tis said of some, Psal. 73. 9. They speak loftily, they set their mouth against the heavens, their tongue walketh through the earth, they took a liberty to speak of all things and persons at pleasure, without any restraint, which was and is the very genius of these and other Seducers: rather I suppose, though not excluding the other senses, these swelling words relate to their phraseology and unsavoury gibberish which they used in representing their opinions, Peter calleth them, swelling words of vanity, 2 Pet. 2. 18. The Note hence is this.

The third clause in this Application of Enochs prophesie is, that [their mouth speaketh great swelling words.] In Enochs prophesie not only ungodly deeds are noted, but hard speeches; these Gnosticks were faulty both ways, both in word and deed: that which is charged here, is a fault in their speech. 'Tis said Dan. 11. 36. The King shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods. In the Septuagint the same phrase is used that is here, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and so possibly it may imply their blasphemies against God, a crime of which these wretches were guilty in exalting Simon Magus above the true God: or else these swelling words may relate to their boasting of their own knowledge, from whence they were called Gnosticks, and Tertullian saith of them, omnes tument, omnes scientiam pollicentur ipsae mulieres haereticae quam sunt procaces! They all swell with pride, and make ostentation of deeper knowledge, their very women how conceited are they! Or else it may signifie their proud censures of others, their scorning of the Guides of the Church, as 'tis said of some,