2 Peter 2

“THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER” Chapter TwoO IN THIS CHAPTER

1. To examine Peter’s detailed description of false teachers

2. To be aware of their techniques in leading others astray, and their sad end

3. To ascertain whether or not these false teachers had ever been true Christians

SUMMARY One of the themes of Peter’s second epistle is “beware of false teachers”, and such is the focus of the second chapter. Just as there were false prophets in Old Testament times, so there would be false teachers.

Peter first describes the destructiveness of false teachers. Denying the Lord who bought them, they will secretly introduce destructive heresies. Many will follow them, and the way of truth will be blasphemed. But they will bring swift destruction on themselves (2 Peter 2:1-3).

Illustrating the doom of false teachers, Peter reminds his readers of what happen to the angels who sinned, the ancient world destroyed by the flood, and the fiery end of Sodom and Gomorrah. Surely God knows how to reserve the wicked for the day of punishment, and the example of Lot shows that He also knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations (2 Peter 2:4-9).

Peter then discusses the depravity of false teachers. In arrogance they revile against authority, all the while reveling in pleasure and lusts as they circulate among the Christians they seek to influence. Like the prophet Balaam, they are motivated by the wages of unrighteousness and have forsaken the right way. Empty of true substance, they are like wells without water, clouds tossed by a tempest (2 Peter 2:10-17).

Finally, Peter describes the deceptions of false teachers. In both their methods and promises they seek to deceive those who like them had once escaped the pollutions of the world. But the false teachers are once again enslaved by such pollutions and their last end is worse than the beginning (2 Peter 2:18-22).

OUTLINE I. THE OF FALSE (2 Peter 2:1-3) A. THEIR (2 Peter 2:1-2)1. Just as there were false prophets, so there will be false teachers 2. They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them 3. Many will follow their destructive ways, and the truth will be blasphemed

B. THEIR METHODS (2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 2:3)1. They bring in their heresies secretly 2. They will exploit through covetousness and deceptive words

C. THEIR END (2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 2:3)1. They will bring swift destruction on themselves 2. Their judgment is not idle, their destruction does not slumber

II. THE DOOM OF FALSE (2 Peter 2:4-9) A. THE EXAMPLE OF ANGELS WHO SINNED (2 Peter 2:4)1. God did not spare the angels who sinned 2. He cast them down to hell (Tartarus) 3. Delivered them to chains of darkness, reserved for judgment

B. THE EXAMPLE OF THE FLOOD (2 Peter 2:5)1. God did not spare the ancient world, bringing the flood on the ungodly 2. He saved Noah and his family of eight, a preacher of righteousness

C. THE EXAMPLE OF SODOM AND (2 Peter 2:6-8)1. God turned the cities into ashes, condemning them to destruction 2. He made them an example to those who would live ungodly 3. He delivered righteous Lot a. Who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked b. Who was tormented daily by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds

D. GOD WILL DELIVER THE GODLY, PUNISH THE UNJUST (2 Peter 2:9)1. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations 2. He will reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment

III. THE OF FALSE (2 Peter 2:10-17) A. AGAINST (2 Peter 2:10-13 a)1. They walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness 2. They despise authority, are presumptuous, self-willed 3. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, unlike angels a. Who are greater in power and might b. Who do not bring reviling accusations before the Lord 4. They are like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed a. Speaking evil of things they do not understand b. Who will utterly perish in their own corruption c. Who will receive the wages of unrighteousness

B. WITH GREAT (2 Peter 2:13-14)1. They count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime 2. Spots and blemishes, they carouse in their own deceptions while feasting with Christians 3. They have eyes full of adultery that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls 4. They have hearts trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children

C. AGAINST THE RIGHT WAY (2 Peter 2:15-17)1. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray 2. Like Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness a. Who was rebuked for his iniquity b. His madness restrained by donkey speaking with a man’s voice 3. They are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest 4. For who the gloom of darkness is reserved forever

IV. THE OF FALSE (2 Peter 2:18-22) A. IN THEIR METHODS (2 Peter 2:18)1. They speak great swelling words of emptiness 2. They allure those who have escaped through the lusts of the flesh, through licentiousness

B. IN THEIR (2 Peter 2:19)1. They promise liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption 2. For by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage

C. WHOSE LATTER END IS WORSE THAN THE (2 Peter 2:20-22)1. Having become entangled and overcome by the pollutions of the world which they had escaped through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 2. It would have been better not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them 3. It has happened to them according to the proverb a. “A dog returns to his own vomit” b. “A sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire”

REVIEW FOR THE CHAPTER

1. What are the main points of this chapter?- The destructiveness of false teachers (2 Peter 2:1-3)

• The doom of false teachers (2 Peter 2:4-9)
• The depravity of false teachers (2 Peter 2:10-17)
• The deceptions of false teachers (2 Peter 2:18-22)

2. What does Peter warn that false teachers will do? (2 Peter 2:1)- Secretly bring in destructive heresies

• Even denying the Lord who bought them

3. What impact will such false teachers have? (2 Peter 2:2)- Many will follow their destructive ways

• The way of truth will be blasphemed

4. How will such teachers exploit people? (2 Peter 2:3)- By covetousness, with deceptive words

5. What three examples does Peter use to illustrate the doom of false teachers? (2 Peter 2:4-6)- The angels who sinned and were cast down to hell

• The ancient world destroyed by the flood
• The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah turned into ashes

6. How was Lot oppressed by living in Sodom? (2 Peter 2:7-8)- Every day seeing and hearing the filthy conduct of wicked

7. What two things does the Lord know to do? (2 Peter 2:9)- How to deliver the godly out of temptations

• How to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment

8. Who in particular will receive such punishment? (2 Peter 2:10)- Those who walk in uncleanness and despise authority

• Those who are presumptuous and self-willed; not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries

9. What are angels unwilling to do? (2 Peter 2:11)- Bring reviling accusations against dignitaries before the Lord

10. How does Peter further describe the false teachers? (2 Peter 2:12-14)- They speak evil of things they do not understand

• They count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime
• They have eyes full of adultery, beguiling unstable souls
• They have hearts trained in covetousness, and are accursed children

11. In whose way have such false teachers followed? (2 Peter 2:15-16)- Balaam, who loved the wages of unrighteousness and was rebuked by a donkey

12. How else does Peter describe these false teachers? (2 Peter 2:17)- As wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest

• For whom the gloom of darkness is reserved

13. How are the false teachers able to allure others? (2 Peter 2:18)- By speaking great swelling words of emptiness

• Through the lusts of the flesh and licentiousness

14. Who will they seek to allure? (2 Peter 2:18)- The ones who have escaped from those living in error

15. In promising others liberty, what are they themselves? Why? (2 Peter 2:19)- Slaves of corruption

• For by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage

16. What had these false teachers once escaped? How? (2 Peter 2:20)- The pollutions of the world

• Through the knowledge of Jesus Christ

17. What had then happened to them? (2 Peter 2:20)- They were again entangled in the pollutions of the world and overcome

18. How had their latter end become worse for them than the beginning? (2 Peter 2:20-21)- It would have better for them not to have known the way of righteousness

• Than knowing it, to then turn from the holy commandment

19. What twofold proverb does Peter use to describe their sorry condition? (2 Peter 2:22)- A dog returns to his own vomit

• A sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire

20. What in this chapter reveals that these false teachers had once been saved? (2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 2:15; 2 Peter 2:20-22)- The Lord had bought them

• They have forsaken the right way
• They had escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of Jesus
• They had known the way of righteousness
• Like a sow, they had been washed

2 Peter 2:1

2 Peter 2:12 Pe 2:1 εγενοντοG1096 [G5633] δεG1161 BUT THERE WERE καιG2532 ALSO ψευδοπροφηταιG5578 FALSE ενG1722 AMONG τωG3588 THE λαωG2992 PEOPLE, ωςG5613 AS καιG2532 ALSO ενG1722 AMONG υμινG5213 YOU εσονταιG2071 [G5704] WILL BE ψευδοδιδασκαλοιG5572 FALSE , οιτινεςG3748 WHO παρεισαξουσινG3919 [G5692] WILL BRING IN αιρεσειςG139 SECTS απωλειαςG684 , καιG2532 AND τονG3588 THE αγορασανταG59 [G5660] WHO BOUGHT αυτουςG846 THEM δεσποτηνG1203 MASTER αρνουμενοιG720 [G5740] DENYING, επαγοντεςG1863 [G5723] UPON εαυτοιςG1438 ταχινηνG5031 SWIFT απωλειανG684 . there were: Deuteronomy 13:1-3, 1 Kings 18:19-22, 1 Kings 22:6, Nehemiah 6:12-14, Isaiah 9:15, Isaiah 56:10, Isaiah 56:11, Jeremiah 14:13-15, Jeremiah 23:16, Jeremiah 23:17, Jeremiah 23:25-32, Jeremiah 27:14, Jeremiah 27:15, Jeremiah 28:15-17, Jeremiah 29:8, Jeremiah 29:9, Jeremiah 29:31, Jeremiah 29:32, Jeremiah 37:19, Lamentations 2:14, Ezekiel 13:3-18, Hosea 9:8, Micah 2:11, Micah 3:5, Micah 3:11, Zechariah 13:3, Zechariah 13:4, Matthew 7:15, Luke 6:26, Romans 16:18 even: Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:11, Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22, Luke 21:8, Acts 20:29, Acts 20:30, 1 Corinthians 11:19, 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, Galatians 4:17, Ephesians 4:14, Colossians 2:8, Colossians 2:18, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, 1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-9, 2 Timothy 4:3, Titus 1:11, 1 John 2:18, 1 John 2:19, 1 John 2:26, 1 John 4:1, Jude 1:18, Revelation 2:9, Revelation 13:14 privily: 2 Peter 2:3, Galatians 2:4 damnable: 2 Peter 2:3, Galatians 5:20, Titus 3:10 denying: Matthew 10:33, Luke 12:9, Acts 3:13, Acts 3:14, 2 Timothy 2:12, 2 Timothy 2:13, Jude 1:4, Revelation 2:13, Revelation 3:8 bought: Deuteronomy 32:6, Acts 20:28, 1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Corinthians 7:23, Galatians 3:13, Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 10:29, 1 Peter 1:8, Revelation 5:9 and bring: 2 Peter 2:3, Malachi 3:5, Philippians 3:19 Exodus 15:16 - which thou Leviticus 13:44 - utterly unclean Leviticus 15:8 - General Deuteronomy 13:6 - entice Deuteronomy 31:29 - corrupt yourselves 1 Kings 13:18 - But 1 Kings 18:22 - Baal’s prophets 1 Kings 22:25 - Behold 2 Chronicles 18:11 - all the prophets Ezra 4:2 - Let us Job 31:3 - destruction Job 31:28 - for Psalms 88:11 - in destruction Proverbs 11:9 - An hypocrite Proverbs 19:9 - and Proverbs 19:27 - General Proverbs 28:18 - but Ecclesiastes 1:9 - that hath Son 2:15 - the foxes Isaiah 5:20 - them Isaiah 8:19 - should not Jeremiah 5:31 - prophets Jeremiah 6:14 - Peace Jeremiah 8:10 - for Jeremiah 14:15 - Sword and famine shall not Jeremiah 20:6 - thy friends Jeremiah 23:14 - in the Jeremiah 44:15 - all the Ezekiel 13:2 - prophesy against Ezekiel 13:17 - prophesy Ezekiel 22:25 - a conspiracy Daniel 11:34 - cleave Zephaniah 3:4 - light Zechariah 13:2 - cause Matthew 13:25 - men Matthew 13:41 - and they Matthew 13:47 - and gathered Matthew 15:14 - And if Matthew 24:4 - Take Mark 4:24 - Take Luke 17:2 - better John 10:1 - He John 10:10 - thief John 16:13 - he will show Acts 13:6 - a false Acts 24:14 - heresy Romans 14:15 - Destroy Romans 16:17 - cause 1 Corinthians 3:10 - But let every 2 Corinthians 2:17 - which 2 Corinthians 11:3 - so Galatians 1:7 - pervert Ephesians 6:11 - the wiles 2 Thessalonians 2:2 - by spirit 1 Timothy 1:19 - which 1 Timothy 4:2 - lies 2 Timothy 3:8 - resist Titus 1:10 - there Hebrews 12:15 - and thereby James 3:6 - a world 2 Peter 3:16 - unto their own 2 John 1:7 - many Revelation 2:2 - how Revelation 16:13 - three Revelation 18:3 - the merchants 2 Peter 2:1 All good things can be abused and that which is true will al­ways have pretenders or imitators. In old times the Lord had faithful prophets and many people learned to love them for their work’ s sake. Profit­ing by the respect that was rightly had for the true prophets, others at­tempted to put over some unrighteous schemes in the name of prophecy. Among the people of Israel were many false prophets and the number of in­stances is too great to enumerate, but the one in 1 Kings 18 is a noted case. Likewise in the time of the New Testa­ment Peter says there will be false teachers (one name for prophets). Damnable heresies means false doc­trines that will condemn all who accept them.

The apostle specifies one of the false doctrnes namely, a denial of the divinity of the Lord notwith­standing that He has bought them with lrs own blood. Privily means secretly; false prophets or teachers are not usually open with their wicked works for fear of being exposed by someone who knows the truth. (John 3:1-21.) Swift destruction means the condemnation that God will bring on these false teachers: it will be swift in that it will be sure and the Lord will not hes’tate to inflict the punish­ment when the time comes. But there arose (egenonto de). Second aorist middle indicative of ginomai (cf. ginetai in 2 Peter 1:20). ——————————————————————————– False prophets also (kai pseudoprophηtai). In contrast with the true prophets just pictured in 2 Peter 1:20-21. Late compound in LXX and Philo, common in N.T. (Matthew 7:15). Allusion to the O.T. times like Balaam and others (Jeremiah 6:13; Jeremiah 28:9; Ezekiel 13:9). ——————————————————————————– False teachers (pseudodidaskaloi). Late and rare compound (pseudηs, didaskalos) here alone in N.T.

Peter pictures them as in the future here (esontai, shall be) and again as already present (eisin, are, 2 Peter 2:17), or in the past (eplanηthηsan, they went astray, 2 Peter 2:15). ——————————————————————————– Shall privily bring in (pareisaxousin). Future active of pareisagτ, late double compound pareisagτ, to bring in (eisagτ), by the side (para), as if secretly, here alone in N.T., but see pareisaktous in Galatians 2:4 (verbal adjective of this same verb). ——————————————————————————– Destructive heresies (haireseis apτleias).

Descriptive genitive, “heresies of destruction” (marked by destruction) as in Luke 16:8. Hairesis (from haireτ) is simply a choosing, a school, a sect like that of the Sadducees (Acts 5:17), of the Pharisees (Acts 15:5), and of Christians as Paul admitted (Acts 24:5). These “tenets” (Galatians 5:20) led to destruction. ——————————————————————————– Denying (arnoumenoi). Present middle participle of arneomai. This the Gnostics did, the very thing that Peter did, alas (Matthew 26:70) even after Christ’s words (Matthew 10:33). ——————————————————————————– Even the Master (kai ton despotηn). Old word for absolute master, here of Christ as in Jude 1:4, and also of God (Acts 4:24).

Without the evil sense in our “despot.” ——————————————————————————– That bought them (ton agorasanta autous). First aorist active articular participle of agorazτ, same idea with lutroτ in 1 Peter 1:18-19.

These were professing Christians, at any rate, these heretics. ——————————————————————————– Swift destruction (tachinηn apτleian). See 2 Peter 1:14 for tachinηn and note repetition of apτleian. This is always the tragedy of such false prophets, the fate that they bring on (epagontes) themselves.

2 Peter 2:2

2 Peter 2:22 Pe 2:2 καιG2532 AND πολλοιG4183 MANY εξακολουθησουσινG1811 [G5692] WILL FOLLOW OUT αυτωνG846 ταιςG3588 THEIR απωλειαιςG684 WAYS, διG1223 THROUGH ουςG3739 WHOM ηG3588 THE οδοςG3598 WAY τηςG3588 OF THE αληθειαςG225 TRUTH βλασφημηθησεταιG987 [G5701] WILL BE EVIL SPOKEN OF . many: Matthew 24:10-13, Matthew 24:24, Mark 13:22, 1 John 2:18, 1 John 2:19, Revelation 12:9, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 13:14 pernicious ways: or, lascivious ways, as some copies read, by reason. Romans 2:24, 1 Timothy 5:14, Titus 2:5, Titus 2:8 ways: 2 Peter 2:15, 2 Peter 2:21, Psalms 18:21, Isaiah 35:8, Jeremiah 6:16, Matthew 7:14, Matthew 22:16, Mark 12:14, John 14:6, Acts 13:10, Acts 16:17, Acts 18:26, Acts 19:9, Acts 24:14 evil: 2 Peter 2:12, Acts 14:2, 1 Peter 2:12, Jude 1:10, Jude 1:15 Leviticus 13:44 - utterly unclean Deuteronomy 31:29 - corrupt yourselves Ezra 4:2 - Let us Proverbs 19:27 - General Jeremiah 5:31 - prophets Jeremiah 23:14 - in the Jeremiah 29:8 - your dreams Jeremiah 44:15 - all the Ezekiel 12:24 - General Ezekiel 13:19 - for handfuls Matthew 13:41 - and they Matthew 18:7 - unto Mark 9:42 - offend Acts 5:36 - to whom Acts 8:10 - they Romans 16:17 - cause 1 Corinthians 11:19 - there 1 Corinthians 15:33 - evil Galatians 2:4 - unawares 1 Timothy 5:15 - General 2 Timothy 2:16 - for Titus 1:10 - there Hebrews 12:15 - and thereby James 3:6 - a world 1 Peter 4:14 - on 1 John 4:5 - and2 Peter 2:2 The leading thought in pernicious is something that is de­struction of the truth. That definition is confirmed by the rest of the verse, for it says the way of truth shall be evil spoken of by the ones who follow the false teachers. Lascivious doings (aselgeiais). Associative instrumental ease after exakolouthηsousin (future active, for which verb see 2 Peter 1:16). See 1 Peter 4:3 for this word. ——————————————————————————– By reason of whom (di’ hous). “Because of whom” (accusative case of relative, referring to polloi, many). Autτn (their) refers to pseudodidaskaloi (false teachers) while polloi to their deluded followers. See Romans 2:23-24 for a picture of such conduct by Jews (quotation from Isaiah 52:5, with blasphηmeτ used as here with di’ humas, because of you). ——————————————————————————– The way of truth (hη hodos tηs alηtheias). Hodos (way) occurs often in N.T. for Christianity (Acts 9:2; Acts 16:17; Acts 18:25; Acts 22:4; Acts 24:14).

This phrase is in Genesis 24:48 as “the right road,” and that is what Peter means here. So Psalms 119:30. See again 2 Peter 2:15; 2 Peter 2:21.

2 Peter 2:3

2 Peter 2:32 Pe 2:3 καιG2532 AND ενG1722 THROUGH πλεονεξιαG4124 πλαστοιςG4112 WITH WELL TURNED λογοιςG3056 WORDS υμαςG5209 YOU εμπορευσονταιG1710 [G5695] THEY WILL MAKE GAIN OF : οιςG3739 τοG3588 FOR WHOM κριμαG2917 εκπαλαιG1597 OF OLD ουκG3756 αργειG691 [G5719] IS NOT IDLE, καιG2532 AND ηG3588 απωλειαG684 αυτωνG846 THEIR ουG3756 νυσταζειG3573 [G5719] NOT . through: 2 Peter 2:14, 2 Peter 2:15, Isaiah 56:11, Jeremiah 6:13, Jeremiah 8:10, Ezekiel 13:19, Micah 3:11, Malachi 1:10, Romans 16:18, 2 Corinthians 12:17, 2 Corinthians 12:18, 1 Timothy 3:3, 1 Timothy 3:8, 1 Timothy 6:5, Titus 1:7, Titus 1:11, 1 Peter 5:2, Jude 1:11 with: 2 Peter 1:16, Psalms 18:44, Psalms 66:3, Psalms 81:15, *marg. Luke 20:20, Luke 22:47, 1 Thessalonians 2:5 make: Deuteronomy 24:17, John 2:16, 2 Corinthians 2:17, Revelation 18:11-13 whose: 2 Peter 2:1, 2 Peter 2:9, Deuteronomy 32:35, Isaiah 5:19, Isaiah 30:13, Isaiah 30:14, Isaiah 60:22, Habakkuk 3:3, Luke 18:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, 1 Peter 2:8, Jude 1:4, Jude 1:7, Jude 1:15 Numbers 22:19 - General Joshua 8:14 - he wist not Judges 18:4 - hired me Judges 18:20 - heart 2 Samuel 15:6 - stole 1 Kings 14:14 - but what 2 Kings 5:27 - leprosy Nehemiah 6:12 - hired him Job 18:12 - destruction Job 24:1 - seeing Job 34:20 - a moment Psalms 119:36 - and not to Proverbs 1:19 - every Proverbs 16:4 - yea Proverbs 21:6 - getting Proverbs 28:21 - for Proverbs 30:15 - Give Ecclesiastes 7:25 - the reason Ecclesiastes 8:13 - neither Isaiah 13:22 - her time Isaiah 57:17 - the iniquity Jeremiah 14:18 - go about Jeremiah 17:11 - he that Jeremiah 22:17 - covetousness Jeremiah 29:8 - your dreams Jeremiah 48:16 - near Jeremiah 51:13 - and the Ezekiel 12:24 - General Ezekiel 22:3 - that her Ezekiel 34:2 - Woe Hosea 4:8 - set their heart on their iniquity Habakkuk 2:3 - it will surely Zephaniah 1:14 - it is Zechariah 5:2 - flying Zechariah 11:5 - sell Matthew 18:7 - but Matthew 23:14 - therefore Matthew 26:15 - What Luke 12:15 - Take Luke 12:45 - and if Luke 22:5 - and covenanted Luke 22:22 - but John 10:1 - the same John 10:12 - he that Acts 1:25 - by Acts 16:16 - which Acts 19:25 - ye know Acts 24:26 - hoped Romans 9:22 - endured 2 Corinthians 4:5 - we 2 Corinthians 11:15 - whose Galatians 4:17 - zealously Ephesians 5:3 - covetousness Philippians 3:19 - end Philippians 4:17 - because 1 Thessalonians 5:9 - not 2 Thessalonians 2:12 - they 1 Timothy 6:9 - which 2 Timothy 3:2 - covetous Hebrews 13:5 - conversation 1 John 4:5 - and Revelation 18:13 - and souls2 Peter 2:3 Through covetousness in­dicates the motive of the false teachers. Feigned words means those so formed as to deceive the hearer. Make merchandise denotes that they were so successful in imposing their false theories on the people that they could make a gain off of them. There are so many things that could be con­ducted on this principle that it would be useless to try specifying. We under­stand that many people are conscien­tious regarding the propagation of religious principles.

If they can be made believe that people are working in the interest of truth, they will be willing to give liberal support to a man engaged in it. Whose, judgement now of a long time. God hes always condemned the false teacher and evil worker. Lingereth not. The leading definition of the first word is “to be idle.” The passage means that the judgement or condemnation of such characters is of long standing, but that God has not changed his mind about it nor even tempered His wrath against them. Thayer explains the definition as follows: “ Whose punish­ment has long been impending and will shortly fall.” However, the word “ shortly” must be understood in a compartive sense, because the apostle proceeds at once to illustrate his declaration by referring to the unjust to be reserved unto the day of judge­ment to be punished. In covetousness (en pleonexiβi). As did Balaam (2 Peter 2:15). These licentious Gnostics made money out of their dupes. A merely intellectual Gnosticism had its fruit in immorality and fraud. ——————————————————————————– With feigned words (plastois logois). Instrumental case. Plastos is verbal adjective (from plassτ, to mould as from clay, for which see Romans 9:20), here only in N.T. “With forged words.” See sample in 2 Peter 3:4. ——————————————————————————– Shall make merchandise of you (humas emporeusontai).

Future middle of emporeuomai (from emporos, a travelling merchant), old word, to go in for trade, in N.T. only here and James 4:13, which see. Cf. our emporium (John 2:16, market house). ——————————————————————————– Whose sentence (hois to krima). “For whom (dative case) the sentence” (verdict, not process krisis). ——————————————————————————– Now from of old (ekpalai). Late and common compound adverb, in N.T. only here and 2 Peter 3:5. ——————————————————————————– Lingereth not (ouk argei). “Is not idle,” old verb, argeτ (from argos not working, alpha privative and ergon), here only in N.T. ——————————————————————————– Slumbereth not (ou nustazei). Old and common verb (from nuτ to nod), in N.T. only here and Matthew 25:5. Note apτleia (destruction) three times in 2 Peter 2:1-3

2 Peter 2:4

2 Peter 2:42 Pe 2:4 ειG1487 γαρG1063 οG3588 FOR IF θεοςG2316 GOD αγγελωνG32 “THE” ANGELS αμαρτησαντωνG264 [G5660] WHO SINNED ουκG3756 εφεισατοG5339 [G5662] SPARED NOT, αλλαG235 BUT σειραιςG4577 TO CHAINS ζοφουG2217 OF HAVING ταρταρωσαςG5020 [G5660] CAST “THEM” TO THE DEEPEST ABYSS παρεδωκενG3860 [G5656] “THEM” ειςG1519 FOR κρισινG2920 τετηρημενουςG5083 [G5772] HAVING BEEN KEPT . spared: 2 Peter 2:5, Deuteronomy 29:20, Psalms 78:50, Ezekiel 5:11, Ezekiel 7:4, Ezekiel 7:9, Romans 8:32, Romans 11:21 the angels: Job 4:18, Luke 10:18, John 8:44, 1 John 3:8, Jude 1:6 but: Isaiah 14:12, Matthew 8:29, Matthew 25:41, Mark 5:7, Luke 8:31, Revelation 12:7-9, Revelation 20:2, Revelation 20:3, Revelation 20:10 into: 2 Peter 2:11, Jude 1:6 to be: 2 Peter 2:9, Job 21:30, Jude 1:13 Exodus 10:21 - darkness Job 6:10 - let him not Job 21:22 - he judgeth Job 27:22 - not spare Psalms 105:28 - sent Psalms 119:52 - remembered Psalms 147:6 - he casteth Proverbs 21:12 - overthroweth Isaiah 9:19 - no man Isaiah 30:14 - he shall not Lamentations 5:16 - woe Ezekiel 28:15 - till iniquity Ezekiel 28:16 - therefore Matthew 8:12 - be cast Matthew 11:23 - which art Matthew 22:13 - outer Luke 8:28 - I beseech Luke 10:15 - thrust Luke 12:5 - power Luke 12:45 - and if Luke 16:23 - in hell John 8:12 - shall not John 16:11 - judgment Acts 8:23 - the bond Romans 11:10 - their eyes 1 Corinthians 6:3 - judge 1 Thessalonians 5:3 - then 1 Timothy 3:6 - the condemnation 1 Timothy 5:21 - the elect 2 Peter 2:17 - darkness2 Peter 2:4 For if. This phrase will be taken up with comments when we get to verse 9. God spared not the angles that sinned. We occasionally meet people who are troubled over the idea of angels sinning since they are in heaven. They are overlooking the truth that neither angels nor man have reached the judgement day, and until that time both classes are ca­pable of sinning. Were that not the case there would not now be such a creature as “ the devil,” for he was once in heaven and was thrust out because of his pride (1 Timothy 3:6; Luke 10:18).

But after the judge­ment no more changes will take place either for better or for worse.(See Revelation 22:10-11.) That means after that all wicked men and angels will be in the place of everlasting pun­ishment where they can never reform, and the righteous men and angels will be in heaven where they can never sin because the divine decree is that the righteous shall “ be righteous still.” The English word “hell” in the King James Version comes from three dif­ferent Greek words that have different meanings. In our present passage it comes from tartaroo which means that part of the intermediate state where the wicked go at death.

This whole subject of “hell” is explained in detail at Matthew 5:30. in the first volume of the New Testament Com­mentary. Into chains of darkness is figurative and refers to the regions of the wicked dead, because that place was thought of as one of midnight darkness. Reserved unto judgement. These fallen angels have no prospect of deliverence but must await the final judgement day. The only relief that any of them ever had was when some of them were released temporarily to enter into men in the time of Christ and the apostles. See the long note on this at Matthew 8:28-31 in the first volume of the New Testament Com­mentary. For if God spared not (ei gar ho theos ouk epheisato). First instance (gar) of certain doom, that of the fallen angels. Condition of the first class precisely like that in Romans 11:21 save that here the normal apodosis (humτn ou pheisetai) is not expressed as there, but is simply implied in 2 Peter 2:9 by oiden kurios ruesthai (the Lord knows how to deliver) after the parenthesis in 2 Peter 2:8. ——————————————————————————– Angels when they sinned (aggelτn hamartηsantτn). Genitive case after epheisato (first aorist middle indicative of pheidomai) and anarthrous (so more emphatic, even angels), first aorist active participle of hamartanτ, “having sinned.” ——————————————————————————– Cast them down to hell (tartarτsas). First aorist active participle of tartaroτ, late word (from tartaros, old word in Homer, Pindar, LXX Job 40:15; Job 41:23, Philo, inscriptions, the dark and doleful abode of the wicked dead like the Gehenna of the Jews), found here alone save in a scholion on Homer. Tartaros occurs in Enoch 20:2 as the place of punishment of the fallen angels, while Gehenna is for apostate Jews. ——————————————————————————– Committed (paredτken).

First aorist active indicative of paradidτmi, the very form solemnly used by Paul in Romans 1:21; Romans 1:26; Romans 1:28. ——————————————————————————– To pits of darkness (seirois zophou). Zophos (kin to gnophos, nephos) is an old word, blackness, gloom of the nether world in Homer, in N.T. only here, 2 Peter 2:17; Jude 1:13; Hebrews 12:18.

The MSS. vary between seirais (seira, chain or rope) and seirois (seiros, old word for pit, underground granary). Seirois is right (Aleph A B C), dative case of destination. ——————————————————————————– To be reserved unto judgment (eis krisin tηroumenous). Present (linear action) passive participle of tηreτ. “Kept for judgment.” Cf. 1 Peter 1:4. Aleph A have kolazomenous tηrein as in 2 Peter 2:9. Note krisis (act of judgment).

2 Peter 2:52 Pe 2:5 καιG2532 AND “THE” αρχαιουG744 ANCIENT κοσμουG2889 WORLD ουκG3756 NOT εφεισατοG5339 [G5662] SPARED, αλλG235 BUT ογδοονG3590 “THE” EIGHTH νωεG3575 NOAH δικαιοσυνηςG1343 OF κηρυκαG2783 A HERALD εφυλαξενG5442 [G5656] , “THE” κατακλυσμονG2627 FLOOD UPON κοσμωG2889 “THE” WORLD OF “THE” ασεβωνG765 UNGODLY επαξαςG1863 [G5660] HAVING BROUGHT IN; . spared: Genesis 6:1 - Genesis 8:22, Job 22:15, Job 22:16, Matthew 24:37-39, Luke 17:26, Luke 17:27, Hebrews 11:7 the eighth: Genesis 7:1-24, 1 Peter 3:20 a preacher: 1 Peter 3:19, Jude 1:14, Jude 1:15 bringing: 2 Peter 3:6 Genesis 5:29 - he called Genesis 6:8 - General Genesis 6:9 - just Genesis 6:12 - for all Genesis 6:17 - behold Genesis 6:18 - come Genesis 7:7 - General Genesis 7:13 - day Genesis 7:21 - General Genesis 7:23 - every living substance Deuteronomy 29:20 - will not spare 1 Chronicles 1:4 - Noah Job 6:10 - let him not Job 16:13 - doth Job 27:22 - not spare Psalms 78:50 - he spared Ecclesiastes 1:1 - the Preacher Isaiah 30:14 - he shall not Ezekiel 5:11 - neither shall Ezekiel 7:6 - behold Matthew 24:40 - the one Luke 3:36 - Noe Romans 5:6 - ungodly Romans 8:32 - that 1 Timothy 2:7 - a preacher 1 Peter 4:18 - where 2 Peter 2:4 - spared2 Peter 2:5 Spared not the old world refers to the people that were living in the davs of Noah, because the last vord is from kosmos which is de­fined “ the inhabitants of the earth.” They were wicked and God did not spare them from the flood; Noah was spared because he was a man of faith. Noah the eighth. This could not mean that Noah was number eight in the genealogy for he was tenth. The lexicons and various translations pre­fer to w’ ord this place, “ Noah and seven others.” He is called a preacher of righteousness because he preached what was right and what pertained to the needs of the day. The people were wicked and living after their evil imaginations, and the situation re­quired teaching directing them to re­form. World of the ungodly is the same as old world in the beginning of the verse. The ancient world (archaiou kosmou). Genitive case after epheisato (with ei understood) repeated (the second example, the deluge). This example not in Jude. Absence of the article is common in the prophetic style like 2 Peter. For archaios see Luke 9:8. ——————————————————————————– Preserved (ephulaxen). Still part of the long protasis with ei, first aorist active indicative of phulassτ. ——————————————————————————– With seven others (ogdoon). “Eighth,” predicate accusative adjective (ordinal), classic idiom usually with auton.

See 1 Peter 3:20 for this same item. Some take ogdoon with kηruka (eighth preacher), hardly correct. ——————————————————————————– A preacher of righteousness (dikaiosunηs kηruka). “Herald” as in 1 Timothy 2:7; 2 Timothy 1:11 alone in N.T., but kηrussτ is common. It is implied in 1 Peter 3:20 that Noah preached to the men of his time during the long years. ——————————————————————————– When he brought (epaxas). First aorist active participle (instead of the common second aorist active epagagτn) of eisagτ, old compound verb to bring upon, in N.T. only here and Acts 5:28 (by Peter here also). A flood (kataklusmon). Old word (from katakluzτ, to inundate), only of Noah’s flood in N.T. (Matthew 24:38 ff.; Luke 17:27; 2 Peter 2:5).

Upon the world of the ungodly (kosmoi asebτn). Anarthrous and dative case kosmτi. The whole world were “ungodly” (asebeis as in 1 Peter 4:18) save Noah’s family of eight.

2 Peter 2:6

2 Peter 2:62 Pe 2:6 καιG2532 AND πολειςG4172 “THE” CITIES σοδομωνG4670 OF SODOM καιG2532 AND γομορραςG1116 τεφρωσαςG5077 [G5660] HAVING REDUCED TO ASHES καταστροφηG2692 WITH AN κατεκρινενG2632 [G5656] “THEM”, υποδειγμαG5262 AN EXAMPLE " TO THOSE " μελλοντωνG3195 [G5723] BEING ABOUT ασεβεινG764 [G5721] TO LIVE UNGODLY τεθεικωςG5087 [G5761] HAVING SET; . turning: Genesis 19:24, Genesis 19:25, Genesis 19:28, Deuteronomy 29:23, Isaiah 13:19, Jeremiah 50:40, Ezekiel 16:49-56, Hosea 11:8, Amos 4:11, Zephaniah 2:9, Luke 17:28-30, Jude 1:7 making: Numbers 26:10, Deuteronomy 29:23, 1 Corinthians 10:11 Genesis 13:13 - But the Numbers 16:38 - a sign Joshua 22:20 - General Job 22:20 - the fire Isaiah 1:9 - we should Jeremiah 20:16 - as Jeremiah 23:14 - Sodom Jeremiah 49:18 - in the Ezekiel 16:46 - thy younger sister Ezekiel 16:50 - therefore Ezekiel 23:48 - that Ezekiel 28:18 - I will bring Ezekiel 31:14 - the end Mark 6:11 - It shall Luke 17:29 - General Luke 19:40 - General Romans 5:6 - ungodly Romans 9:29 - Sodoma 1 Corinthians 10:6 - these 1 Peter 4:18 - where Revelation 11:8 - Sodom2 Peter 2:6 The history of Sodom and Gomorrha is in Genesis 19. Into ashes states the result of the overthrow which was sent on them in the con­demnation from God. An example. The punishment of evildoers is not only for their own sakes, but also that the example may be a lesson for warning to others. (See 1 Timothy 5:20.) Turning into ashes (tephrτsas). First aorist participle of tephroτ, late word from tephra, ashes (in Dio Cassius of an eruption of Vesuvius, Philo), here alone in N.T. ——————————————————————————– The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (poleis Sodomτn kai Gomorrβs). Genitive of apposition after poleis (cities), though it makes sense as possessive genitive, for Jude 1:7 speaks of the cities around these two. The third example, the cities of the plain. See Genesis 19:24-25. ——————————————————————————– Condemned them (katekrinen). First aorist active indicative of katakrinτ, still part of the protasis with ei. ——————————————————————————– With an overthrow (katastrophηi).

Instrumental case or even dative like thanatτi with katakrinτ in Matthew 20:18. But Westcott and Hort reject the word here because not in B C Coptic. ——————————————————————————– Having made them (tetheikτs). Perfect active participle of tithηmi. ——————————————————————————– An example (hupodeigma). For which see James 5:10; John 13:15. Cf. 1 Peter 2:21. ——————————————————————————– Unto those that should live ungodly (mellontτn asebesin). Rather, “unto ungodly men of things about to be” (see Hebrews 11:20 for this use of mellontτn).

But Aleph A C K L read asebein (present active infinitive) with mellontτn = asebηsontτn (future active participle of asebeτ), from which we have our translation.

2 Peter 2:7

2 Peter 2:72 Pe 2:7 καιG2532 AND δικαιονG1342 λωτG3091 LOT, καταπονουμενονG2669 [G5746] υποG5259 BY τηςG3588 THE τωνG3588 OF THE αθεσμωνG113 LAWLESS ενG1722 IN ασελγειαG766 αναστροφηςG391 CONDUCT ερρυσατοG4506 [G5673] HE , . delivered: Genesis 19:16, Genesis 19:22, Genesis 19:29, 1 Corinthians 10:13 vexed: Genesis 13:13, Genesis 19:7, Genesis 19:8, Psalms 120:5, Jeremiah 9:1-6, Jeremiah 23:9 Genesis 11:27 - Lot Genesis 13:12 - pitched Genesis 19:9 - This Genesis 19:12 - Hast Genesis 19:28 - General Job 19:2 - vex Job 22:20 - the fire Matthew 24:40 - the one Matthew 26:69 - Peter Acts 17:16 - his spirit Ephesians 4:22 - former Ephesians 5:4 - filthiness Colossians 3:8 - filthy 1 Timothy 6:10 - and pierced2 Peter 2:7 Just Lot. This statement is made by an inspired writer and must be accepted as true. Much criti­cism has been made of Lot because of the choice he made in the time of Abraham. The criticism is unjust be­cause it is contrary to the facts of the circumstance. The reader may see a full explanation of this subject at Genesis 13:9-12, in Volume 1 of Bible, Commentary. Vexed with the filtkp conversation (conduct) of the wicked. This has special reference to their gross immorality, for the account that is given in Genesis 19:4-11 shows them to have been worse than dumb beasts.

2 Peter 2:8

2 Peter 2:82 Pe 2:8 βλεμματιG990 THROUGH SEEING γαρG1063 FOR καιG2532 AND ακοηG189 HEARING, οG3588 THE δικαιοςG1342 “MAN”, εγκατοικωνG1460 [G5723] ενG1722 AMONG αυτοιςG846 THEM, ημερανG2250 DAY εξG1537 BY ημεραςG2250 DAY ψυχηνG5590 “HIS” SOUL δικαιανG1342 ανομοιςG459 WITH “THEIR” LAWLESS εργοιςG2041 WORKS εβασανιζενG928 [G5707] , . that: Proverbs 25:26, Proverbs 28:12, 1 Timothy 1:9, James 5:16 in seeing: Psalms 119:136, Psalms 119:139, Psalms 119:158, Ezekiel 9:4, Ezekiel 9:6, Malachi 3:15-17 Genesis 13:12 - pitched Genesis 19:9 - This 1 Kings 14:13 - there is found Job 3:17 - the wicked Job 19:2 - vex Psalms 120:5 - Woe Hosea 7:16 - the rage Habakkuk 1:3 - General 1 Timothy 6:10 - and pierced2 Peter 2:8 This is the same as the preceding verse. For (gar). Parenthetical explanation in 2 Peter 2:8 of the remark about Lot. ——————————————————————————– Dwelling (enkatoikτn). Present active participle of enkatoikeτ, old but rare double compound, here only in N.T. ——————————————————————————– In seeing and hearing (blemmati kai akoηi). “By sight (instrumental case of blemma, old word, from blepτ to see, here only in N.T.) and hearing” (instrumental case of akoη from akouτ, to hear, common as Matthew 13:14). ——————————————————————————– From day to day (hηmeran ex hηmerβs). “Day in day out.” Accusative of time and ablative with ex. Same idiom in Psalms 96:2 for the more common ex hηmeras eis hηmeran. ——————————————————————————– Vexed (ebasanizen). Imperfect active (kept on vexing) of basanizτ, old word, to test metals, to torment (Matthew 8:29). ——————————————————————————– With their lawless deeds (anomois ergois). Instrumental case of cause, “because of their lawless (contrary to law) deeds.” For anomos see 2 Thessalonians 2:8.

2 Peter 2:9

2 Peter 2:92 Pe 2:9 οιδενG1492 [G5758] KNOWS “THE” κυριοςG2962 LORD " HOW THE " ευσεβειςG2152 PIOUS εκG1537 OUT OF πειρασμουG3986 ρυεσθαιG4506 [G5738] TO DELIVER, αδικουςG94 δεG1161 AND “THE” ειςG1519 TO ημερανG2250 A DAY κρισεωςG2920 OF κολαζομενουςG2849 [G5746] TO BE τηρεινG5083 [G5721] TO KEEP . knoweth: Job 5:19, Psalms 34:15-19, 1 Corinthians 10:13 the godly: Psalms 4:3, Psalms 12:1, Psalms 32:6, 2 Timothy 3:12, Titus 2:14 and: 2 Peter 2:4, Job 21:30, Proverbs 16:4, Jude 1:14, Jude 1:15 unto: 2 Peter 3:7, Romans 2:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, 2 Corinthians 5:11 Genesis 7:23 - and Noah Genesis 19:12 - Hast Genesis 19:16 - brought 1 Samuel 20:1 - fled 1 Samuel 29:10 - General 1 Kings 14:13 - there is found Job 4:7 - who ever Job 27:13 - the portion Job 36:6 - preserveth Psalms 37:33 - will not Psalms 94:13 - until the pit Psalms 119:121 - leave me Proverbs 12:13 - but Ecclesiastes 8:12 - a sinner Isaiah 27:4 - Fury Ezekiel 9:4 - that sigh Ezekiel 14:14 - deliver Daniel 2:18 - of the God of heaven Nahum 1:2 - reserveth Matthew 6:13 - lead Matthew 10:15 - in the Matthew 11:22 - the day Matthew 26:41 - enter Mark 6:11 - in the day Luke 17:34 - two Luke 21:22 - the days Acts 12:11 - and hath Romans 2:16 - God Romans 9:22 - endured 1 Corinthians 5:13 - God 2 Corinthians 1:10 - General 2 Thessalonians 3:3 - and 2 Timothy 3:11 - but 2 Timothy 4:17 - and I Titus 2:12 - godly Hebrews 2:18 - them James 1:2 - divers James 5:11 - and have 2 Peter 2:3 - whose 1 John 4:17 - the day Revelation 3:10 - I also2 Peter 2:9 This verse resumes the thought that was introduced at verse 4, but was interrupted with a list of facts set forth as a basis for the pre­sent passage. The argument is that if God was able and also disposed to do all the things referred to, He is able and determined also to do the following. Deliver the godly out of temptation. God does not promise to work a miracle to keep the trials from coming, but if a disciple is faithful He will care for him and help him overcome them (1 Corinthians 10:13). Reserve the unjust indicates that the punishment of the unjust is to be at a future time. This spoils a wishful-thinking notion that “ a man will get all of his ‘ hell in this life.” Wicked men as well as wicked angels will not be given their final sentence until the judgement at the last day. The Lord knoweth how (oiden kurios). The actual apodosis of the long protasis begun in 2 Peter 2:4. God can deliver his servants as shown by Noah and Lot and he will deliver you. The idiomatic use of oida and the infinitive (ruesthai present middle and see 2 Peter 2:7) for knowing how as in Matthew 7:11; James 4:17. ——————————————————————————– The godly (eusebeis). Old anarthrous adjective (from eu and sebomai, to worship), in N.T. only here and Acts 10:2; Acts 10:7 (by Peter). For temptation (peirasmou) see James 1:2; James 1:12; 1 Peter 1:6. ——————————————————————————– To keep (tηrein).

Present active infinitive of tηreτ after oiden. ——————————————————————————– Unrighteous (adikous). As in 1 Peter 3:18. ——————————————————————————– Under punishment (kolazomenous). Present passive participle of kolazτ, old verb (from kolos, lopped off), in N.T. only here and Acts 4:21. Present tense emphasises continuity of the punishment. See kolasin aiτnion in Matthew 25:46.

2 Peter 2:10

2 Peter 2:102 Pe 2:10 μαλισταG3122 δεG1161 AND τουςG3588 THOSE WHO οπισωG3694 AFTER “THE” σαρκοςG4561 FLESH ενG1722 IN “THE” επιθυμιαG1939 LUST μιασμουG3394 OF πορευομενουςG4198 [G5740] WALK, καιG2532 AND κυριοτητοςG2963 καταφρονουνταςG2706 [G5723] DESPISE. τολμηταιG5113 " THEY ARE " DARING, αυθαδειςG829 SELF WILLED; δοξαςG1391 GLORIES ουG3756 τρεμουσινG5141 [G5719] THEY TREMBLE NOT βλασφημουντεςG987 [G5723] EVIL OF; . that: Romans 8:1, Romans 8:4, Romans 8:5, Romans 8:12, Romans 8:13, 2 Corinthians 10:3, Hebrews 13:4 in the: Romans 1:24-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9, Ephesians 4:19, Ephesians 5:5, Colossians 3:5, 1 Thessalonians 4:7, Jude 1:4, Jude 1:6-8, Jude 1:10, Jude 1:16 despise: Numbers 16:12-15, Deuteronomy 17:12, Deuteronomy 17:13, Deuteronomy 21:20, Deuteronomy 21:21, 1 Samuel 10:27, 2 Samuel 20:1, 1 Kings 12:16, Psalms 2:1-5, Psalms 12:4, Jeremiah 2:31, Luke 19:14, Romans 13:1-5, 1 Peter 2:13, 1 Peter 2:14 government: or, dominion Presumptuous: Numbers 15:30, Jude 1:8 selfwilled: Genesis 49:6, Titus 1:7 to speak: Exodus 22:28, Ecclesiastes 10:6, Ecclesiastes 10:7, Ecclesiastes 10:20, Acts 23:5, Jude 1:8, Jude 1:10 Genesis 13:13 - But the Exodus 21:14 - presumptuously Numbers 5:27 - if she be defiled Numbers 12:8 - were ye Deuteronomy 17:11 - According to 2 Samuel 1:14 - How 2 Samuel 15:3 - thy matters Job 34:18 - General Psalms 19:13 - presumptuous Psalms 73:8 - speak loftily Proverbs 5:14 - General Jeremiah 29:23 - and have Hosea 11:10 - walk Matthew 7:16 - shall Luke 11:25 - he findeth Romans 16:18 - but 2 Corinthians 12:21 - uncleanness Ephesians 4:31 - evil speaking Ephesians 5:3 - fornication Philippians 3:16 - whereto Philippians 3:18 - many 1 Timothy 6:2 - let 2 Timothy 3:4 - Traitors Titus 3:2 - speak 2 Peter 3:3 - walking 1 John 2:16 - the lust of the flesh2 Peter 2:10 Chiefly has no reference to the kind of punishment that is to be meted out to these sinners for all will receive the same doom. In Matthew 25:31-46 we see that those whose only sin mentioned is a failure to relieve the needy, will receive the same pun­ishment that was “ prepared for the devil and his angels.” The word chiefly means that Peter is making particular mention of these characters. Walk after the flesh. The connection shows they were living after the low­est desires similar to the Sodomites. Despise government means they be­littled the laws that would curb their immoral lives. Presumptuous and self- uilled mean virtually the same, re­ferring to people who are determined to have their own way, regardless of whether it is right or wrong.

Speak evil of dignities. The last word means any thing or any being that is glori­ous, but the connection shows Peter is writing of angels because of their dignity and glory. Chiefly (malista). Especially. He turns now to the libertine heretics (2 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 2:7). ——————————————————————————– After the flesh (opisτ sarkos). Hebraistic use of opisτ as with hamartiτn (sins) in Isaiah 65:2. Cf. Matthew 4:19; 1 Timothy 5:15. ——————————————————————————– Of defilement (miasmou).

Old word (from miainτ Titus 1:15), here only in N.T. ——————————————————————————– Despise dominion (kuriotηtos kataphronountas). Kuriotηs is late word for lordship (perhaps God or Christ) (from Kurios), in Colossians 1:16; Ephes. 1:21; Jude 1:8. Genitive case after kataphrountas (thinking down on, Matthew 6:24). ——————————————————————————– Daring (tolmηtai). Old substantive (from tolmaτ, to dare), daring men, here only in N.T. ——————————————————————————– Self-willed (authadeis). Old adjective (from autos and hηdomai), self-pleasing, arrogant, in N.T. only here and Titus 1:7. ——————————————————————————– They tremble not to rail at dignities (doxas ou tremousin blasphηmountes). “They tremble not blaspheming dignities.” Tremτ is old verb (Mark 5:33), used only in present as here and imperfect. Here with the complementary participle blasphηmountes rather than the infinitive blasphηmein.

See Jude 1:8. Perhaps these dignities (doxas) are angels (evil).

2 Peter 2:11

2 Peter 2:112 Pe 2:11 οπουG3699 WHERE αγγελοιG32 ANGELS ισχυιG2479 IN καιG2532 AND δυναμειG1411 POWER μειζονεςG3173 GREATER οντεςG5607 [G5752] BEING, ουG3756 NOT φερουσινG5342 [G5719] DO BRING κατG2596 AGAINST αυτωνG846 THEM, παραG3844 BEFORE “THE” κυριωG2962 LORD, βλασφημονG989 A RAILING κρισινG2920 CHARGE . angels: Psalms 103:20, Psalms 104:4, Daniel 6:22, 2 Thessalonians 1:7, Jude 1:9 against them: Some read against themselves. Isaiah 10:34 - by a mighty one Romans 13:1 - every Ephesians 4:31 - evil speaking 2 Peter 2:4 - into2 Peter 2:11 The angels of whom the mentioned “ presumptuous” persons are not afraid to speak evil, show more courtesy toward their inferior accusers than the accusers show to them. Power and might have virtually the same degree of importance in the lexicon definition, hence their use is for the sake of emphasis. Bring not railing accusation which means blas­phemous charges. A specific instance of this kind of angelic mildness is shown in Jude 1:6. Whereas (hopou). Loose use of hopou (in Xenophon) = “wherein.” ——————————————————————————– Though greater (meizones ontes). Than the evil doxai. Concessive participle and comparative adjective. ——————————————————————————– In might and strength (ischui kai dunamei). Locative case. Both indwelling strength (ischus, Mark 12:30) and ability (dunamis, Matthew 25:15). ——————————————————————————– Railing judgment (blasphemon krisin). “Blasphemous accusation.” ——————————————————————————– Against them (kat’ autτn).

The evil angels (doxai). ——————————————————————————– Before the Lord (para kuriτi). In God’s presence. See Jude 1:9 and possibly Enoch 9.

2 Peter 2:12

2 Peter 2:122 Pe 2:12 ουτοιG3778 δεG1161 BUT THESE, ωςG5613 AS αλογαG249 ζωαG2226 ANIMALS φυσικαG5446 NATURAL γεγενημεναG1080 [G5772] BORN ειςG1519 FOR αλωσινG259 CAPTURE καιG2532 AND φθορανG5356 , ενG1722 IN οιςG3739 WHAT αγνοουσινG50 [G5719] THEY ARE OF βλασφημουντεςG987 [G5723] EVIL, ενG1722 IN τηG3588 φθοραG5356 αυτωνG846 THEIR καταφθαρησονταιG2704 [G5691] SHALL UTTERLY PERISH . as natural: Psalms 49:10, Psalms 92:6, Psalms 94:8, Jeremiah 4:22, Jeremiah 5:4, Jeremiah 10:8, Jeremiah 10:21, Jeremiah 12:3, Ezekiel 21:31, Jude 1:10 perish: 2 Peter 2:19, 2 Peter 1:4, Proverbs 14:32, John 8:21, Galatians 6:8 Deuteronomy 18:20 - the prophet Judges 20:41 - were amazed Psalms 1:6 - way Psalms 37:20 - But the Proverbs 30:2 - brutish Ecclesiastes 3:18 - and that Ecclesiastes 9:12 - the sons Acts 19:9 - but spake 1 Corinthians 15:32 - beasts Ephesians 4:19 - with 2 Thessalonians 2:10 - in them 1 Timothy 1:7 - understanding 1 Timothy 1:19 - which 1 Timothy 6:4 - He 2 Timothy 3:2 - blasphemers Titus 1:12 - liars 1 Peter 2:15 - the ignorance 1 Peter 4:4 - speaking 2 Peter 2:2 - evil2 Peter 2:12 These refers to the un­godly people described in verse 10. The Englishman’s Greek New Testa­ment translates the next four words, “ as natural irrational animals,” and it is these creatures that Peter says were made to be taken and destroyed. He compares the wicked men to these in that they act as if they were as irrational as they. He is expressing the situation as one that is surpris­ingly foolish, that human beings would behave no better than creatures that were not intended to be any more important than to be taken and slain. But the comparison is just, since they speak evil of the things that they understand not. Certainly men who thus speak do not show much better intellect than the brute beasts.

Utterly perish in their own corruption. This is said as a contrast to the case of the dumb animals. They are taken by others and slain, while these will be self-destroyed; perish in their own corruption. But these (houtoi de). The false teachers of 2 Peter 2:1. ——————————————————————————– As creatures (zτa). Living creatures, old word, from zτos (alive), Jude 1:10; Revelation 4:6-9. ——————————————————————————– Without reason (aloga). Old adjective, in N.T. only here, Jude 1:10; Acts 25:27. Brute beasts like thηria (wild animals). ——————————————————————————– Born (gegennηmena). Perfect passive participle of gennaτ. ——————————————————————————– Mere animals (phusika).

Old adjective in -ikos (from phusis, nature), natural animals, here only in N.T. ——————————————————————————– To be taken (eis halτsin). “For capture” (old substantive, from haloτ, here only in N.T.). ——————————————————————————– And destroyed (kai phthoran). “And for destruction” just like a beast of prey caught. See 2 Peter 1:4. ——————————————————————————– In matters whereof they are ignorant (en hois agnoousin). “In which things they are ignorant.” Here en hois = en toutois ha (in those things which), a common Greek idiom. For agnoeτ (present active indicative) see 1 Thessalonians 4:13; 1 Timothy 1:7 for a like picture of loud ignoramuses posing as professional experts. ——————————————————————————– Shall in their destroying surely be destroyed (en tηi phthorβi autτn phtharηsontai). Second future passive of phtheirτ. Rhetorical Hebraism in the use of en phthorβi (same root as phtheirτ), word four times in 2 Peter. See Jude 1:10.

2 Peter 2:13

2 Peter 2:132 Pe 2:13 κομιουμενοιG2865 [G5697] BEING ABOUT TO RECEIVE “THE” μισθονG3408 REWARD αδικιαςG93 OF ; ηδονηνG2237 ηγουμενοιG2233 [G5740] τηνG3588 ενG1722 ημεραG2250 τρυφηνG5172 ; σπιλοιG4696 SPOTS καιG2532 AND μωμοιG3470 , εντρυφωντεςG1792 [G5723] ενG1722 ταιςG3588 IN απαταιςG539 DECEITS αυτωνG846 THEIR, συνευωχουμενοιG4910 [G5740] WITH υμινG5213 YOU; . the reward: Isaiah 3:11, Romans 2:8, Romans 2:9, Philippians 3:19, 2 Timothy 4:14, Hebrews 2:2, Hebrews 2:3, Jude 1:12-16, Revelation 18:6 to riot: Romans 13:13, 1 Thessalonians 5:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, 1 Peter 4:4 Spots: Son 4:7, Ephesians 5:27, Jude 1:12 while: 1 Corinthians 11:20-22 Numbers 25:6 - in the sight of Moses 1 Samuel 2:14 - all that the fleshhook Psalms 14:3 - all gone Proverbs 26:19 - and Proverbs 30:15 - Give Ecclesiastes 7:6 - as Isaiah 57:4 - sport Jeremiah 23:26 - prophets of Eze 34:8 - the shepherds Micah 2:11 - I will Matthew 13:47 - and gathered Matthew 24:49 - and to Luke 12:45 - to eat Luke 15:13 - wasted Romans 6:13 - unrighteousness 1 Corinthians 11:21 - and one 2 Corinthians 11:15 - whose Ephesians 4:22 - deceitful 2 Thessalonians 2:12 - but 2 Timothy 3:4 - lovers of God James 1:22 - deceiving 1 John 1:8 - we deceive2 Peter 2:13 The Reward of unrighteousness means they will be treated as an un­righteous man should be treated; they will “ reap what they have sowed.” Pleasure to riot in the day time. It is wrong to riot at any time, but the usual practice is to use the night for it. “ For they that be drunken are drunken in the night” (1 Thessalonians 5:7). But these characters are brazen and take pleasure in flaunt­ing their evil conduct at a time when everyone can see it. Spots and blemishes. Paul says the church was de­sired to be without spot (Ephesians 5:27), but the conduct of these wicked men puts a terrible blemish on the institution. Sporting themselves is de­fined by Thayer, “ To live in luxury,” and it was done while they feast with you.

This has refesence to the love feasts that the Christians conducted in the early times. Such feasts were in­tended only as an expression of good will and were put on for the special benefit of the poorer Christians. But they were often abused as most good things may be, and evil persons at­tended the assemblies merely to in­dulge themselves in the good things provided by the brethren for the help of the poor. (See Jude 1:12.) Suffering wrong (adikoumenoi). Present middle or passive participle of adikeτ to do wrong. So Aleph B P, but A C K L have komioumenoi (future middle participle of komizτ), shall receive. ——————————————————————————– As the hire of wrong-doing (misthon adikias). The Elephantine papyrus has the passive of adikeτ in the sense of being defrauded, and that may be the idea here. Peter plays on words again here as often in 2 Peter. The picture proceeds now with participles like hηgoumenoi (counting). ——————————————————————————– Pleasure (hηdonηn).

See James 4:1; James 4:3. ——————————————————————————– To revel in the daytime (tηn en hηmerβi truphηn). “The in the daytime revel” (old word truphη from thruptτ, to enervate, in N.T. only here and Luke 7:25). ——————————————————————————– Spots (spiloi). Old word for disfiguring spot, in N.T. only here and Ephes. 5:27. ——————————————————————————– Blemishes (mτmoi).

Old word for blot (kin to muτ), only here in N.T. See 1 Peter 1:19 for amτmos kai aspilos. ——————————————————————————– Revelling (entruphτntes). Present active participle of entruphaτ, old compound for living in luxury, only here in N.T. ——————————————————————————– In their love-feasts (en tais agapais). So B Sah, but Aleph A C K L P read apatais (in their deceivings). If agapais is genuine as it is in Jude 1:12, they are the only N.T. examples of this use of agapη. ——————————————————————————– While they feast with you (suneuτchoumenoi). Present passive participle of late and rare verb suneuτcheτ (sun, together, and euτcheτ, to feed abundantly) to entertain with.

Clement of Alex. (Paed. ii. I. 6) applies euτchia to the agapη.

2 Peter 2:14

2 Peter 2:142 Pe 2:14 οφθαλμουςG3788 EYES εχοντεςG2192 [G5723] HAVING μεστουςG3324 FULL μοιχαλιδοςG3428 OF AN , καιG2532 AND ακαταπαυστουςG180 THAT CEASE NOT αμαρτιαςG266 FROM SIN, δελεαζοντεςG1185 [G5723] ψυχαςG5590 SOULS αστηρικτουςG793 ; καρδιανG2588 A HEART γεγυμνασμενηνG1128 [G5772] πλεονεξιαιςG4124 IN CRAVING εχοντεςG2192 [G5723] HAVING, καταραςG2671 OF COURSE τεκναG5043 ; . eyes: 2 Samuel 11:2-4, Job 31:7, Job 31:9, Proverbs 6:25, Matthew 5:28, 1 John 2:16 adultery: Gr. an adulteress that cannot: Isaiah 1:16, Jeremiah 13:23, Matthew 12:34, John 5:44 beguiling: 2 Peter 2:18, 2 Peter 3:16, Mark 13:22, Romans 16:18, 1 Corinthians 11:19, Ephesians 4:14, Colossians 2:18, James 1:8, Revelation 12:9 an heart: 2 Peter 2:3, Jude 1:11 cursed: Isaiah 34:5, Isaiah 65:20, Matthew 25:41, Ephesians 2:3 Genesis 6:2 - saw Genesis 39:7 - cast Genesis 49:4 - Unstable Exodus 18:21 - hating Numbers 22:32 - thy way Numbers 25:18 - beguiled Judges 18:4 - hired me 2 Kings 5:20 - and take Psalms 119:36 - and not to Proverbs 1:19 - every Proverbs 4:16 - General Isaiah 33:15 - shaketh Isaiah 44:18 - cannot Isaiah 56:11 - they are Isaiah 57:17 - the iniquity Jeremiah 6:13 - For Jeremiah 14:15 - Sword and famine shall not Jeremiah 17:11 - he that Jeremiah 22:17 - thine eyes Jeremiah 23:14 - they commit Jeremiah 51:13 - and the Ezekiel 6:9 - their eyes Ezekiel 13:18 - hunt souls Ezekiel 23:16 - and sent Hosea 1:2 - children Micah 3:11 - and the prophets Matthew 12:45 - and the Matthew 13:22 - the care Matthew 23:14 - for ye Matthew 24:49 - and to Matthew 26:15 - What Mark 14:11 - and promised Luke 12:15 - Take John 2:16 - make John 10:1 - the same John 12:39 - they Acts 5:2 - kept Acts 8:20 - Thy Acts 24:26 - hoped Romans 8:7 - neither Romans 13:13 - chambering 1 Corinthians 5:11 - or covetous Galatians 1:8 - let Ephesians 2:2 - the children Ephesians 5:3 - covetousness Colossians 3:6 - children 1 Thessalonians 2:5 - a cloak 1 Timothy 3:3 - not covetous 2 Timothy 3:2 - covetous 2 Timothy 3:3 - incontinent 2 Timothy 3:8 - men Hebrews 12:11 - exercised Hebrews 13:5 - conversation2 Peter 2:14 Adultery is from a Greek word that is defined by Thayer, “ An adulteress.” He explains about eyes being full of her as follows; “ Eyes always on the watch for an adulteress, or from which adulterous desire beams forth.” That cannot cease from sin. We know the Lord will not condemn a man for something he actually cannot avoid, hence we must look for the meaning of this phrase. In Thayer’s definition of the Greek (the words in italics), he says, “ Not quieted, that cannot be quieted,” and he explains it as follows; “ Eyes not quieted with sin, i.e. which they commit with adulter­ous look.” Hence it does not mean these men cannot cease looking at an adul­teress (for they could), but they can­not satisfy themselves just by looking; they will desire to obtain gratification. Doubtless that is why Jesus said “ Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Beguiling unstable souls. These men looking round for an adul­teress may not find one with such intentions, but if they are unstable (not firm in character), these evil men may entice them into sin.

Covetous practices. In addition to being im­moral they are grasping and try to take undue advantage of the free pro­visions that were intended as an ex­pression of brotherly fellowship. Cursed children. The first word is an adjective and describes children which means a certain class of individuals. These people are under the curse of the Lord because He has pronounced condemnation upon all such characters who do not repent before death. Of adultery (moichalidos). Rather, “of an adulteress,” like James 4:4. Vivid picture of a man who cannot see a woman without lascivious thoughts toward her (Mayor). Cf. Matthew 5:28. ——————————————————————————– That cannot cease (akatapastous). Reading of A B in place of akatapaustous (alpha privative and verbal of katapauτ, to cease). “Unable to stop.” This a late verbal, only here in N.T.

It is probable that akatapastous is merely a misspelling of akatapaustous. ——————————————————————————– From sin (hamartias). Ablative case as in 1 Peter 4:1 (hamartias). Insatiable lust. ——————————————————————————– Enticing (deleazontes). Present active participle of deleazτ, to catch by bait as in 2 Peter 2:18; James 1:14. ——————————————————————————– Unsteadfast (astηriktous). Late verbal adjective (alpha privative and stηrizτ), in Longinus and Vettius Valens, here alone in N.T. ——————————————————————————– Exercised (gegumnasmenηn). Perfect passive predicate participle with echontes, from gumnazτ precisely as in Hebrews 5:14.

Rhetorical metaphor from the gymnasium. ——————————————————————————– In covetousness (pleonexias). Genitive case after the participle. ——————————————————————————– Children of cursing (kataras tekna). Hebraism like tekna hupakoηs in 1 Peter 1:14 = accursed (kataratoi).

2 Peter 2:15

2 Peter 2:152 Pe 2:15 καταλιποντεςG2641 [G5631] HAVING LEFT τηνG3588 THE ευθειανG2117 οδονG3598 WAY, επλανηθησανG4105 [G5681] THEY WENT ASTRAY, εξακολουθησαντεςG1811 [G5660] HAVING τηG3588 IN THE οδωG3598 WAY τουG3588 OF βαλααμG903 τουG3588 BALAAM, “SON” βοσορG1007 OF BEOR, οςG3739 WHO “THE” μισθονG3408 REWARD αδικιαςG93 OF ηγαπησενG25 [G5656] LOVED . forsaken: 1 Samuel 12:23, 1 Kings 18:18, 1 Kings 19:10, Ezekiel 9:10, Proverbs 28:4, Hosea 14:8, Acts 13:10 Balaam: Numbers 22:5-7 who: Numbers 22:18-21, Numbers 22:23, Numbers 22:28, Numbers 31:16, Deuteronomy 23:4, Deuteronomy 23:5, Micah 6:5, Jude 1:11, Revelation 2:14 wages: Acts 1:18 Exodus 18:21 - hating Numbers 22:7 - rewards of divination Numbers 22:19 - General Numbers 22:32 - thy way Numbers 25:18 - beguiled Numbers 31:8 - Balaam Joshua 7:21 - I coveted Joshua 13:22 - Balaam Judges 18:4 - hired me Judges 18:20 - heart 1 Kings 21:16 - Ahab rose up 2 Kings 5:20 - and take 2 Chronicles 16:4 - hearkened Psalms 50:16 - What Psalms 107:7 - he led Psalms 119:10 - O let me Proverbs 5:23 - in the Proverbs 18:2 - but Proverbs 25:14 - boasteth Isaiah 56:11 - they are Jeremiah 6:13 - For Jeremiah 51:13 - and the Ezekiel 14:11 - the house Micah 3:11 - and the prophets Zechariah 13:2 - cause Matthew 13:22 - the care Matthew 18:7 - but Matthew 23:14 - for ye Matthew 26:9 - General Matthew 26:15 - What Mark 14:11 - and promised Luke 9:25 - what Luke 22:5 - and covenanted John 2:16 - make John 11:51 - he prophesied Acts 5:2 - kept Acts 24:26 - hoped 1 Corinthians 5:11 - or covetous 1 Corinthians 9:27 - lest Philippians 4:17 - because 1 Thessalonians 2:5 - a cloak 1 Timothy 3:3 - not covetous 1 Timothy 6:5 - supposing 1 Timothy 6:9 - they 2 Timothy 3:2 - covetous 2 Timothy 3:4 - lovers of God 2 Timothy 4:10 - hath Titus 1:12 - liars 1 Peter 5:12 - true 2 Peter 2:2 - ways 2 Peter 2:3 - through2 Peter 2:15 Forsaken the right way indicates these men had once been righteous, but had gone astray which means to step aside from the pathway of righteousness. Bosor is the same as Beor, the father of Balaam. Balaam pretended that all the wealth of Balak could not entice him to come to him, but he finally yielded and went in the direction of sin (Numbers 22-24). Forsaking (kataleipontes). Present active participle of kataleipτ (continually leaving) or katalipontes (second aorist active), having left. The right way (eutheian hodon). “The straight way” of 1 Samuel 12:23 (cf. Matthew 7:13-14 for this use of hodos), “the way of truth” (2 Peter 2:2). They went astray (eplanηthηsan). First aorist passive indicative of planaτ, like Mark 12:24. The way of Balaam (tηi hodτi tou Balaam). Associative instrumental case after exakolouthηsantes, for which verb see 2 Peter 1:16; 2 Peter 2:2. These false teachers, as shown in 2 Peter 2:13, followed the way of Balaam, “who loved the hire of wrong-doing” (hos misthon adikias ηgapηsen).

2 Peter 2:16

2 Peter 2:162 Pe 2:16 ελεγξινG1649 δεG1161 BUT REPROOF εσχενG2192 [G5627] HAD ιδιαςG2398 OF HIS OWN παρανομιαςG3892 , υποζυγιονG5268 “THE” BEAST OF BURDEN αφωνονG880 DUMB, ενG1722 IN ανθρωπουG444 MAN’S φωνηG5456 VOICE φθεγξαμενονG5350 [G5674] , εκωλυσενG2967 [G5656] FORBADE τηνG3588 THE τουG3588 OF THE προφητουG4396 PROPHET παραφρονιανG3913 MADNESS. . the dumb: Numbers 22:22-33 the madness: Ecclesiastes 7:25, Ecclesiastes 9:3, Hosea 9:7, Luke 16:11, Acts 26:11, Acts 26:24, Acts 26:25 Numbers 22:5 - sent Numbers 22:23 - the ass saw Numbers 22:28 - the Lord opened Numbers 22:30 - the ass said Judges 18:20 - heart 1 Kings 13:11 - an old prophet Isaiah 56:11 - all look Acts 1:18 - with 1 Timothy 6:9 - they2 Peter 2:16 This verse continues the case begun in the preceding one, and the record is included in the chapters in Numbers cited. The point is that the false prophet was rebuked even though no other was at hand through whom God could speak. Yet since He was able to give speech to the dumb brute to chastise the prophet, it is made sure that the Lord will be able to give wicked men their proper pun­ishment when the time comes for the judgement of evildoers. But he was rebuked (elegxin de eschen). “But he had rebuke.” Second aorist active indicative of echτ and accusative of elegxis (late word from elegchτ, a periphrasis for elegchτ, here only in N.T. ——————————————————————————– For his own transgression (idias paranomias). Objective genitive of paranomia, old word (from paranomos lawbreaker), here only in N.T. ——————————————————————————– A dumb ass (hupozugion aphτnon). Dumb is without voice, old word for idols and beasts. The adjective hupozugios (hupo zugon on) “being under a yoke,” is applied to the ass as the common beast of burden (papyri, Deissmann, Bible Studies, p. 160), in N.T. only here and Matthew 21:5. ——————————————————————————– Spake (phthegxamenon). First aorist middle participle of phtheggomai, old verb, to utter a sound, in N.T. only here, 2 Peter 2:18, Acts 4:18. ——————————————————————————– Stayed (ekτlusen). First aorist active indicative of kτluτ, to hinder. ——————————————————————————– Madness (paraphronian).

Only known example of this word instead of the usual paraphrosunη or paraphronηsis. It is being beside one’s wits.

2 Peter 2:17

2 Peter 2:172 Pe 2:17 ουτοιG3778 THESE εισινG1526 [G5748] ARE πηγαιG4077 ανυδροιG504 WITHOUT WATER, νεφελαιG3507 CLOUDS υποG5259 BY λαιλαποςG2978 STORM ελαυνομεναιG1643 [G5746] BEING DRIVEN, οιςG3739 TO WHOM οG3588 THE ζοφοςG2217 GLOOM τουG3588 OF σκοτουςG4655 ειςG1519 αιωναG165 FOR EVER τετηρηταιG5083 [G5769] IS KEPT . are wells: Job 6:14-17, Jeremiah 14:3, Hosea 6:4, Jude 1:12, Jude 1:13 clouds: Ephesians 4:14 mist: The blackness, ζοφος G2217, of darkness, darkness itself, says Leigh. darkness: 2 Peter 2:4, Matthew 8:12, Matthew 22:13, Matthew 25:30, Jude 1:6, Jude 1:13 Exodus 10:21 - darkness 1 Samuel 2:9 - be silent Job 15:30 - depart Psalms 105:28 - sent Isaiah 64:9 - remember Jeremiah 2:13 - broken cisterns Jeremiah 23:36 - for every Matthew 15:14 - And if Luke 7:24 - A reed John 8:12 - shall not Acts 13:11 - a mist Romans 11:10 - their eyes Philippians 3:19 - end 2 Thessalonians 1:9 - be James 1:6 - he2 Peter 2:17 Wells without water are places that are supposed to furnish water but have gone dry. Clouds carried with a tempest are those without much moisture and hence are so light they are driven about with the wind. Both figures are used to illustrate men who make the pretense of service for the Lord but who are empty of real worth. Mist of darkness is reserved. Since these pretenders are like a mist without rainfall, they deserve to go into another form of mist or gloom, and that is eternal darkness which is being reserved for them. Without water (anudroi). As in Matthew 12:43; Luke 11:24. Old word for common and disappointing experience of travellers in the orient. ——————————————————————————– Mists (homichlai). Old word for fog, here alone in N.T. ——————————————————————————– Driven by a storm (hupo lailapos elaunomenai). Lailaps is a squall (Mark 4:37; Luke 8:23, only other N.T. examples). See James 3:4 for another example of elaunτ for driving power of wind and waves. ——————————————————————————– For whom (hois).

Dative case of personal interest. ——————————————————————————– The blackness (ho zophos). See 2 Peter 2:4 for this word. ——————————————————————————– Hath been reserved (tetηrηtai). Perfect passive participle of tηreτ, for which see 2 Peter 2:4; 2 Peter 2:9.

2 Peter 2:18

2 Peter 2:182 Pe 2:18 υπερογκαG5246 γαρG1063 FOR GREAT “WORDS” ματαιοτητοςG3153 OF VANITY φθεγγομενοιG5350 [G5726] , δελεαζουσινG1185 [G5719] THEY ALLURE ενG1722 WITH “THE” επιθυμιαιςG1939 DESIRES σαρκοςG4561 OF “THE” FLESH, ασελγειαιςG766 BY , τουςG3588 THOSE WHO οντωςG3689 INDEED αποφυγονταςG668 [G5631] ESCAPED FROM τουςG3588 THOSE WHO ενG1722 IN πλανηG4106 ERROR αναστρεφομενουςG390 [G5746] WALK, . they speak: Psalms 52:1-3, Psalms 73:8, Psalms 73:9, Daniel 4:30, Daniel 11:36, Acts 8:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:4, Jude 1:13, Jude 1:15, Jude 1:16, Revelation 13:5, Revelation 13:6, Revelation 13:11 great swelling: Υπερογκα G5246, things puffed up with the wind. wantonness: Romans 13:13, James 5:5 that were: 2 Peter 2:20, 2 Peter 1:4, Acts 2:40 clean: or, for a little, or, a while, as some read Leviticus 11:7 - swine Numbers 25:18 - beguiled Deuteronomy 14:7 - General Joshua 23:12 - go back 1 Samuel 2:24 - ye make 1 Kings 13:19 - General Psalms 12:3 - tongue Psalms 17:10 - with Proverbs 12:26 - but Proverbs 14:3 - the mouth Proverbs 15:28 - the mouth Proverbs 18:21 - Death Proverbs 28:10 - causeth Isaiah 5:20 - them Jeremiah 6:14 - Peace Jeremiah 23:36 - for every Ezekiel 3:20 - When Ezekiel 13:6 - have seen Ezekiel 13:22 - by promising him life Ezekiel 18:24 - when Ezekiel 35:13 - with Daniel 7:8 - a mouth Daniel 7:11 - the voice Daniel 11:34 - cleave Obadiah 1:12 - spoken proudly Zephaniah 1:6 - turned Matthew 7:15 - which Matthew 15:11 - but Luke 6:26 - when Luke 11:35 - General Luke 17:32 - General Acts 5:36 - boasting Acts 20:30 - speaking Romans 1:30 - boasters Romans 6:1 - Shall Romans 16:18 - by 1 Corinthians 2:4 - not 1 Corinthians 13:1 - I speak 1 Corinthians 15:33 - evil 2 Corinthians 12:20 - swellings 2 Corinthians 12:21 - uncleanness Galatians 3:1 - who Galatians 4:17 - zealously Ephesians 2:3 - in the Ephesians 4:14 - by the Ephesians 4:29 - no Ephesians 5:4 - filthiness Philippians 3:2 - evil Philippians 3:19 - whose glory Colossians 1:23 - ye continue Colossians 3:8 - filthy 1 Thessalonians 2:5 - used 2 Thessalonians 2:10 - deceivableness 1 Timothy 5:11 - to wax 1 Timothy 6:4 - He 2 Timothy 2:16 - for 2 Timothy 2:26 - who are 2 Timothy 3:2 - boasters 2 Timothy 3:6 - divers Hebrews 12:15 - and thereby James 3:5 - so James 4:1 - come they 2 Peter 1:9 - that he 2 Peter 2:14 - beguiling 2 Peter 3:17 - being 1 John 2:16 - the lust of the flesh2 Peter 2:18 The principal subject of this verse is the influence these evil men have over those who would desire to be good if left alone. They ac­complish their wicked designs by means of great swelling words of vaity. This means they use deceptive language that causes others to expect certain enjoyments. They make their contact with the victims at the point of wantonness (impure desires) and lusts of the flesh, that being the place in the nature of a human being where he is the most apt to be influenced. These wicked pretenders are so suc­cessful that they allure (draw aside) those who were clean escaped from a life of error. Some translations render this as if the victims were only in the process of being brought out of error, but the word for clean is defined by Thayer, “ Truly, in reality, in point of fact.” This definition agrees also with the reasoning in verses 20-22 below. Great swelling words (huperogka). Old compound adjective (huper and ogkos, a swelling, swelling above and beyond), in N.T. only here and Jude 1:16. ——————————————————————————– Of vanity (mataiotηtos). Late and rare word (from mataios, empty, vain), often in LXX, in N.T. here, Romans 8:20; Ephesians 4:17. ——————————————————————————– By lasciviousness (aselgeiais). Instrumental plural, “by lascivious acts.” Note asyndeton as in 2 Peter 1:9; 2 Peter 1:17. ——————————————————————————– Those who are just escaping (tous oligτs apopheugontas). So A B read oligτs (slightly, a little), while Aleph C K L P read ontτs (actually). Oligτs late and rare, only here in N.T.

So again the Textus Receptus has apophugontas (second aorist active participle, clean escaped) while the correct text is the present active apopheugontas. ——————————————————————————– From them that live in error (tous en planηi anastrephomenous). Accusative case after apopheugontas (escaping from) according to regular idiom. Peter often uses anastrephτ and anastrophη.

2 Peter 2:19

2 Peter 2:192 Pe 2:19 ελευθεριανG1657 FREEDOM αυτοιςG846 THEM επαγγελλομενοιG1861 [G5740] , αυτοιG846 δουλοιG1401 BONDMEN υπαρχοντεςG5225 [G5723] τηςG3588 BEING φθοραςG5356 OF ; ωG3739 γαρG1063 FOR BY WHOM τιςG5100 ANYONE ηττηταιG2274 [G5766] HAS BEEN SUBDUED, τουτωG5129 BY HIM καιG2532 ALSO δεδουλωταιG1402 [G5769] HE IS HELD IN BONDAGE. . they promise: Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:16 they themselves: John 8:34, Romans 6:12-14, Romans 6:16-22, Titus 3:3 overcome: 2 Peter 2:20, Isaiah 28:1, Jeremiah 23:9, 2 Timothy 2:26 Leviticus 13:8 - General Leviticus 25:10 - proclaim 2 Samuel 15:4 - I would do 1 Kings 12:28 - It is too much 1 Kings 13:19 - General Psalms 119:45 - And I will Proverbs 13:7 - is that maketh himself rich Isaiah 5:20 - them Jeremiah 6:14 - Peace Ezekiel 13:22 - by promising him life Ezekiel 47:11 - shall be Daniel 11:34 - cleave Matthew 7:15 - which Luke 6:26 - when Luke 12:45 - to eat Luke 14:30 - General Acts 8:23 - the bond Romans 7:21 - a law 1 Corinthians 8:9 - take Galatians 2:4 - liberty Galatians 6:8 - reap Galatians 6:13 - keep Philippians 3:19 - whose glory 2 Timothy 3:3 - incontinent Hebrews 10:38 - but 2 Peter 2:12 - perish2 Peter 2:19 A man cannot truly impart something to another he does not have himself, especially when it concerns moral or spiritual principles. These evil workers held out the pros­pect of a life free from the restraints of law. Yet while emphasizing the good fortune of being “ free men,” they wrere themselves a group of slaves. Not to temporal or literal masters it is true, but to the harsh master of sin. Peter proves his assertion by the self-evident truth that if a man is over­come by any person or thing he is the slave of that thing; Paul teaches the same in Romans 6:16. Liberty (eleutherian). Promising “personal liberty,” that is license, after the fashion of advocates of liquor today, not the freedom of truth in Christ (John 8:32; Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:13). ——————————————————————————– Themselves bondservants (autoi douloi). “Themselves slaves” of corruption and sin as Paul has it in Romans 6:20. ——————————————————————————– Of whom (hτi). Instrumental case, but it may mean “of what.” ——————————————————————————– Is overcome (hηttηtai). Perfect passive indicative of hηttaτ (from hηttτn, less) old verb, in N.T. only here, 2 Peter 2:20; 2 Corinthians 12:13. ——————————————————————————– Of the same (toutτi). “By this one (or thing).” ——————————————————————————– Is brought into bondage (dedoulτtai). Perfect passive indicative of douloτ. Like Paul again (Romans 6:16; Romans 6:18; Romans 8:21).

2 Peter 2:20

2 Peter 2:202 Pe 2:20 ειG1487 γαρG1063 FOR IF αποφυγοντεςG668 [G5631] HAVING ESCAPED ταG3588 THE μιασματαG3393 τουG3588 OF THE κοσμουG2889 WORLD ενG1722 THROUGH “THE” επιγνωσειG1922 τουG3588 OF THE κυριουG2962 LORD καιG2532 AND σωτηροςG4990 SAVIOUR ιησουG2424 JESUS χριστουG5547 CHRIST, τουτοιςG5125 BY THESE δεG1161 BUT παλινG3825 AGAIN εμπλακεντεςG1707 [G5651] HAVING BEEN ηττωνταιG2274 [G5736] THEY ARE SUBDUED, γεγονενG1096 [G5754] HAS BECOME αυτοιςG846 TO THEM ταG3588 THE εσχαταG2078 LAST “STATE” χειροναG5501 WORSE τωνG3588 THAN THE πρωτωνG4413 FIRST . after: Matthew 12:43-45, Luke 11:24-26, Hebrews 6:4-8, Hebrews 10:26, Hebrews 10:27 escaped: 2 Peter 2:18, 2 Peter 1:4 through: 2 Peter 1:2 the latter: Numbers 24:20, Deuteronomy 32:29, Philippians 3:19 Genesis 24:6 - General Exodus 14:5 - Why have we Leviticus 13:20 - in sight Leviticus 13:55 - after Leviticus 14:43 - General Leviticus 25:10 - proclaim 1 Samuel 19:10 - sought Ezra 9:14 - we again Job 8:7 - thy latter Job 23:11 - his way Job 24:13 - nor abide Psalms 85:8 - but Proverbs 2:13 - leave Proverbs 14:14 - backslider Jeremiah 34:11 - General Ezekiel 33:13 - if he Ezekiel 33:18 - General Ezekiel 46:9 - he that entereth in Hosea 4:10 - left Hosea 6:4 - for Matthew 5:13 - if Matthew 7:27 - General Matthew 21:19 - Let Mark 11:14 - No Luke 6:49 - the ruin Luke 8:13 - which Luke 9:62 - No Luke 11:26 - and the John 6:66 - of his John 15:6 - he Acts 5:13 - of Acts 5:31 - a Saviour Acts 13:23 - raised Romans 12:2 - be not Galatians 3:4 - ye Galatians 4:9 - ye have Galatians 5:4 - ye 1 Timothy 5:15 - General 1 Timothy 5:24 - General 2 Timothy 1:10 - our 2 Timothy 2:4 - entangleth 2 Timothy 3:13 - evil Titus 1:4 - our Titus 2:12 - denying Hebrews 6:5 - tasted 2 Peter 2:19 - overcome 2 Peter 3:18 - knowledge 1 John 2:19 - went out 1 John 5:16 - There 2 Peter 2:20 The words latter end are from a Greek word that is defined “ last state” in the lexicon. It does not mean that he has come to the end of his oportunity; that there is noth­ing he can do about it. The only point the apostle is making at this place in the man’ s life, is a compari­son between his state at the two periods of his experience. They are the one where he escaped from error and the one after he went back to it; of the two the second is worse. After they have escaped (apophugontes). Second aorist active participle here (see 2 Peter 2:18). ——————————————————————————– The defilements (ta miasmata). Old word miasma, from miainτ, here only in N.T. Our “miasma.” The body is sacred to God. Cf. miasmou in 2 Peter 2:10. ——————————————————————————– They are again entangled (palin emplakentes). Second aorist passive participle of emplekτ, old verb, to inweave (noosed, fettered), in N.T. only here and 2 Timothy 2:4. ——————————————————————————– Overcome (hηttτntai).

Present passive indicative of hηttaoτ, for which see 2 Peter 2:19, “are repeatedly worsted.” Predicate in the condition of first class with ei. It is not clear whether the subject here is “the deluded victims” (Bigg) or the false teachers themselves (Mayor). See Hebrews 10:26 for a parallel. ——————————————————————————– Therein (toutois). So locative case (in these “defilements”), but it can be instrumental case (“by these,” Strachan). ——————————————————————————– With them (autois). Dative of disadvantage, “for them.” ——————————————————————————– Than the first (tτn prτtτn). Ablative case after the comparative cheirona.

See this moral drawn by Jesus (Matthew 12:45; Luke 11:26).

2 Peter 2:21

2 Peter 2:212 Pe 2:21 κρειττονG2909 BETTER γαρG1063 FOR ηνG2258 [G5713] IT WERE αυτοιςG846 FOR THEM μηG3361 NOT επεγνωκεναιG1921 [G5760] TO HAVE KNOWN τηνG3588 THE οδονG3598 τηςG3588 WAY δικαιοσυνηςG1343 OF , ηG2228 THAN επιγνουσινG1921 [G5631] HAVING KNOWN “IT” επιστρεψαιG1994 [G5658] TO HAVE TURNED εκG1537 FROM τηςG3588 THE παραδοθεισηςG3860 [G5685] αυτοιςG846 TO THEM αγιαςG40 HOLY εντοληςG1785 . it had: Matthew 11:23, Matthew 11:24, Luke 12:47, John 9:41, John 15:22 the way: Proverbs 12:28, Proverbs 16:31, Matthew 21:32 to turn: Psalms 36:3, Psalms 36:4, Psalms 125:5, Ezekiel 3:20, Ezekiel 18:24, Ezekiel 23:13, Zephaniah 1:6 holy: Romans 7:12, 1 Thessalonians 4:2 Numbers 14:4 - General Numbers 15:31 - his iniquity Deuteronomy 5:32 - ye shall not Ezra 9:14 - we again Psalms 78:41 - Yea Psalms 101:3 - them Psalms 107:7 - he led Proverbs 21:16 - wandereth Ezekiel 46:9 - he that entereth in Matthew 5:13 - if John 15:10 - ye keep Acts 1:16 - which the 1 Timothy 1:13 - because 1 Timothy 5:24 - General 2 Peter 2:2 - ways 2 Peter 3:2 - and of 1 John 2:19 - went out2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better, etc. It is sometimes argued from this verse that it would be wise not to be­come a Christian in the first place, then one can avoid what Peter says is the worse of two states. The apostle had no such idea in mind when he wrote this passage, and the theory does him an injustice. Besides, the one who makes such a proposition assumes that only two states are possible and everyone must take one or the other of them. Such is not true for it is not necessary to decide on either, namely, either remain unconverted or go back into sin afterward. The thing he can do and should do is to know and enter the way of righteousness, then remain in it. The reason a backslider is in worse state than the alien sinner, is that his heart has been hardened by the experience and will be less favor­able to the truth. It were better (kreitton ηn). Apodosis of a condition of second class without an, as is usual with clauses of possibility, propriety, obligation (Matthew 26:24; 1 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 7:7; Hebrews 9:26). ——————————————————————————– Not to have known (mη epegnτkenai). Perfect active infinitive of epiginτskτ (cf. epignτsei, 2 Peter 2:20) to know fully. ——————————————————————————– The way of righteousness (tηn hodon tηs dikaiosunηs). For the phrase see Matthew 21:33, also the way of truth (2 Peter 2:2), the straight way (2 Peter 2:15). ——————————————————————————– After knowing it (epignousin). Second aorist active participle of epiginτskτ (just used) in the dative plural agreeing with autois (for them). ——————————————————————————– To turn back (hupostrepsai). First aorist active infinitive of hupostrephτ, old and common verb, to turn back, to return. ——————————————————————————– From (ek).

Out of. So in Acts 12:25 with hupostrephτ. With ablative case. See Romans 7:12 for hagia applied to hη entolη (cf. 1 Timothy 6:14). 2 Peter strikes a high ethical note (2 Peter 1:5 ff.). ——————————————————————————– Delivered (paradotheisηs). First aorist passive participle feminine ablative singular of paradidτmi.

2 Peter 2:22

2 Peter 2:222 Pe 2:22 συμβεβηκενG4819 [G5758] δεG1161 BUT HAS αυτοιςG846 TO THEM τοG3588 THE “WORD” τηςG3588 OF THE αληθουςG227 TRUE παροιμιαςG3942 PROVERB : κυωνG2965 “THE” DOG επιστρεψαςG1994 [G5660] HAVING επιG1909 TO τοG3588 OWN ιδιονG2398 HIS εξεραμαG1829 VOMIT; καιG2532 AND, “THE” υςG5300 SOW λουσαμενηG3068 [G5671] WASHED, ειςG1519 TO “HER” κυλισμαG2946 ROLLING PLACE βορβορουG1004 IN “THE” MIRE. . The dog: Proverbs 26:11 Leviticus 14:43 - General Numbers 14:4 - General Deuteronomy 14:8 - the swine Deuteronomy 23:18 - dog Psalms 78:41 - Yea Proverbs 11:22 - a jewel Proverbs 21:16 - wandereth Proverbs 23:35 - I will Matthew 7:6 - that Luke 8:13 - which Ephesians 4:19 - with Philippians 3:2 - of dogs 1 Timothy 1:13 - because Titus 1:14 - turn 1 Peter 4:4 - excess2 Peter 2:22 The proverb about the dog is in Proverbs 26:11, but I have no information about the one concerning the sow. The two proverbs are stated only as an illustration of wl t men did, not that they had to do . If we apply the reasoning and my comments of the preceding verse to this one, it will say that the sick dog did not have to retain the objectionable matter in his stomach, nor did he have to return to it afterward. Likewise, it was proper to wash the sow after her mire and then for her to stay away from the place of filth. It is not so strange that dumb animals would act as here described, but men may be expected not to imitate them. If they do they will duplicate the saying in verse 12 where men are shown to act like the “brute beasts that were made to be taken and destroyed,” and certainly no person would wish to place himself in that class. It has happened (sumbebηken). Perfect active indicative of sumbainτ, for which see 1 Peter 4:12. ——————————————————————————– According to the true proverb (to tηs alηthous paroimias). “The word (to used absolutely, the matter of, as in Matthew 21:21; James 4:14) of the true proverb” (paroimia a wayside saying, for which see John 10:6; John 16:25; John 16:29). The first proverb here given comes from Proverbs 26:11. Exerama is a late and rare word (here only in N.T., in Diosc. and Eustath.) from exeraτ, to vomit. ——————————————————————————– The sow that had washed (hϋs lousamenη). Hϋs, old word for hog, here only in N.T. Participle first aorist direct middle of louτ shows that it is feminine (anarthrous).

This second proverb does not occur in the O.T., probably from a Gentile source because about the habit of hogs. Epictetus and other writers moralize on the habit of hogs, having once bathed in a filthy mud-hole, to delight in it. ——————————————————————————– To wallowing (eis kulismon). “To rolling.” Late and rare word (from kuliτ, Mark 9:20), here only in N.T. ——————————————————————————– In the mire (borborou). Objective genitive, old word for dung, mire, here only in N.T. J. Rendel Harris (Story of Ahikar, p. LXVII) tells of a story about a hog that went to the bath with people of quality, but on coming out saw a stinking drain and went and rolled himself in it.