Escaped (668) (apopheugo from apo = marker of dissociation implying a rupture from a former association + pheugo = run away, seek safety by flight) means to escape completely, flee away from. Escaped depicts a successful flight from danger. Escaped is aorist tense which signifies a past completed action that became effective in our lives the moment we believed. Every believer has completely, effectively escaped from the "stench of the corruption"! That's our position. Now we must act on that truth in faith (faith obeys, walking in the light of this magnificent promise)! Now that we have escaped, put this truth into practice and make the choices that are daily required of each of us so that our "escape" becomes in practice (conformity to Christ) what it is in our position (in Christ ). Let us all emulate the actions of godly Joseph who when tempted by Potiphar's wife "left his garment in her hand and fled" [Ge 39:12] John MacArthur adds that... Having escaped depicts a successful flight from danger, in this case the effects of one’s fallen nature, the sinfulness of the decaying world, and its final destruction (cf. Phil 3:20; 21 see notes Php 3:20; 21; Rev 20:6 -note; 1Th 5:4-note, 1Th 5:9, 10-notes). At glorification, believers will be redeemed completely so that they possess eternal life in perfect holiness in a new heaven and new earth where no sin or corruption will ever exist (cf. Re 21:1, 2, 3, 4-notes; Re 22:1, 2, 3, 4, 5-notes). (MacArthur, J: 2 Peter And Jude. Moody or Logos) Hiebert adds that this phrase summarizes their past life as well as recognizes their full deliverance from it. The deliverance is a divine benefit from the bestowal of the new nature. The two have an intimate connection, a fact ignored by the false teachers condemned in this epistle. Here are all the uses of apopheugo in Scripture... 2 Peter 1:4 (note) For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 2:18 (note) For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, 2 Peter 2:20 (note) For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. Peter's description of a believer's "great escape" in this verse is a dramatic contrast with (2 Peter 2:20, 21 -notes) where we find a description of false teachers who have escaped the pollution of the world but not the corruption. To state it another way, they have been washed on the outside but have not been changed on the inside like the Pharisees who Jesus labeled white washed tombs filled with dead men's bones. They have a “head knowledge” of Christ and not a heart faith and worst of all they are not truly saved, for they go back to the old life after professing faith for awhile. Instead of escaping these pseudo Christians are like “dogs” and “pigs” that have been washed but have never received a new nature within. They're still "dogs" and "pigs" as indicated by their behavior. J. Vernon McGee has some pithy comments Religious people (Ed: He is referring to professors but not possessors of genuine faith.) go through an antipollution program on Sundays. They participate in a little ritual, a little washing, a little of this and a little of that. My friend, you can be religious to your fingertips and still be as corrupt as anyone can possibly be. Some folk that you see on Sunday don’t look like the same folk when you see them on Monday. Why? Well, they have been through only an antipollution program on Sunday. If you are going to escape the corruption of the world, you will have to have a new nature. You will need to be a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. However, although you have the nature of God through being born again, that doesn’t mean that you have lost your old nature. There a continuing conflict in the life of a believer between his new nature and his old nature." (Gal 5:16-note), Gal 5:17-note) (Thru the Bible With J. Vernon McGee ) C H Spurgeon in Morning & Evening (June 26) explains the secret of a supernaturally empowered life... "Vanish for ever all thought of indulging the flesh if you would live in the power of your risen Lord. It were ill that a man who is alive in Christ should dwell in the corruption of sin. "Why seek ye the living among the dead?" said the angel to Magdalene. Should the living dwell in the sepulcher? Should divine life be immured in the charnel house of fleshly lust? How can we partake of the cup of the Lord and yet drink the cup of Belial? Surely, believer, from open lusts and sins you are delivered: have you also escaped from the more secret and delusive lime-twigs of the Satanic fowler? Have you come forth from the lust of pride? Have you escaped from slothfulness? Have you clean escaped from carnal security? Are you seeking day by day to live above worldliness, the pride of life, and the ensnaring vice of avarice? Remember, it is for this that you have been enriched with the treasures of God. If you be indeed the chosen of God, and beloved by him, do not suffer all the lavish treasure of grace to be wasted upon you. Follow after holiness; it is the Christian's crown and glory. An unholy church! it is useless to the world, and of no esteem among men. It is an abomination, hell's laughter, heaven's abhorrence. The worst evils which have ever come upon the world have been brought upon her by an unholy church. O Christian, the vows of God are upon you. You are God's priest: act as such. You are God's king: reign over your lusts. You are God's chosen: do not associate with Belial. Heaven is your portion: Live like a heavenly spirit, So shall you prove that you have true faith in Jesus, For there cannot be faith in the heart unless there be holiness in the life." THE CORRUPTION: phthoras: The corruption - describes decomposition or rotting of an organism and the accompanying stench! The utter depravity of the fallen flesh and the resultant moral decomposition of the world opposed to God is driven by it sinful lusts or evil desires.