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2 Peter

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2 Peter 2

1But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Commentary · verse 1

Peter concluded the previous chapter contrasting believers with those outside the faith who believed in fables. In this chapter, Peter brought these concepts together by stating that there were people who appeared to be believers, but actually believed in fables. Paul called these people "reprobates/castaways."

2And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.

2And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Commentary · verse 2

Peter prophesied that many believers would be deceived by these false teachers.

3And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.

3And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Commentary · verse 3

The false teachers would use believers for their own gain, but their judgment was not far away.

4For if God spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

4For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Commentary · verse 4

Doctrine: The angels that sinned were cast down to hell and delivered into chains of darkness to be reserved to judgment. In this verse, the word for "hell" was tartarus. We saw in 1 Peter 3:19 that Jesus preached the Gospel to the angels in tartarus while His physical body was in the grave. Those angels were the ones who sinned before the Flood because the subsequent verse (1 Peter 3:20) spoke of Noah and how eight souls were saved by the ark through water. Likewise, Peter led immediately into Noah...

5and spared not the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

5And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Commentary · verse 5

Noah, a preacher of righteousness, was saved and the ungodly world was not spared during the time when some angels sinned (Genesis 6) and were condemned to tartarus.

6and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly;

6And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

Commentary · verse 6

Peter also mentioned Sodom and Gomorrah during this explanation. Notice, these were the only two mentions in the Bible of angels and sex. During Noah's time, the angels had intercourse with women. During Lot's time, some men attempted to have sex with angels: Genesis 19:5. Peter used both incidents as examples of the coming judgment. Jesus also referenced both circumstances (Luke 17:26-30) to explain what it would be like prior to His return.

7and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked 8(for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their lawless deeds):

7And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Commentary · verses 7-8

Lot was delivered from the filthy conduct of the wicked, just like Noah. Eight were saved with Noah. God said He would spare Sodom if ten righteous were found: Genesis 18:32.

9the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment;

9The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Commentary · verse 9

God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and how to reserve future punishment of the wicked. Verses 4-7 were examples of this truth, and they showed us what will happen to false teachers and false prophets.

10but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities: 11whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord.

10But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

11Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

Commentary · verses 10-11

Doctrine: The angels do not bring their opinion about people to God. The angels only report the facts to God.

Doctrines on this passage

12But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,

12But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Commentary · verse 12

False teachers are deceivers. Those who walk after the flesh and corruption are creatures without reason who speak evil of the things they do not understand. They speak a right WHAT without a right WHY/HOW. They will perish in their own corruption. It is their fault that they have no eternal life. Notice, animals do not have understanding. Animals only have knowledge. Peter continued by giving examples of destructive behavior from these false teachers...

13suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; men that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you; 14having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing; 15forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing; 16but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man’s voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.

13And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

14Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

15Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

16But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

Commentary · verses 13-16

Peter compared these false teachers to Balaam (Numbers 22). Balaam wanted to speak what God told him to speak, however, he had a different reason and different way from God. Balaam had a right WHAT with a wrong WHY/HOW.

17These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved.

17These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

Commentary · verse 17

Peter gave word picture examples of having a right WHAT (appearance) without a right HOW/WHY. Springs/wells were a right WHAT, however, these springs/wells did not have water.

18For, uttering great swelling words of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error; 19promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.

18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

19While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

Commentary · verses 18-19

They said the right WHAT (promising liberty), but actually had a wrong HOW/WHY: they actually did not have liberty, but their goal was to deceive others.

20For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first.

21For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

20For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

21For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Commentary · verses 20-21

This spoke about people who knew the way of Righteousness but turned from it. It was better for these people if they had never known it. The more a person knows, the more destructive they can become if they become evil. Lucifer is the most destructive because of the beings who are destructive, he knew the most. Peter then referenced Proverbs 26:11...

Doctrines on this passage

22It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire.

22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Commentary · verse 22

Theme of Chapter 2: Peter prophesied about, described, and warned believers about false teachers.

Doctrines on this passage

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