2 Peter 2:10

Contextual Overview

¹⁰This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.¹⁰ This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; ¹⁰ and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,¹⁰This is especially true of those who travel down the trail of lust and shun God's authority in their lives.These counterfeit cowboys are bold and show-offs. They show no respect for the glorious creatures of heaven, but instead make fun of everything that is holy. ¹⁰ But specially those who go after the unclean desires of the flesh, and make sport of authority. Ready to take chances, uncontrolled, they have no fear of saying evil of those in high places: ¹⁰ and specially those who walk after the flesh in [the] lust of uncleanness, and despise lordship. Bold [are they], self-willed; they do not fear speaking injuriously of dignities: ¹⁰ but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries; ¹⁰ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government: presumptuous, self-willed; they are not afraid to rail at dignities: ¹⁰ and especially those who are abandoned to sensuality--craving, as they do, for polluted things, and scorning control. Fool-hardy and self-willed, they do not tremble when speaking evil of glorious beings; ¹⁰ But chiefly them that walke after the flesh in the lust of vncleannesse, and despise gouernment. Presumptuous are they; selfe willed: they are not afraid to speake euill of dignities:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

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

Reciprocal: 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 flesh

Cross-References

Psalms 46:4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

Psalms 46:4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.

Psalms 46:4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

Psalms 46:4
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

Psalms 46:4
[Yet] the fludde by his ryuers shall make glad the citie of God: the holy place of the tabernacles of the most hyghest.

Psalms 46:4
There is a river the streams whereof make glad the city of God, the sanctuary of the habitations of the Most High.

Psalms 46:4
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

Psalms 46:4
There is a river, its channels gladden the city of God, the holy tabernacles of the Most High.

Psalms 46:4
There is a river whose streams bring happiness to God's city, to the holy city of God Most High.

Psalms 46:4
There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, The holy place of the tents of the Most High.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But chiefly them that walk after the flesh,.... Not merely after the dictates of corrupt nature, as all men, and even God's elect do, in a state of unregeneracy; but "after strange flesh", as Judges 1:7 expresses it, after the flesh of men:

in the lust of uncleanness; not of fornication and adultery, but of sodomy, and sodomitical practices; sins exceeding great, not only contrary to the law and light of nature, but dishonourable to human nature; and are what prevail where idolatry, infidelity, errors, and heresies do; and which, as they are sins of the deepest dye, deserve the greater damnation, and are chiefly and more especially punished by God with great severity:

and despise government: of parents, to whom these proud boasters and blasphemers are generally disobedient; and of masters, pretending it to be contrary to their Christian liberty; and of magistrates on the same account, and as being a restraint upon their lusts; which is to despise the ordinance of God, his representatives, and to introduce anarchy and confusion, and to open a door to all manner of sin; and also the government of Christ, as head of the church, and King of Zion, whom they will not have to reign over them, and therefore reject his laws, and submit not to his ordinances; and likewise the government of the world itself by God; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "despise their Creator"; denying his omniscience and his providence, giving out that he neither sees, observes, and takes notice of what is done in the world; nor does he himself do either good or evil, or concern himself about what is done by men.

Presumptuous [are they]; bold and daring, not fearing to speak against men of the most exalted character on earth, and against God himself in heaven; see Psalms 73:8.

Selfwilled; pleased with themselves, and their own conceits, their dogmas and opinions, with their high sense and profound judgment; and being obstinate in their sentiments, and resolutely bent to retain and defend them.

They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities; or "glories"; of the apostles, who were set in the first place in the church, and were the glory of Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:28; or of angels, styled thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers; or rather of civil magistrates, set in high places, and to whom glory and honour are due; which to do is contrary to the law of God, and of dangerous consequence, Exodus 22:28.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But chiefly - That is, it may be presumed that the principles just laid down would be applicable in an eminent degree to such persons as he proceeds to designate.

That walk after the flesh - That live for the indulgence of their carnal appetites. Notes, Romans 8:1.

In the lust of uncleanness - In polluted pleasures. Compare the notes at 2 Peter 2:2.

And despise government - Margin: “dominion.” That is, they regard all government in the state, the church, and the family, as an evil. Advocates for unbridled freedom of all sorts; declaimers on liberty and on the evils of oppression; defenders of what they regard as the rights of injured man, and yet secretly themselves lusting for the exercise of the very power which they would deny to others - they make no just distinctions about what constitutes true freedom, and in their zeal array themselves against government in all forms. No topic of declamation would be more popular than this, and from none would they hope to secure more followers; for if they could succeed in removing all respect for the just restraints of law, the way would be open for the accomplishment of their own purposes, in setting up a dominion ever the minds of others. It is a common result of such views, that men of this description become impatient of the government of God himself, and seek to throw off all authority, and to live in the unrestrained indulgence of their vicious propensities.

Presumptuous are they - Τολμηταὶ Tolmētai - daring, bold, audacious, presumptuous men.

Self-willed - αὐθάδεις authadeis. See the notes at Titus 1:7.

They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities - The word rendered “dignities” here, (δόξας doxas,) means properly honor, glory, splendor; then that which is fitted to inspire respect; that which is dignified or exalted. It is applied here to men of exalted rank; and the meaning is, that they did not regard rank, or station, or office - thus violating the plainest rules of propriety and of religion. See the notes at Acts 23:4-5. Jude, between whose language and that of Peter in this chapter there is a remarkable resemblance, has expressed this more fully. He says, 2 Peter 2:8, “These filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.” It is one of the effects of religion to produce respect for superiors; but when men are self-willed, and when they purpose to give indulgence to corrupt propensities, it is natural for them to dislike all government. Accordingly, it is by no means an unfrequent effect of certain forms of error to lead men to speak disrespectfully of those in authority, and to attempt to throw off all the restraints of law. It is a very certain indication that men hold wrong opinions when they show disrespect to those in authority, and despise the restraints of law.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 10. But chiefly them that walk — That is, God will in the most signal manner punish them that walk after the flesh- addict themselves to sodomitical practices, and the lust of pollution; probably alluding to those most abominable practices where men abuse themselves and abuse one another.

Despise government. — They brave the power and authority of the civil magistrate, practising their abominations so as to keep out of the reach of the letter of the law; and they speak evil of dignities-they blaspheme civil government, they abhor the restraints laid upon men by the laws, and would wish all governments destroyed that they might live as they list.

Presumptuous are they] τολμηται. They are bold and daring, headstrong, regardless of fear.

Self-willed — αυθαδεις. Self-sufficient; presuming on themselves; following their own opinions, which no authority can induce them to relinquish.

Are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. — They are lawless and disobedient, spurn all human authority, and speak contemptuously of all legal and civil jurisdiction. Those in general despise governments, and speak evil of dignities, who wish to be under no control, that they may act as freebooters in the community.