2 Peter 2:12

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

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

Reciprocal: 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 - evil

Cross-References

Exodus 28:20
in the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx and a jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings.

Exodus 28:20
the fourth row shall be topaz, onyx and jasper. Mount them in gold filigree settings.

Exodus 28:20
and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold settings.

Exodus 28:20
and the fourth row a beryl and an onyx and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree.

Exodus 28:20
In the fourth a Turcas, an Onyx, and a Iaspis: and they shalbe set in golde in their inclosers.

Exodus 28:20
The fourth row should have a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. Set all these jewels in gold.

Exodus 28:20
and the fourth row a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper; they shall be set in gold filigree.

Exodus 28:20
and the fourth row a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be enclosed in gold in their settings.

Exodus 28:20
And the fourth row, a Berill, and an Onix, and a Iasper: they shalbe set in gold in their inclosings.

Exodus 28:20
And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But these, as natural brute beasts,.... So far are these men from acting like the angels, that they are sunk below their own species, and are like beasts, and become brutish in their knowledge and behaviour; are like the horse and the mule, without understanding, act as if they were without reason; yea, are more stupid and senseless than the ox, or the ass, which know their owner, and their crib; and even in those things which they might, and do know by the light of nature, they corrupt themselves; and being given up to judicial blindness, and a reprobate mind, call good evil, and evil good, and do things that are not convenient, and which even brute beasts do not; and like as they are guided by an instinct in nature, to do what they do, so these men are led and influenced by the force and power of corrupt nature in them, to commit all manner of wickedness: and like them are

made to be taken and destroyed; or, as it may be rendered, "to take and destroy"; as beasts and birds of prey, such as lions, tigers, wolves, bears, vultures, hawks, c. to which abusers of themselves with mankind, ravishers of women, extortioners, oppressors, thieves, robbers, and plunderers of men's properties, may be compared: or "to be taken and destroyed" that is, they are made or appointed to be taken in the net and snare of Satan, are vessels of wrath fitted for destruction, and are afore ordained to condemnation and ruin: and this being their case, they

speak evil of the things they understand not; either of angels, of whose nature, office, and dignity, they are ignorant; and blaspheme them, by either ascribing too much to them, as the creation of the world, and divine worship, as were by some ancient heretics; or by speaking such things of them as were below them, and unworthy of them; or of civil magistrates, not knowing the nature and end of magistracy and civil government, and therefore spoke evil of them, when they ought to pray, and be thankful for them, and live peaceable and quiet lives under them; or of the ministers of the word, whose usefulness for the conversion of sinners and edification of saints were not known, at least not acknowledged by these men; hence they were traduced, and went through ill report among them, being as unknown by them; or of the Scriptures of truth, which heretical men do not truly know and understand, but wrest to their own destruction, or deny; and of the Gospel and the mysteries of it, which are things not seen, known, and understood by carnal men, and therefore are blasphemed, reviled, and reproached by them:

and shall utterly perish in their own corruption: of which they are servants, 2 Peter 2:19, in their moral corruption, in their filthy and unnatural lusts, which are the cause of their everlasting perdition and destruction, to which they are righteously appointed of God.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

But these, as natural brute beasts - These persons, who resemble so much irrational animals which are made to be taken and destroyed. The point of the comparison is, that they are like fierce and savage beasts that exercise no control over their appetites, and that seeM to be made only to be destroyed. These persons, by their fierce and ungovernable passions, appear to be made only for destruction, and rush blindly on to it. The word rendered “natural,” (which, however, is lacking in several manuscripts), means “as they are by nature,” following the bent of their natural appetites and passions. The idea is, that they exercised no more restraint over their passions than beasts do over their propensities. They were entirely under the dominion of their natural appetites, and did not allow their reason or conscience to exert any constraint. The word rendered “brute,” means without reason; irrational. Man has reason, and should allow it to control his passions; the brutes have no rational nature, and it is to be expected that they will act out their propensities without restraint. Man, as an animal, has many passions and appetites resembling those of the brute creation, but he is also endowed with a higher nature, which is designed to regulate and control his inferior propensities, and to keep them in subordination to the requirements of law. If a man sinks himself to the level of brutes, he must expect to be treated like brutes; and as wild and savage animals - lions, and panthers, and wolves, and bears - are regarded as dangerous, and as “made to be taken and destroyed,” so the same destiny must come upon men who make themselves like them.

Made to be taken and destroyed - They are not only useless to society, but destructive; and men feel that it is right to destroy them. We are not to suppose that this teaches that the only object which God had in view in making wild animals was that they might be destroyed; but that people so regard them.

Speak evil of the things that they understand not - Of objects whose worth and value they cannot appreciate. This is no uncommon thing among people, especially in regard to the works and ways of God.

And shall utterly perish in their own corruption - Their views will be the means of their ruin; and they render them fit for it, just as much as the fierce passions of the wild animals do.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 12. But these, as natural brute beasts — ωςαλογαζωα φυσικα. As those natural animals void of reason, following only the gross instinct of nature, being governed neither by reason nor religion.

Made to be taken and destroyed — Intended to be taken with nets and gins, and then destroyed, because of their fierce and destructive nature; so these false teachers and insurgents must be treated; first incarcerated, and then brought to judgment, that they may have the reward of their doings. And thus, by blaspheming what they do not understand, they at last perish in their own corruption; i.e. their corrupt doctrines and vicious practices.