2 Peter 2:21

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

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

Reciprocal: 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 out

Cross-References

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.

Genesis 15:12
Now it happened that when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.

Genesis 15:12
Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him.

Genesis 15:12
And whe the sunne was downe, there fell a deepe sleepe vpon Abram: and lo, an horrour of great darknesse fell vpon hym.

Genesis 15:12
The sun began to go down and Abram got very sleepy. While he was asleep, a very terrible darkness came over him.

Genesis 15:12
As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram; and lo, a dread and great darkness fell upon him.

Genesis 15:12
And whanne the sunne was gon doun, drede felde on Abram, and a greet hidousenesse and derk asaylide him.

Genesis 15:12
And when the Sunne was going downe, a deepe sleepe fell vpon Abram: and loe, an horrour of great darkenesse fell vpon him.

Genesis 15:12
And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

For it had been better for them,.... Not that ignorance is good, or to be excused; but it would have been a lesser evil, and not so much aggravated:

not to have known the way of righteousness; the same with "the way of truth", 2 Peter 2:2, and "the right way", 2 Peter 2:15, the Gospel, which points out the way and method of a sinner's justification before God, which is not by the works of the law, but by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, and received by faith; and which teaches men to live soberly, righteously, and godly; and a large, notional, though not an experimental knowledge, these apostates had of the word and doctrine of righteousness, and indeed of the whole of the Christian religion, which may truly go by this name:

than after they have known [it]; owned, embraced, and professed it:

to turn: the Vulgate Latin version, and some copies, as the Alexandrian and others, add, to that which is behind; to their former lusts, or errors, or worse, which they had turned their backs upon externally:

from the holy commandment delivered unto them; by the commandment is meant the Gospel also, see 2 Peter 3:2; called holy, because of its nature and influence, and in opposition to the pollutions of the world; and which is the faith once delivered, Judges 1:3, and which they received, as delivered to them; and, particularly, the ordinances of it, which they once submitted to, kept, and observed, as they were delivered to them, but now relinquished, or corrupted: wherefore, it would have been better for them to have been in their former ignorance, either in Judaism, or in Gentilism, since proportionate to a man's light is his guilt, and so his punishment, see Romans 2:12.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

For it had been better for them ... - Compare the notes at Matthew 26:24. It would have been better for them, for:

(1)Then they would not have dishonored the cause of religion as they have now done;

(2)They would not have sunk so deep in profligacy as they now have; and,

(3)They would not have incurred so aggravated a condemnation in the world of woe. If people are resolved on being wicked, they had better never pretend to be good. If they are to be cast off at last, it had better not be as apostates from the cause of virtue and religion.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 21. For it had been better for them not to have known — For the reasons assigned above; because they have sinned against more mercy, are capable of more sin, and are liable to greater punishment.

The holy commandment — The whole religion of Christ is contained in this one commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbour as thyself." He who obeys this great commandment, and this by the grace of Christ is possible to every man, is saved from sinning either against his God or against his neighbour. Nothing less than this does the religion of Christ require.