Bible Commentaries
2 Peter 2

Verse 1

2 Peter 2:1

False prophets -- of Old Testament time, such as in Jeremiah 5:31.

Privily -- secretly, by the side entrance, not by public entrance. cf. Judges 1:4.

Heresies -- schism or division.

Denying -- doctrinally or practically.

Bought -- ransom paid on the cross.

Swift destruction -- at the Lord’s second coming.

Verse 2

2 Peter 2:2

Peter is strongly concerned about the attitude of unbelievers toward Christianity. cf. 1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 2:15, 1 Peter 3:1-2, 1 Peter 3:15-16, 1 Peter 4:15-16.

See also 1 Timothy 6:1, Titus 2:5.

Pernicious -- ASV "lascivious doing" = sensuality.

Of whom -- because of them -- truth is reviled. cf 2 Peter 2:15, 2 Peter 2:21.

Verse 3

2 Peter 2:3

Covetousness -- greed

Feigned words -- πλαστός plastós; from which we get our word "plastic", thus, fabricated, false, fake, not their real thoughts and feelings.

Make merchandise -- "exploit you" transacting business for profit.

Judgment -- condemnation

Lingereth not -- some earthly sentences don’t get carried out, but theirs from God is certain.

Verse 4

2 Peter 2:4

New Paragraph - Concluded in vs. 9 2 Peter 2:9.

cf Judges 1:6

If -- since ("if" clause, concluded in v. 9)

Cast -- into dungeons.

Hell -- "tartarus" -

• · Thayer: ταρταρόω - tartaroō, 1) the name of the subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead, where they suffer punishment for their evil deeds; it answers to Gehenna of the Jews

• ·ταρταρόω - tartaróō; contracted tartarṓ, fut. tartarṓsō, from Tártaros (n.f.), the subterranean abyss of Greek mythology where demigods were punished. It is mentioned in the pseudepigraphal book of Enoch as the place where fallen angels are confined. It is found only in its verbal form in 2 Peter 2:4 meaning to cast into or consign to Tartarus. It is part of the realm of death designated in Scripture as Sh^e’ōl (H7585) in the OT and Hádēs (G86) in the NT. These angels are being held in this netherworld dungeon until the day of final judgment. Peter’s usage of this term is not evidence either that Christianity was a syncretistic religion or that Peter himself believed in the pagan myths about Tartarus. Peter has adapted a word and not adopted a theology. Complete WordStudy.

Revelation 12:4 - a third part (?). Luke 10:18, no symbols,Job 2:1

Ezekiel 28:13 vv 11-19, Isaiah 14:12-15, pride, 1 Timothy 3:6

Chains -- or pits.

HELL

Revelation 20:14-15, lake of fire, (Matthew 18:9)

Matthew 25:30, outter darkness (Matthew 22:13)

Revelation 14:11, torment, (Luke 16:23)

Matthew 25:46, eternal punishment

Mark 9:47-48, Matthew 10:28

Who will be there?

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, Revelation 21:8, 2 Peter 2:20-21, 1 Peter 4:18, Revelation 20:15, Matthew 5:22, 2 Peter 2:4

Verse 5

2 Peter 2:5

And spared -- * IF or SINCE clause continues.

Unsparing God -- 1) Here; 2) Romans 11:21 Israel; 3) Romans 8:32 His Son; unsparing in His mercy also!

Preacher of righteousness -- in sermon or by his life. 1 Peter 3:19-20.

Verse 6

2 Peter 2:6

And turning -- The IF or SINCE clause continues.

The third example of God’s judgment on Sin.

Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes -- Deuteronomy 29:23, Genesis 19:29. Their sins, Ezekiel 16:46-49, 1 Kings 14:24, 1 Kings 15:12, 1 Kings 22:46, Leviticus 18:22, 1 Timothy 1:10, Romans 1:24-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9.

Overthrow -- Gk "catastrophe" καταστροφή - katastrophḗ; gen. katastropḗs, fem. noun from katastréphō (G2690), to overthrow, overturn, ruin. A catastrophe, overthrow, destruction, as of cities (2 Peter 2:6). [NOT the κατακλύζω kataklúzō; cataclysm produced by the flood, 2 Peter 3:6.]

Ensample -- i.e. that wickedness will be punished.

Verse 7

2 Peter 2:7

Just Lot vexed -- Lot was disturbed by what he saw around him. Are we? Genesis 19:2-3.

vexed: Genesis 13:13, Genesis 19:7, Genesis 19:8; Jeremiah 9:1-6, Jeremiah 23:9

Verse 8

2 Peter 2:8

Unlawful deeds -- "unprincipled, wicked," They were homosexuals, sodomites.

See Romans 1:27 note on GAYS (Homosexuals, Sodomites) and Lesbians In The Bible

Verse 9

2 Peter 2:9

KEY VERSE to the Paragraph and to Peter’ point.

Temptations -- trials.

Reserve -- keep.

Judgment -- final verdict.

JUDGMENT - Hebrews 9:27, Acts 17:30-31, Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 11:31-32, 2 Peter 2:9, 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.

Verse 10

2 Peter 2:10

Chiefly -- especially

Government -- lordships, i.e. authority.

Dignities -- Christ, angels, apostles, church leaders.

See Romans 1:27 note on GAYS (Homosexuals, Sodomites) and Lesbians In The Bible

Verse 11

2 Peter 2:11

Greater in power -- than these false teachers, Romans 14:4, 1 Corinthians 4:5.

Bring not -- Angels don’t speak against these "indignities" and "unjust" of vs. 9 & 10.

Verse 12

2 Peter 2:12

Brute beasts -- which have no consciousness of right or wrong.

Taken and destroyed -- i.e. to be caught and killed.

Verse 13

2 Peter 2:13

Count it pleasure -- They feel no shame for their vile deeds.

Day time -- usually revellery is done at night. This shows how far their shamelessness has advanced.

Spots -- blots, cf 1 Peter 1:19, Judges 1:12

Sporting -- carousing

Deceivings -- atmosphere of hypocrisy.

Feasts -- Their love feasts, Judges 1:12, (1Cor. 11 the Lord’s Supper).

Verse 14

2 Peter 2:14

Cannot cease -- "insatiable for sin", cannot be filled.

Beguiling -- as with bait, enticing, cf. 2 Peter 2:18.

Exercised -- trained - Hebrews 5:14.

Cursed children -- Describing their condition in God’s eyes.

Verse 15

2 Peter 2:15

Right way --

Balaam -- Pretended to be spokesman of God. A propper for hire -out of his greed. Through his influence Israel committed grave immorality with the daughters of Moab. Numbers 22-25, Numbers 22:15 - 35.

Wages of unrighteousness -- Because of greed, Balaam was ready to do evil.

Verse 16

2 Peter 2:16

Forbad -- restrained

Verse 17

2 Peter 2:17

These -- False prophets.

Wells -- clouds -- Deceive men with a promise they do not fill.

Reserved -- Same used of wicked angels in 2 Peter 2:4, but here for these false teachers (ex-saints!)

Verse 18

2 Peter 2:18

Swelling -- vanity -- High sounding words but vain, empty of content.

Allure -- another fisherman’s term (cf. 2 Peter 2:12).

Clean escaped -- ref to new converts, (cf. ASV).

These false teachers told these new Christians they could be loyal to Christ and engage in such acts as they taught. [Probably Gnostics].

Verse 19

2 Peter 2:19

Liberty -- Slaves while they promised liberty. Freedom as a pretext for doing evil.

Corruption -- Their new masters.

Verse 20

2 Peter 2:20

They -- ? False teachers or the victims? These had been saved Christians, but now lost. Calvinism refuted!

Entangled -- as fish in a net. cf. v.14 "bait" v. 18, words of a fisherman!!

Overcome -- over powered.

Worse than beginning -- Words parallel to Jesus’ in Matthew 12:45, Luke 11:26. Why? 1) Before, they were easily reached; 2) Persistence in sins hardens; 3) It is bad to bring reproach on the church; 4) Now, they were teaching others it is okay to sin, vs. 18-19.

See James 5:19 note on APOSTASY

HELL

Revelation 20:14-15, lake of fire, (Matthew 18:9)

Matthew 25:30, outter darkness (Matthew 22:13)

Revelation 14:11, torment, (Luke 16:23)

Matthew 25:46, eternal punishment

Mark 9:47-48, Matthew 10:28

Who will be there?

2 Thessalonians 1:7-8, Revelation 21:8, 2 Peter 2:20-21, 1 Peter 4:18, Revelation 20:15, Matthew 5:22, 2 Peter 2:4

Verse 21

2 Peter 2:21

The way of righteousness -- The Didache (AD 115), speaks of "the two ways." Note v.15 "the right way." 2 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 2:15.

Holy commandment -- the whole moral law of God.

Verse 22

2 Peter 2:22

Them -- i.e. these false teachers.

Dog -- Proverbs 26:11

Sow -- Example: A prize sow at State Fair all prettied up. Back home returns to the mire which it likes best.