False Teachers
| Text | Comments |
| .1
But 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.
.2 And many shall follow their pernicious [or "lascivious"] ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. |
1 -
But
... false prophets also This is in contrast to the last verse
of the previous chapter where "holy man of God spake..."
2 - Truth ... evil spoken of See ac1806. We must avoid judging without testing new ideas by the Bible. It's easy to say, I don't believe because a certain group teaches it. |
| .3
And 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.
.4 For 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; |
4 -
Spared
not Here through verse 9, Peter gives several examples where
God punished wicked people.
4 - Cast them down re1208. re1204a. 4 - Hell Several words are translated "hell." Here it is from the Greek word, tartaroo, which was considered, in Greek mythology, to be the place where the wicked dead went for punishment. Note that the verse says "reserved unto judgment." Because Peter's conclusion in verse 9 is that judgment as punishment will be carried out when God's day for it comes, we may see the intent of this verse to be that the angels will not escape punishment. Peter's Greek-speaking readers would have understood his emphasis for the word, tartaroo, as a holding place. Also see on verse 9 below and jude6. 4 - Judgment Review and punishment of the evil angels comes at the end of the thousand years mt2541, re2010. The final judgment condemns them to eternal death., not eternal life of torment. When they have paid for their sins they die. The good news of the gospel is that we have a Saviour who will lead us to salvation. |
| .5
And 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;
.6 And 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; |
6 - Ashes Jude 7 describes the fire of Sodom and Gomorrah as "eternal." Here we see that it ends. And we confirm this by knowing that no cities in that area are continually burning. Compare mal0401. |
| .7
And delivered just [righteous] Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation
[behavior] 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;) .9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: The NIV distorts this verse as follows: "... and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment while continuing their punishment. |
7 -
Delivered
just Lot, vexed The Lord is the judge.
9 - Deliver The emphasis here is of God's power to keep us from sin. 9 - Reserve Peter clearly saw the punishment of the wicked to be at a future time. Nowhere in Scripture do we find the idea of wicked people beginning an endless time of punishment as soon as they die. Also see v. 6 above. The idea of endless punishment comes from pagan sources and was adopted by the Catholic Church and was not dropped by the Protestants. 9 - Day of judgment Peter understood the "day of judgment" to be "the day of the Lord." See 2pe0307,10, mal0405, re1409-11 . Compare jl03. 9 - To be punished From kolazomenous, Literally "being punished." The verse describes a future time of punishment. Compare v4, 2pe0307, he0927. |
| 10 But chiefly them that walk
after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government [or
"dominion."] Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to
speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them [or "themselves"] before the Lord. .12 But 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; 13 And 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; |
10
- Them that walk ... flesh Peter has
been describing the false prophets or teachers of verse 1.
10 - Government From kuriotes. Literally "lordship" or "dominion." See the word in ep0121, co0116. We may understand this to be the lordship of Christ. 11 - Angels Good ones as we see in the context. 11 - Railing accusation Or blasphemous or reviling judgment. 11 - Them Apparently the false prophets but the intent may have been that the false prophets speak against the authorities. 12 - "But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed." (NASB). |
| 14 Having eyes full of adultery,
and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they
have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. |
14
- Eyes full of adultery Rather "... of an adulteress." The
false prophets are like prostitutes who induce men to sin. For "heart"
see jb3107.
14 - Cursed children Or children of curse. "that is, devoted to the curse. Cursing and covetousness, as in Balaam's case, often go together: the curse he designed for Israel fell on Israel's foes and on himself. True believers bless, and curse not, and so are blessed." (JFB). 15 - Gone astray Or "having been caused to wander." Those who turn from righteousness have no hope. |
| .17
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest;
to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean [for a while] escaped from them who live in error. .19 While 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. |
17
- These Compare the parallel passage in Jude 12,
13, 16.
19 - Promise them liberty These promises are instances of their "great swelling words." The liberty which they propose is such as fears not Satan, nor loathes the flesh. Pauline language, adopted by Peter here, and 1Pe 2:16." True liberty is found only in Christ John 8:36. |
| .20
For 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.
.21 For 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. .22 But 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. |
20
- Escaped ... again entangled Those who have had light then
reject it have a greater responsibility than those who live in sin without
understanding.
22 - Proverb ... dog See pr2611. |
|
|
|
|
|