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Texts -- 2 Peter 2:1-21 (NET)

Context
The False Teachers’ Ungodly Lifestyle
2:1 But false prophets arose among the people , just as there will be false teachers among you . These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies , even to the point of denying the Master who bought them . As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves . 2:2 And many will follow their debauched lifestyles . Because of these false teachers , the way of truth will be slandered . 2:3 And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words . Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep . 2:4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned , but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness , to be kept until the judgment , 2:5 and if he did not spare the ancient world , but did protect Noah , a herald of righteousness , along with seven others , when God brought a flood on an ungodly world , 2:6 and if he turned to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah when he condemned them to destruction , having appointed them to serve as an example to future generations of the ungodly , 2:7 and if he rescued Lot , a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men , 2:8 (for while he lived among them day after day , that righteous man was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard ) 2:9 –if so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from their trials , and to reserve the unrighteous for punishment at the day of judgment , 2:10 especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority . Brazen and insolent , they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones, 2:11 yet even angels , who are much more powerful , do not bring a slanderous judgment against them before the Lord . 2:12 But these men , like irrational animals – creatures of instinct , born to be caught and destroyed – do not understand whom they are insulting , and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed , 2:13 suffering harm as the wages for their harmful ways . By considering it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight , they are stains and blemishes , indulging in their deceitful pleasures when they feast together with you . 2:14 Their eyes , full of adultery , never stop sinning ; they entice unstable people . They have trained their hearts for greed , these cursed children ! 2:15 By forsaking the right path they have gone astray , because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor , who loved the wages of unrighteousness , 2:16 yet was rebuked for his own transgression (a dumb donkey , speaking with a human voice , restrained the prophet’s madness ). 2:17 These men are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm , for whom the utter depths of darkness have been reserved . 2:18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice , with fleshly desires and with debauchery , people who have just escaped from those who reside in error . 2:19 Although these false teachers promise such people freedom , they themselves are enslaved to immorality . For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved . 2:20 For if after they have escaped the filthy things of the world through the rich knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ , they again get entangled in them and succumb to them , their last state has become worse for them than their first . 2:21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than , having known it, to turn back from the holy commandment that had been delivered to them .

Pericope

NET
  • 2Pe 2:1-22 -- The False Teachers' Ungodly Lifestyle

Bible Dictionary

  • Heresy

    [ebd] from a Greek word signifying (1) a choice, (2) the opinion chosen, and (3) the sect holding the opinion. In the Acts of the Apostles (5:17; 15:5; 24:5, 14; 26:5) it denotes a sect, without reference to its character. Elsewhe...
    [isbe] HERESY - her'-e-si, her'-e-si (hairesis, from verb haireo, "to choose"): The word has acquired an ecclesiastical meaning that has passed into common usage, containing elements not found in the term in the New Testament, exce...
    [nave] HERESY Propagandism of, forbidden under severe penalties, Deut. 13; Tit. 3:10, 11; 2 John 10, 11. Teachers of, among early Christians, Acts 15:24; 2 Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:7; 2:4; 2 Pet. 2; Jude 3-16; Rev. 2:2. Paul and Silas a...

  • Minister

    [nave] MINISTER, a sacred teacher. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics; Call of; Character and Qualifications of; Charge Delivered to; Courage of; Duties of; Duties of the Church to; Emoluments of; Faithful, Instanc...

  • Doctrines

    [nave] DOCTRINES See Teaching.John 7:16, 17 Set forth by church councils, Acts 15:6-29. False Matt. 5:19; Matt. 15:9, 13; Rom. 16:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:11, 21 vs. 1-4.; 1 Cor. 11:18, 19; 2 Cor. 2:17; 2 Cor. 11:3, 4; Gal. 1:6-8; Eph. 4...

  • JUDE, EPISTLE OF

    [smith] Its author was probably Jude, one of the brethren of Jesus, the subject of the preceding article. There are no data from which to determine its date or place of writing, but it is placed about A.D. 65. The object of the epist...

  • Wicked

    [nave] WICKED Compared with: Abominable branches, Isa. 14:19; ashes under the feet, Mal. 4:3; bad fishes, Matt. 13:48; beasts, Psa. 49:12; 2 Pet. 2:12; the blind, Zeph. 1:17; Matt. 15:14; bronze and iron, Jer. 6:28; Ezek. 22:18; br...

  • Anarchy

    [nave] ANARCHY. Isa. 3:5-8; Gal. 5:13, 14; 2 Pet. 2:10-19; Jude 8-13; Deut. 12:8; Judg. 17:6; 21:25

  • PETER, THE SECOND EPISTLE OF

    [isbe] PETER, THE SECOND EPISTLE OF - || I. EXTERNAL EVIDENCE IN FAVOR OF ITS APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY 1. Ancient Opinion 2. Modern Opinion 3. Dr. Chase's View II. INTERNAL EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF ITS APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY 1. Style and Dic...

  • PETER, SIMON

    [isbe] PETER, SIMON - pe'-ter, si'-mon): 1. Name and Early Career 2. First Appearance in Gospel History 3. Life-Story (1) First Period (2) Second Period 4. Character 5. Writings (1) First Epistle (2) Second Epistle 6. Theology (1) ...

  • Balaam

    [ebd] lord of the people; foreigner or glutton, as interpreted by others, the son of Beor, was a man of some rank among the Midianites (Num. 31:8; comp. 16). He resided at Pethor (Deut. 23:4), in Mesopotamia (Num. 23:7). It is evi...
    [isbe] BALAAM - ba'-lam bil`am, "devourer"): The son of Beor, from a city in Mesopotamia called Pethor, a man possessing the gift of prophecy, whose remarkable history may be found in Nu 22:2 through 24:25; compare Num 31:8,16; Dt ...
    [smith] (B.C. 1451), the son of beor, a man endowed with the gift of prophecy. (Numbers 22:5) He is mentioned in conjunction with the five kings of Midian, apparently as a person of the same rank. (Numbers 31:8) cf. Numb 31:16 He see...
    [nave] BALAAM, son of Beor. From Mesopotamia, Deut. 23:4. A soothsayer, Josh. 13:22. A prophet, Num. 24:2-9; 2 Pet. 2:14, 16. Balak sends for, to curse Israel, Num. 22:5-7; Josh. 24:9; Neh. 13:2; Mic. 6:5. Anger of, rebuked by h...

  • PRISON, SPIRITS IN

    [isbe] PRISON, SPIRITS IN - The phrase occurs in the much-disputed passage, 1 Pet 3:18-20, where the apostle, exhorting Christians to endurance under suffering for well-doing, says: "Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the ...

  • Apostasy

    [nave] APOSTASY Described, Deut. 13:13; Heb. 3:12. Caused by persecution, Matt. 24:9, 10; Luke 8:13; by worldliness, 2 Tim. 4:10. Guilt and punishment of, Zeph. 1:4-6; Heb. 10:25-31, 39; 2 Pet. 2:17, 20-22. Cautions against, Heb...

  • Worldliness

    [nave] WORLDLINESS. 1 Sam. 8:19, 20; Job 20:4-29; Job 21:11-15; Psa. 49:16-18; Psa. 73:2-22; Prov. 14:12, 13; Prov. 15:21; Prov. 21:17; Prov. 23:20, 21; Prov. 27:1, 7; Eccl. 1:8; Eccl. 2:1-12; Eccl. 6:11, 12; Eccl. 8:15-17; Eccl. ...

  • Hypocrisy

    [nave] HYPOCRISY. Job 8:13-15; Job 13:16; Job 15:31, 33, 34; Job 17:8; Job 20:4, 5 vs. 6-18.; Job 27:8-10 vs. 13-18.; Job 31:33, 34; Job 34:30; Job 36:13, 14; Psa. 5:9; Psa. 50:16, 17; Psa. 52:4; Psa. 55:12-14, 20, 21, 23; Psa. 78...

  • JUDE, THE EPISTLE OF

    [isbe] JUDE, THE EPISTLE OF - || The Writer I. JUDE'S POSITION IN THE CANON II. THE OCCASION OF ITS COMPOSITION III. DESCRIPTION OF THE LIBERTINES AND APOSTATES IV. RELATION OF JUDE TO THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER 1. Resemblances 2....

  • Sodom

    [ebd] burning; the walled, a city in the vale of Siddim (Gen. 13:10; 14:1-16). The wickedness of its inhabitants brought down upon it fire from heaven, by which it was destroyed (18:16-33; 19:1-29; Deut. 23:17). This city and its ...
    [isbe] SODOM - sod'-um (cedhom; Sodoma) One of the 5 CITIES OF THE PLAIN (which see), destroyed by fire from heaven in the time of Abraham and Lot (Gen 19:24). The wickedness of the city became proverbial. The sin of sodomy was an ...
    [smith] (burning), one of the most ancient cities of Syria. It is commonly mentioned in connection with Gomorrah, but also with Admah and Zeboim, and on one occasion -- (Genesis 14:1) ... --with Bela or Zoar. Sodom was evidently the ...
    [nave] SODOM, called also Sodoma. Situated in the plain of the Jordan, Gen. 13:10. The southeastern limit of the Canaanites, Gen. 10:19. Lot dwells at, Gen. 13:12. King of, joins other kings of the nations resisting the invasion ...

  • Judgment

    [nave] JUDGMENT. The General 1 Chr. 16:33; Job 14:17; Job 21:30; Job 31:13-15; Psa. 9:7; Psa. 50:3-6; Psa. 96:13 Psa. 98:9. Eccl. 3:17; Eccl. 11:9; Eccl. 12:14; Ezek. 18:20-28; Dan. 7:9, 10; Amos 4:12; Matt. 3:12 Luke 3:17. Matt....

  • CRIME; CRIMES

    [isbe] CRIME; CRIMES - krim, krimz: This. term is used in English as the equivalent of the Hebrew mishpaT, "judgment," "verdict" (Ezek 7:23); zimmah, "a heinous crime" (Job 31:11); 'asham = "a fault," "sin" (Gen 26:10, English Vers...

  • Angel

    [ebd] a word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger," and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam. 11:3; Luke 7:24; 9:52), of...
    [isbe] ANGEL - an'-jel (mal'akh; Septuagint and New Testament, aggelos): I. DEFINITION AND SCRIPTURE TERMS II. ANGELS IN OLD TESTAMENT 1. Nature, Appearances and Functions 2. The Angelic Host 3. The Angel of the Theophany III. ANGE...
    [nave] ANGEL. One of the Holy Trinity Trinitarian authorities interpret the Scriptures cited under this topic as referring to Christ, who according to this view was the divine presence in the wilderness. Called Angel, Acts 7:30, ...

  • Greed

    [nave] GREED. Ex. 18:21; Ex. 20:17 Deut. 5:21. Neh. 5:7; Job 20:15; Job 31:24, 25, 28; Psa. 10:3; Psa. 119:36; Prov. 1:19; Prov. 11:24, 26; Prov. 15:27; Prov. 21:25, 26; Prov. 22:16; Prov. 23:4, 5; Prov. 30:8, 9; Eccl. 1:8 vs. 2-8...

  • Adultery

    [nave] ADULTERY. Gen. 20:3; 2 Sam. 12:14; Job 24:15-17 v. 18.; Job 31:1, 9-12; Prov. 2:16, 18, 19 v. 17.; Prov. 5:3, 4 vs. 5-22.; Prov. 6:24-29, 32, 33; Prov. 7:5-23; Prov. 9:13-18; Prov. 22:14; Prov. 23:27, 28; Prov. 29:3; Prov. ...
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Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • Hujan, Hujan [KJ.70]
  • Ya Tuhan, pada Saat Dibaptiskan [KJ.307]
  • [2Pe 2:8] How Hurtful Was The Choice Of Lot

Questions

  • Here are the passages in the New Testament where the Greek word (noun) for pastor is found: Matt. 9:36; 25:32; 26:31; Mk. 6:34; 14:27; Lk. 2:8, 15, 18, 20; Jn. 10:2, 11f, 14, 16; Eph. 4:11; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25 Here ...
  • Matthew 7:13-23 "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. 14 "For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few...
  • Christ's soul and spirit undoubtedly went directly into the presence of the Father. This is suggested by the fact that (1) His work on the cross paid the full price for our redemption; His substitutionary work was finished, a...
  • See II Cor. 6:14; Heb. 3:12; Acts 14:2; II Peter 2:1,2; also Ch. 3:3,17. It is not intended, however, that the believer should hold no communication with those who are still in the darkness of unbelief, otherwise he would not...
  • Many good Bible teachers and scholars do take the view that the reference to "angels who did not keep their own domain" is a reference to that group of fallen angels whom Satan persuaded to cohabit with women (Gen. 6:1-4) and...
  • I've heard and read the same statement a number of times, but have never troubled myself to look up each passage. I'm not surprised that looking up "heaven" and "hell" in a concordance would give you contradictory results. T...
  • The concept that God will not put more on us than we can bear does have some biblical support as long as one keeps in mind the needed balance between what God sovereignly allows according to His wisdom and purpose(s)and our h...
  • The Greek word translated "heresies" in Gal. 5:20 means either an opinion or a party. As used in the New Testament it stands for an opinion "varying from the true exposition of the Christian faith" (as in II Peter 2:11), or a...
  • Life dominating patterns such as lying (illicit sex, drugs, stealing, etc.) are really just the fruit of a much deeper and more serious problem, failing to walk close to the Lord by faith and by means of the principles of His...
  • According to the directions in Genesis 6:15, the Ark was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits broad and 30 cubits high. Bible students have been greatly puzzled over the length of the cubit, which seems to have varied greatly in ancien...
  • This question has puzzled theologians for ages, and has occasioned discussions which have had no profitable issue. There is no source of reliable information but that contained in Scripture and that is of a very meager charac...
  • Actually, the Bible does not tell us where Hell is located. In 2 Pet. 2:4, the statement, "cast them into hell," has been translated by some as "cast down to hell," but the Greek actually means, "cast into tartarus," a place ...
  • Genesis 6 is a very interesting passage with many good Bible teachers rejecting the view that the sons of God refer to fallen angels, but rather refer to Sethites. But in my opinion, I think they do so because of their own hu...
  • There are several factors involved: (1) The Basic Human Factor: the Bible is the revelation of an infinite God, but man is not only very finite, but sinful and very prone to error. This is true even for the believer who i...

Sermon Illustrations

Believers are Partakers; 1 Peter 3:18-20; Biblical Concepts with Counseling; The Way of Balaam; Beware of …; Kinds of false prophets:; Strategies of Satan with Believers; I Shout and Scream to Prevent Them from Changing Me; Temptation; Genesis 13:13; World Originally Created Good; Thirty-one New Testament Descriptions of Sinful Mankind; World (Kosmos); 2 Peter 3:6; Satan’s Trinity; The Devil’s Strategy; Counterfeits; The Source of Sin; Judgments in Scripture; Does God Punish People Forever?; A Good Reason to Scream

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • 6:1-2 There are three major views about the identity of the sons of God.1. They were fallen angelswho married women.278Arguments in favor of this view follow with responses.a. The term "sons of God"as it occurs here in Hebrew...
  • Chapters 18 and 19 "paint a vivid contrast between the respective patriarchal ancestors, Abraham and Lot, with an obvious moralistic intent (i.e., a demonstration that human initiatives--Lot's choice--always lead to catastrop...
  • 22:1-20 Moab had not attacked Israel as the people of God had moved north along Moab's eastern border. In fact the Moabites sold the Israelites bread and water (Deut. 2:29). The Moabites probably counted on Sihon, who had for...
  • The closest example of this ever happening in Israel that Scripture records occurs in Judges 20 in the case of Gibeah, a city in Benjamin. The circumstances were not exactly the same, but the other Israelites did discipline t...
  • Isaiah hinted at the coming of a great future King in his oracles against Philistia and Edom (14:29-30, 32; 21:11-12). Now he revealed more.24:21 When Yahweh brings universal judgment on the world again, He will sovereignly p...
  • The book of Hosea is an unusually powerful book because the prophet ministered out of his deep personal emotions. His intellectual appeals to the Israelites in his day, and to us in ours, arose out of great personal tragedy i...
  • The Old Testament contains several references to diverging ways that force the traveler to choose between two paths (e.g., Deut. 30:19; Ps. 1; Jer. 21:8). The AV translation "straight"is a bit misleading. That translation ref...
  • The raging of this demoniac was even worse than the raging of the waters of Galilee (cf. Ps. 65:7). Demonic power was evident in the Hellenistic world of Luke's original readers. The fact that this incident happened in predom...
  • The theme of discipleship training continues in this section of verses. The 70 disciples that Jesus sent out contrast with the three men Luke just finished presenting (9:57-62). This was a second mission on which Jesus sent a...
  • 17:22-23 Jesus next gave His disciples more instruction about the coming of the kingdom. One of the days of the Son of Man refers to one of the future days when the Son of Man will be reigning on the earth (cf. vv. 24-25, 30)...
  • Luke included three things in this heart of the death scene. He gave two evidences of God's displeasure with people for rejecting His Son. He recorded Jesus' prayer of trust in the Father, and he noted three immediate reactio...
  • 17:11b The title "Holy Father"appears only here in the fourth Gospel and is a reminder of both aspects of God's nature. It balances ideas of ultimate purity with intimate paternity and so prepares for what lies ahead, namely ...
  • 1:7 The "Him"in view is the beloved Son (v. 6).Redemption (Gr. apolytrosin) means release from slavery (cf. v. 14; 4:30; Luke 21:28; Rom. 3:24; 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Col. 1:14; Heb. 9:15; 11:35). It involves buying back and sett...
  • 2:1-2 Paul introduced his teaching by urging his readers not to be shaken from their adherence to the truth he had taught them by what they were hearing from others. The issue centered on Paul's instructions concerning the Ra...
  • Verses 5-18 present eight reasons for the incarnation of the Son: to fulfill God's purpose for man (vv. 5-9a), to taste death for all (v. 9b), and to bring many sons to glory (vv. 10-13). He also came to destroy the devil (v....
  • Peter now reminded his readers of the consequences of Jesus' response to unjustified persecution. He did so to strengthen their resolve to rededicate themselves to follow God's will wholeheartedly and confidently. He also wan...
  • This epistle claims that the Apostle Peter wrote it (1:1). It also claims to follow a former letter by Peter (3:1) that appears to be a reference to 1 Peter, though Peter may have been referring to a letter we no longer have....
  • Peter wrote this epistle, as he did 1 Peter, to establish believers in their faith. He wrote both letters in obedience to Jesus' instructions to him to "strengthen your brothers"(Luke 22:32). Both epistles contain reminders o...
  • I. Introduction 1:1-2II. The condition of the Christian 1:3-11A. The believer's resources 1:3-4B. The believer's needs 1:5-9C. The believer's adequacy 1:10-11III. The authority for the Christian 1:12-21A. The need for a remin...
  • Peter began his second epistle as he did to introduce himself to his readers and to lay a foundation for what follows.1:1 The writer could hardly have stated his identity more clearly than he did in this verse. "Simon"was Pet...
  • Peter reminded his readers of God's power and promises that were available to them. He did this to rekindle an appreciation for the resources God had given them in view of their present needs. This epistle begins and ends on ...
  • Peter next warned his readers of the false teachers who presented a message contradictory to that of the apostles to help them avoid their influence. In chapter 1 Peter stressed the importance of building oneself up spiritual...
  • 2:1 "The people"in view are God's people in Old Testament times, the times to which Peter had just been referring (1:19-22). False prophets in Old Testament times sought to lead God's people away from the revelations of the t...
  • Peter next described the consequences that follow false teaching to help his readers see the importance of avoiding it."Verses 4-10a form one long, complex conditional sentence; verses 4-8 form the conditional statement, and ...
  • Peter next emphasized the conduct of false teachers to motivate his readers to turn away from them.2:10b "Daring"means bold to the point of being presumptuous, and "self-willed"is arrogant."They are concerned about doing thei...
  • Peter focused his discussion next on the false teachers' final doom to warn his readers of the serious results of following their instruction.2:20 To whom does "they"refer? Some interpreters believe the antecedent is the new ...
  • Peter turned from a negative warning against false teachers to make a positive declaration of the apostles' message to help his readers understand why he wrote this letter. His language had been strong and confrontive, but no...
  • 3:1 Peter's first letter was most likely 1 Peter. He implied that he wrote this letter soon after the earlier one. This second epistle, he said, went to the same audience in northern Asia Minor (cf. 1 Pet. 1:1), primarily Gen...
  • Peter warned his readers about the activity of mockers preceding the Lord's return to enable them to deal with this test of their faith."Peter finally brings together two of the most important issues in the letter: the false ...
  • Peter drew application for his readers and focused their attention on how they should live presently in view of the future.3:11 Peter believed that an understanding of the future should motivate the believer to live a holy li...
  • Peter concluded his epistle with a summary of what he had said and a doxology. He did so to condense his teaching for his readers and to redirect their living to glorify God.3:17 Much of what Peter had written was warning tha...
  • Alford, Henry. Alford's Greek Testament. 4 vols. New ed. London: Rivingtons, 1884.Bailey, Mark L., and Thomas L. Constable. The New Testament Explorer. Nashville: Word Publishing Co., 1999.Barbieri, Louis A. First and Second ...
  • Jude explained his reason for writing this letter to introduce what follows and to impress the urgency of his subject on his readers.v. 3 Most Spirit-led preachers have felt exactly how Jude said he felt in this verse. It is ...
  • A group of angels also did not remain in their privileged position near God but left that sphere and so incurred God's wrath. Some interpreters believe Jude alluded here to Genesis 6:1-4 (but cf. Matt. 22:30).33Others believe...
  • 9:1 Again John saw a "star"(cf. 6:13; 8:10), but this time the "star"was an intelligent being. If "fallen"(Gr. peptokota) has theological connotations, the "star"may refer to Satan (vv. 2, 11; cf. 1:20; Job. 38:7; Luke 10:18)...
  • 9:13 Someone near the four horns (symbolic of power) of the golden altar in heaven, probably the angel identified with it in 8:3, gave a command after the sixth angel blew the sixth trumpet (cf. 8:2, 6). Instead of seeing som...
  • This pericope furnishes the plot for the drama that unfolds in the rest of the chapter.12:1 John saw a "sign,"something that signified or represented something else (cf. v. 3; 13:13-14; 15:1; 16:14; 19:29). Usually John used ...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Denying the Lord that bought them.'--2 Peter 2:1.THE institution of slavery was one of the greatest blots on ancient civilisation. It was twice cursed, cursing both parties, degrading each, turning the slave into a chattel, a...
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