2:17 These men 1 are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm, for whom the utter depths of darkness 2 have been reserved. 2:18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words 3 they are able to entice, 4 with fleshly desires and with debauchery, 5 people 6 who have just escaped 7 from those who reside in error. 8
1 tn Although some translations have simply “these” or “these people,” since in v. 14 they are described as having eyes “full of an adulteress,” men are in view.
2 tn Grk “utter darkness of darkness.” Verse 4 speaks of wicked angels presently in “chains of utter darkness,” while the final fate of the false teachers is a darker place still.
3 tn Grk “high-sounding words of futility.”
4 tn Grk “they entice.”
5 tn Grk “with the lusts of the flesh, with debauchery.”
6 tn Grk “those.”
7 tn Or “those who are barely escaping.”
8 tn Or “deceit.”