2 Peter 2 - Study the King James Bible

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.

Verse 1
False prophets also; that is, in ancient times, when the true prophets, referred to in the 2 Peter 2:1, made their predictions. For various allusions to these false prophets, see Jeremiah 28:15-17. Ezekiel 13:22:22, 25, 28.--Privily; privately, by stealth.--Damnable heresies; that is, heresies fatal to the welfare of the soul.--Denying the Lord; denying him as their Lord and Master.

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Verse 2
Many shall follow, &c. Men never have so great a power and influence for evil, as when they introduce immoralities and sin under the cloak and defence of some perverted form of religious doctrine. This is fanatical vice, the worst, most corrupting, and most dangerous form in which vice ever appears,--as the history of Christianity in all ages will testify. It is on, this account that heresy is denounced in the New Testament in such strong terms of reprobation. For heresy is not honest error. It is the hypocritical perversion of religious truth to the purposes of licentiousness and sin.--The way of truth; true religion.

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.

Verse 3
Feigned words; artful and hypocritical pretences.--Make merchandise of you. Judas made merchandise of his Master, betraying and sacrificing him to promote his own ends. So it is said these men should sacrifice the cause of Christ to their own selfish purposes.--Whose judgment now, &c.; that is, whose judgment and condemnation shall come upon them soon and suddenly.

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;

Verse 4
The angels that sinned. Another allusion to angels, as having rebelled against God, and incurred his terrible retribution, is found in Jude 1:6.

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;

Verse 5
The old world; the world before the flood.--Noah the eighth person; that is, Noah with seven others. Noah was a preacher of righteousness, inasmuch as he set an example of obedience, and made efforts, in various ways, to warn and to save his generation. (Hebrews 11:7.)

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;

And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

Verse 7
Filthy conversation; corrupt and wicked conduct.

(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

Verse 8
Vexed his righteous soul; felt perpetually displeased and troubled.

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

Verse 9
The Lord knoweth, &c. This is the inference from what precedes. That is, if the Lord spared not the rebel angels, nor the old world, nor the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, but brought terrible judgments upon them for their sins, while he saved Noah and his family, and Lot,--then the Christian might be assured that he would still continue to protect the good and condemn the wicked.

10.

But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

Verse 10
To speak evil of dignities; of authority and power above them, which they ought to regard with respect and submission. The meaning is, that they are restive and rebellious against all authority.

11.

Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

Verse 11
A similar passage occurs in 2 Peter 2:11; Jude 1:9. The idea is, that even angels, exalted as they are, do not speak, even of the wicked, in railing and opprobrious terms; but these, (2 Peter 2:12,) like senseless brutes, rail against what it is entirely above their capacity to comprehend. The presumptuous and intractable state of mind here condemned we may easily understand; though we are not informed in what ways, precisely, it displayed itself, in the class of persons here condemned.

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;

Verse 13
In the daytime; every day, continually.--Sporting themselves; amusing themselves.--Deceivings, deceitful arts.

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;

Verse 15
Balaam the son of Bosor. He is called the son of Beor in the Old Testament. (Numbers 22:5.) For the course pursued by Balaam, and his influence in leading Israel into sin, see Numbers 22:1-18.

16.

But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

Verse 16
The dumb ass--forbade, &c. A strong antithesis is intended here. A senseless ass had to rebuke the senselessness of a prophet.

17.

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

Verse 17
Wells without water; the form and the promise without the reality.--Clouds that are carried with a tempest; that is, which, having promised rain, bring nothing but wind.

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 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.

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.

Verse 22
According to the true proverb. Proverbs 26:11. The whole passage comprised in this chapter, both in its import and in its language, bears a very striking resemblance to the 2 Peter 2:1,2 Peter 2:4,2 Peter 2:6,2 Peter 2:10,2 Peter 2:11,2 Peter 2:15,2 Peter 2:17,2 Peter 2:18; Jude 1:4,Jude 1:6,Jude 1:7,Jude 1:8,Jude 1:9,Jude 1:11,Jude 1:12,Jude 1:16,Jude 1:18.