(2 Pet 2:1 NASB) But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
2 Pet 2:1: Peter says there are false prophets who arose among the people. I do not think Peter is prophesying of something new here. It is likely that he is speaking of the false teachers spoken of by Messiah (Matt. 7:15-23).
(2 Pet 2:2 NASB) And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;
(2 Pet 2:3 NASB) and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 Pet 2:3: Many will follow their sensuality. This is not speaking of sexual seduction, but of their paths that seem pleasing to the flesh, that go against Torah (Jer. 6:16-19).
(2 Pet 2:4 NASB) For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;
(2 Pet 2:5 NASB) and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2 Pet 2:5: “Angels” also means “messengers,” and that is the case here. Peter is referring to “sons of Elohim” (sons of Seth) that married the “daughters of men” (daughters of Cain) at the time of the great cataclysmic flood in the day of Noah (Gen. 6:1-4).
Peter uses a strange word for “hell” here. He uses G5020 Tartaroo – 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
2) to thrust down to Tartarus, to hold captive in Tartarus.
Peter is using a term from Greek mythology which was apparently well known in Greek culture. He is using it to emphasize that the messengers were judged. He is not literally speaking of tartarus, but using it to emphasize the horror and finality of it all. He follows it by saying that Elohim “committed them to pits of darkness,” meaning they were buried in the earth’s crust, and they are reserved for judgment.
(2 Pet 2:6 NASB) and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter;
(2 Pet 2:7 NASB) and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men
(2 Pet 2:8 NASB) (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day with their lawless deeds),
2 Pet 2:8: Peter is saying that the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah is an example of the judgment of those who engage in that type of unrighteous conduct. The term in verse 7 saying “unprincipled men” is G113. athesmos, from G1 (as a neg. pref.) and thesmos (law, custom); lawless:– unprincipled men(2).
(2 Pet 2:9 NASB) then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment,
2 Pet 2:9: This verse can easily be read over without seeing it’s meaning. Yahweh knows how to rescue the godly from temptation. It is speaking of every day life. The remaining phrase is speaking of the opposite for the unrighteous. He is saying that Elohim will “keep the unrighteous under (a state of) punishment for the day of judgment.” Peter is saying that Elohim will “keep them blind.”
Yahweh will rescue His people from temptation. He also keeps the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment (Prov. 16:4).
(2 Pet 2:10 NASB) and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties,
2 Pet 2:10: Peter says that especially applies to those who indulge in the desires of the flesh. This is not speaking only of sexual sin, but it is speaking of all kinds of uncleanness. The NKJV describes this better:
(2 Pet 2:10 NKJV) and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
Uncleanness – 3394. miasmos, mee-as-mos’; from G3392; (mor.) contamination (prop. the act):–uncleanness.
The word for “authority” is G2963. kuriotes, koo-ree-ot’-ace; from G2962; mastery, i.e. (concr. and coll.) rulers:–dominion, government. Which comes from the word “kurios” which is “Lord.”
Peter says these same people do not tremble when they revile (or blaspheme) dignitaries. The term for revile is G987. blasphemeo, blas-fay-meh’-o; from G989; to vilify; spec. to speak impiously:–(speak) blaspheme (-er, -mously, -my), defame, rail on, revile, speak evil.
The term “angelic” is not in the text. It just says “majesties” but it is probably referring to following Torah. Majesties – G1391. doxa, from G1380; opinion (always good in N.T.), hence praise, honor, glory:– approval(2), brightness(1), glories(1), glorious(5), glory(154), Glory(1), honor(1),
This passage should probably read – (2 Pet 2:10 NASB) and especially those who indulge the flesh in its uncleanness and despise the Master. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble when they blaspheme glory,
(2 Pet 2:11 NASB) whereas angels who are greater in might and power do not bring a reviling judgment against them before the Lord.
2 Pet 2:11: The term for “angels” here is G32. aggelos, ang’-el-os; from aggello [prob. der. from G71; comp. G34] (to bring tidings); a messenger; esp. an “angel”; by impl. a pastor:–angel, messenger.
This is referring to messengers who do not bring a reviling judgment against them before Elohim
(2 Pet 2:12 NASB) 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,
(2 Pet 2:13 NASB) suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, as they carouse with you,
(2 Pet 2:14 NASB) having eyes full of adultery and that never cease from sin, enticing unstable souls, having a heart trained in greed, accursed children;
2 Pet 2:14: These are men who blaspheme where they have no knowledge. They will be destroyed like wild animals. They have eyes full of adultery and never cease from sin. Keep in mind that adultery is the equivalent of idolatry in Scripture.
(2 Pet 2:15 NASB) forsaking the right way they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness,
2 Pet 2:15: These are those who forsake the right way, which is Torah (Prov. 28:4). They followed the way of Balaam, which is the desire to curse Elohim’s people (Num. 22:5-7). They love the way of unrighteousness, which is breaking Torah.
(2 Pet 2:16 NASB) but he received a rebuke for his own transgression; for a dumb donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.
2 Pet 2:16: Balaam received a rebuke for his transgressions from a dumb ass (kjv) (Num 22:22-33).
(2 Pet 2:17 NASB) These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.
(2 Pet 2:18 NASB) For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,
(2 Pet 2:19 NASB) promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
2 Pet 2:19: They are springs without water. They are empty. They speak out arrogant words of vanity by promising freedom. But, in fact, they are slaves to sin.
(2 Pet 2:20 NASB) For if after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.
(2 Pet 2:21 NASB) For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment delivered to them.
2 Pet 2:21: Peter says that if they escape the defilements of the world by knowledge of Yeshua Messiah, and still do not follow Torah, they are worse than never knowing Torah at all. Yeshua said the same thing (Luke 12:47-48).
They would have been better off not to have known Torah at all. At least their punishment would not be as severe (Matt. 11:23-24).
Peter is paraphrasing the Words of Elohim as given in Ezekiel 18:20-32. Knowing the Word of Elohim and still continually acting against it will not be forgiven (Numbers 15:30-31).
(2 Pet 2:22 NASB) It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”
2 Pet 2:22: Peter tells us that those who will follow unrighteousness will continue to do so, just as a dog who returns to his vomit. He quotes proverbs (Prov. 26:11).
Patrick McGuire
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