2 Peter 2:17-22

17 1These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. 2For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.
18 For, 3speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely 4escaping from those who live in error.
19 They promise them 5freedom, 6but they themselves are slaves[a] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
20 For if, 7after they have escaped the defilements of the world 8through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, 9the last state has become worse for them than the first.
21 For 10it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from 11the holy commandment delivered to them.
22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The 12dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire."

2 Peter 2:17-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 PETER 2

This chapter contains a description of false teachers, that were then in Christian churches, as there had been false prophets among the Jews; and they are described by the doctrines, which they privily introduced; in general, damnable heresies; in particular, denying the Lord that bought them; and by their success, having many followers of them in their pernicious ways; and by the sad effects following hereupon; with respect to the way of truth, that was blasphemed; with respect to their hearers, they, through the covetousness of these false teachers, were made merchandise of; and with respect to themselves, swift and sure destruction would be brought upon them, 2Pe 2:1-3, which is illustrated and confirmed by the instances of punishment in the angels, the men of the old world, and the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah, 2Pe 2:4-8 and whereas, in these instances, notice is taken of the deliverance of some righteous persons, as Noah and Lot, when wicked men were destroyed; the apostle draws this conclusion from the whole, that the Lord knows both how to deliver the saints out of afflictions, and to reserve wicked men until the day of judgment, then to be punished, 2Pe 2:9, especially such shall be then punished, who are described by their impure course of lift, their contempt of civil government, and their presumption and selfwill, 2Pe 1:10 which sins of theirs are aggravated by the different conduct of angels, superior to them; and by their being like brute beasts, as ignorant as they, and even below them; whose punishment will be to perish in their corruption, as the just reward of their unrighteousness, since they are open in sin, take pleasure in it, and sport themselves with it, and are spots and blemishes in Christian societies, 2Pe 2:11-13 and these, who are no other than the false teachers before spoken of, are further described by their adulterous eyes, which cannot cease from sin; by their beguiling unstable souls; by the covetous practices their hearts were exercised with; by their just desert, cursed children; by the course they steer, forsaking the right way, going astray from it, and following the way of Balaam in his covetousness, and other wicked practices, for which he was reproved by his ass; and by various metaphors, which express the emptiness of these persons, and which also point at their destruction, and describe their boasts and brags, and the influence they have, through their lasciviousness and uncleanness, on some persons, who have been outwardly reformed, 2Pe 2:14-18 and this they obtain over them in a very stupid and senseless way, by promising them liberty, when through being overcome by them, and drawn into sin, they were brought into bondage, and become servants of corruption; and so their case is worse than it was before their reformation, and profession of religion; and better it would have been not to have had the knowledge they had, than after it to turn from the paths of truth and holiness, which is illustrated by a true Scripture proverb, which expresses the filthy nature of sin, the character of these men, and their irrecoverable state and condition, 2Pe 2:19-22.

Cross References 12

  • 1. Jude 12
  • 2. Jude 13
  • 3. Jude 16
  • 4. ver. 20; 2 Peter 1:4
  • 5. Galatians 5:13; See James 1:25
  • 6. John 8:34; Romans 6:16
  • 7. ver. 18
  • 8. See 2 Peter 1:2
  • 9. Matthew 12:45
  • 10. [Ezekiel 18:24; Luke 12:47; Hebrews 6:4-6; Hebrews 10:26, 27; James 4:17]
  • 11. Romans 7:12
  • 12. Proverbs 26:11

Footnotes 1

The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.