2 Peter 2:14-15

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray; literally, forsaking (or having forsaken; there are two slightly differing readings, both well supported) the right way, they went astray. The false teachers in St. Peter's time were like Elymas the sorcerer, whom St. Paul accused of perverting "the right ways of the Lord" ( Acts 13:10 ; comp. also Acts 13:2 of this chapter). In the 'Shepherd of Hermas' occurs what may be an echo of this verse: "Who … have forsaken their true... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Peter 2:14

Having eyes full of adultery - Margin, as in the Greek, “an adulteress;” that is, gazing with desire after such persons. The word “full” is designed to denote that the corrupt passion referred to had wholly seized and occupied their minds. The eye was, as it were, full of this passion; it saw nothing else but some occasion for its indulgence; it expressed nothing else but the desire. The reference here is to the sacred festival mentioned in the previous verse; and the meaning is, that they... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Peter 2:15

Which have forsaken the right way - The straight path of honesty and integrity. Religion is often represented as a straight path, and to do wrong is to go out of that path in a crooked way.Following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor - See Numbers 22:5, following. In the Book of Numbers, Balaam is called the son of “Beor.” Perhaps the name Beor was corrupted into Bosor; or, as Rosenmuller suggests, the father of Balaam may have had two names. Schleusner (Lexicon) supposes that it was changed by... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Peter 2:12-14

2 Peter 2:12-14. But these False teachers; as natural brute beasts As irrational animals, led merely by their brutish inclinations, several of which, in the present disordered state of the world, seem to be made to be taken and destroyed by mankind. He speaks chiefly of savage beasts, which men for their own security and preservation hunt down and destroy; speak evil of things that they understand not Namely, the mysteries of Christianity; or magistracy, the institution, use, and... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Peter 2:15

2 Peter 2:15. Which have forsaken the right Ευθειαν , straight; way The way of truth and integrity, and are gone astray Have wandered in dangerous and destructive paths; following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor (So the Chaldeans pronounced what the Jews called Beor,) namely, the ways of covetousness. Balaam loved wealth and honour so much, that to obtain them he acted contrary to his conscience. To follow his way, therefore, is to be guided by similar base passions, and to commit... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 2:11-22

Character of the false teachers (2:10b-22)Being arrogant and self-assertive, the false teachers show no respect for anyone. They even insult angels, who hold a higher position than humans in the order of created beings. By contrast, the angels have such reverence for God that they dare not use insulting language in his presence, even against those who deserve condemnation (10b-11).The false teachers use neither their reasoning nor their willpower to control themselves. Like animals they simply... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Peter 2:14

adultery = an adulteress. that cannot cease . Greek. akatapaustos. Only here. sin . App-128 . beguiling . See James 1:14 . unstable . Greek. asteriktos. Only here and 2 Peter 3:16 . souls . App-110 . an heart, &c = having a heart. exercised . See 1 Timothy 4:7 . covetous practices = covetousness. cursed children = children ( App-108 .) of (the) curse. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Peter 2:15

Balaam . See Numbers 22:5 note. Bosor . See 2Pe 22:5 (note). Some texts read "Beor". loved . App-135 . wages . Same as reward, 2 Peter 2:13 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:14

having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing;Eyes full of adultery ... Wheaton said, "This is a compressed phrase for, 'always looking for a woman with whom to commit adultery.'"[46] Barnett understood it to mean, "Whenever they see a woman, they have licentious thoughts."[47]Enticing unstedfast souls ... The imagery here is that of using a lure, "bait" to catch the unwary. The New English... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:15

forsaking the right way, they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the hire of wrongdoing;This clears up exactly the identity of the "cursed children" just mentioned. They were those who once were in the right way and then forsook it, who were lured from the path of duty by the wages of wrong-doing. The example selected by Peter to illustrate this departure is also eloquent in explaining the true meaning. Balaam was not always a false prophet; because, at... read more

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