2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to {c} hell, and delivered [them] into {d} chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;(c) So the Greeks called the deep dungeons under the earth, which should be appointed to torment the souls of the wicked in.(d) Bound them with darkness as with chains: and by darkness he means that most miserable state of life that is full of horror. read more
But the true government of God has been hated and rejected -even by men claiming to be Christian. Peter, a true prophet, has forewarned of this in this chapter; and the day has come of which he has prophesied. As there were false prophets among the children of Israel in the Old Testament, so there are false teachers today, their number multiplied astonishingly. In subtle, insidious ways they introduce destructive heresies. Heresy may not at first be actually wicked teaching, but teaching of a... read more
OCCASION OF THE WARNING We now consider the last division which treats of the occasion for this warning and exhortation, chapters 2-3. In brief, this occasion was in the incoming of false teachers in the church, 2 Peter 2:1 , whose success is predicted in 2 Peter 2:2 ; whose punishment is certain and dreadful, v. 3-9; and whose description follows in verses 10-22. We shall not enter upon this description in detail, and, indeed, it presents many difficulties of interpretation. The presence... read more
"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. (2) And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (3) And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation... read more
If God spared not the Angels, &c. St. Peter here brings these examples of God's justice. 1. Towards the rebellious angels that fell from heaven; 2. that of the general flood, or deluge; 3. when he destroyed Sodom and those other cities. First, angels that sinned, God by his justice delivered them, drawn down with infernal ropes into hell to be tormented, and to be reserved even for greater torments after the day of judgment. This seems to be the liberal sense of this fourth verse, which... read more
1-9 Though the way of error is a hurtful way, many are always ready to walk therein. Let us take care we give no occasion to the enemy to blaspheme the holy name whereby we are called, or to speak evil of the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. These seducers used feigned words, they deceived the hearts of their followers. Such are condemned already, and the wrath of God abides upon them. God's usual method of proceeding is shown by examples. Angels were... read more
2Pet 2 YET EVERYTHING OF GOD, and therefore good, is counterfeited by Satanic power, consequently chapter 2 begins with a warning. When in old time the Holy Ghost was moving holy men to give us utterances from God the great adversary moved and brought in among the people false prophets. We have many examples of this in the Scripture. In the days of Ahab things had reached such a pass that Elijah could say, “I, even I only remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and... read more
Examples from History: v. 4. 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; v. 5. 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; v. 6. and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live... read more
2 Peter 2:1-10 a.Analysis:—Warning against the false prophets with reference to their inevitable punishment, illustrated by three examples1But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall he false teachers among you, who1 privily2 shall bring in damnable heresies,3 even4 denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2And many shall follow their pernicious ways,5 by reason of whom the way of truth6 shall be evil spoken of. 3And through... read more
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Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 2 Peter 2:1-22
II. THE EVIL TO COME THROUGH FALSE TEACHERS CHAPTER 2 1. The source of the evil (2 Peter 2:1-3 ) 2. The lessons from the past. (2 Peter 2:4-10 ) 3. The description of the apostates (2 Peter 2:11-22 ) 2 Peter 2:1-3 The Apostle Peter is now being used by the Spirit of God to prophesy. He predicts the coming evil for the professing church, that apostate teachers would do their vicious work. As pointed out in the introduction every other writer of the Epistles bears the same witness and that... read more