2 Peter 2:12 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Peter 2:10-22

The apostle's design being to warn us of, and arm us against, seducers, he now returns to discourse more particularly of them, and give us an account of their character and conduct, which abundantly justifies the righteous Judge of the world in reserving them in an especial manner for the most severe and heavy doom, as Cain is taken under special protection that he might be kept for uncommon vengeance. But why will God thus deal with these false teachers? This he shows in what follows. I.... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 2 Peter 2:12-14

2:12-14 But these, like brute beasts, knowing no law but their instincts, born only for capture and corruption, speak evil of the things about which they know nothing; they will be destroyed with their own corruption, and, like a man who is cheated, they will even lose the reward at which their iniquity aimed. They regard daylight debauchery as pleasure. They are spots and blots, revelling in their dissipations, carousing in their cliques amongst you. They have eyes full of adultery, eyes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 2:12

But these, as natural brute beasts ,.... So far are these men from acting like the angels, that they are sunk below their own species, and are like beasts, and become brutish in their knowledge and behaviour; are like the horse and the mule, without understanding, act as if they were without reason; yea, are more stupid and senseless than the ox, or the ass, which know their owner, and their crib; and even in those things which they might, and do know by the light of nature, they corrupt... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:12

But these, as natural brute beasts - ' Ὡς αλογα ζωα φυσικα· As those natural animals void of reason, following only the gross instinct of nature, being governed neither by reason nor religion. Made to be taken and destroyed - Intended to be taken with nets and gins, and then destroyed, because of their fierce and destructive nature; so these false teachers and insurgents must be treated; first incarcerated, and then brought to judgment, that they may have the reward of their doings.... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:12

Verse 12 12.But these. He proceeds with what he had begun to say respecting impious and wicked corrupters. And, first, he condemns their loose manners and the obscene wickedness of their whole life; and then he says that they were audacious and perverse, so that by their scurrilous garrulity they insinuated themselves into the favor of many. He especially compares them to those brute animals, which seem to have come to existence to be ensnared, and to be driven to their own ruin by their own... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Peter 2:12

But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed. The order of the words in the best manuscripts favours the translation of the Revised Version, But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed. The word rendered "mere animals" is literally "natural" ( φυσικά ); comp. Jud 2 Peter 1:10 , "what they know naturally ( φυσικῶς ) as brute beasts." Speak evil of the things that they understand not; literally, as in the Revised... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Peter 2:12

But these, as natural brute beasts - These persons, who resemble so much irrational animals which are made to be taken and destroyed. The point of the comparison is, that they are like fierce and savage beasts that exercise no control over their appetites, and that seeM to be made only to be destroyed. These persons, by their fierce and ungovernable passions, appear to be made only for destruction, and rush blindly on to it. The word rendered “natural,” (which, however, is lacking in several... 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

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 2:12

natural . Greek. phusikos. See Romans 1:26 . brute . Greek. alogos. See Acts 25:27 . beasts = living creatures. Greek. zoon. Same as Hebrews 13:11 . to be taken, &c . = for ( App-104 .) capture (Greek. halosis. Only here) and destruction (Greek. phthora. See Romans 8:21 ). of = in. App-104 . understand not = are ignorant of. Greek. agnoeo. utterly perish . Greek. kataphtheiro. See 2 Timothy 3:8 . The texts read "even perish" ( kai phtheiro) . corruption . Greek. phthora, as... read more