2 Peter 2:18-21

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 2:17-22

2:17-22 These people are waterless springs, mists driven by a squall of wind; and the gloom of darkness is reserved for them. With talk at once arrogant and futile, they ensnare by appeals to shameless, sensual passions those who are only just escaping from the company of those who live in error. promising them freedom, while they themselves are the slaves of moral corruption; for a man is in a state of slavery to that which has reduced him to helplessness. If they have escaped the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 2:18

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity ,.... Marvellous things against the God of gods, great things and blasphemies against God, his name, his tabernacle, and his saints; see Daniel 11:36 ; or against men, dominions, and dignities, 2 Peter 2:10 ; or it may design their self-applauses and vain glorying in themselves, and their empty boast of knowledge and learning; and also express the windiness of their doctrines, and the bombast style, and high flown strains of rhetoric... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 2:19

While they promise them liberty ,.... Not Christian liberty, which lies in a freedom from sin, its dominion, guilt, and condemnation, and in serving God with liberty, cheerfulness, and without fear; but a sinful carnal liberty, a liberty from the law of God, from obedience to it as a rule of walk and conversation, and from the laws of men, from subjection to the civil magistrate, and from servitude to masters, and obedience to parents; a liberty to lay aside and neglect the ordinances of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 2:20

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world ,.... The sins of it, the governing vices of it, which the men of the world are addicted to, and immersed in; for the whole world lies in wickedness, and which are of a defiling nature: the phrase is Rabbinical; it is said F17 Zohar in Gen. fol. 104. 3. Vid. Bechinot Olam, p. 178. , "he that studies not in the law in this world, but is defiled בטנופי עלמא , "with the pollutions of the world", what is written of him? and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Peter 2:21

For it had been better for them ,.... Not that ignorance is good, or to be excused; but it would have been a lesser evil, and not so much aggravated: not to have known the way of righteousness ; the same with "the way of truth", 2 Peter 2:2 , and "the right way", 2 Peter 2:15 , the Gospel, which points out the way and method of a sinner's justification before God, which is not by the works of the law, but by the righteousness of Christ imputed to them, and received by faith; and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:18

They speak great swelling words of vanity - The word ὑπερογκα signifies things of great magnitude, grand, superb, sublime; it sometimes signifies inflated, tumid, bombastic. These false teachers spoke of great and high things, and no doubt promised their disciples the greatest privileges, as they themselves pretended to a high degree of illumination; but they were all false and vain, though they tickled the fancy and excited the desires of the flesh; and indeed this appears to have been... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:19

While they promise them liberty - Either to live in the highest degrees of spiritual good, or a freedom from the Roman yoke; or from the yoke of the law, or what they might term needless restraints. Their own conduct showed the falsity of their system; for they were slaves to every disgraceful lust. For of whom a man is overcome - This is an allusion to the ancient custom of selling for slaves those whom they had conquered and captivated in war. The ancient law was, that a man might... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:20

The pollutions of the world - Sin in general, and particularly superstition, idolatry, and lasciviousness. These are called μιασματα , miasmata , things that infect, pollute, and defile. The word was anciently used, and is in use at the present day, to express those noxious particles of effluvia proceeding from persons infected with contagious and dangerous diseases; or from dead and corrupt bodies, stagnant and putrid waters, marshes etc., by which the sound and healthy may be infected... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Peter 2:21

For it had been better for them not to have known - For the reasons assigned above; because they have sinned against more mercy, are capable of more sin, and are liable to greater punishment. The holy commandment - The whole religion of Christ is contained in this one commandment, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbor as thyself." He who obeys this great commandment, and this by the grace of... read more

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