1Es warenG1096 aberG1161 auchG2532 falsche ProphetenG5578 unterG1722 dem VolkeG2992, wieG5613 auchG2532 unterG1722 euchG5213 falsche LehrerG5572 seinG2071 werden, welcheG3748 verderblicheG684 SektenG139 nebeneinführenG3919 werden undG2532 den GebieterG1203 verleugnenG720, der sieG846 erkauftG59 hat, und sich selbstG1438 schnellesG5031 VerderbenG684 zuziehenG1863. 2UndG2532 vieleG4183 werdenG1811 ihrenG846 AusschweifungenG684 nachfolgenG1811, um welcherG3739 willenG1223 der WegG3598 der WahrheitG225 verlästertG987 werden wird. 3UndG2532 durchG1722 HabsuchtG4124 werdenG1710 sie euchG5209 verhandelnG1710 mit erkünsteltenG4112 WortenG3056; welchenG3739 das GerichtG2917 von alters herG1597 nichtG3756 zögertG691, undG2532 ihrG846 VerderbenG684 schlummertG3573 nichtG3756. 4DennG1063 wennG1487 GottG2316 EngelG32, welche gesündigtG264 hatten, nichtG3756 verschonteG5339, sondernG235, sie in den tiefsten Abgrund hinabstürzendG5020, KettenG4577 der FinsternisG2217 überlieferteG3860, um aufbewahrtG5083 zu werden fürG1519 das GerichtG2920; 5undG2532 die alteG744 WeltG2889 nichtG3756 verschonteG5339, sondernG235 nur NoahG3575, den PredigerG2783 der GerechtigkeitG1343, selbachtG3590 erhieltG5442, als er die FlutG2627 überG1863 die WeltG2889 der GottlosenG765 brachteG1863; 6undG2532 die StädteG4172 SodomG4670 undG2532 GomorraG1116 einäscherteG5077 und zur ZerstörungG2692 verurteilteG2632, indem er sie denen, welche gottlosG764 leben würdenG3195, als BeispielG5262 hinstellteG5087; 7undG2532 den gerechtenG1342 LotG3091 retteteG4506, der vonG5259 dem ausschweifendenG766 WandelG391 der RuchlosenG113 gequältG2669 wurde; 8(dennG1063 der unterG1722 ihnenG846 wohnendeG1460 GerechteG1342 quälteG928 durch das, was er sahG990 undG2532 hörteG189, TagG2250 fürG1537 TagG2250 seine gerechteG1342 SeeleG5590 mit ihren gesetzlosenG459 WerkenG2041 )... 9Der HerrG2962 weißG1492 die GottseligenG2152 ausG1537 der VersuchungG3986 zu rettenG4506, die UngerechtenG94 aberG1161 aufzubewahrenG5083 aufG1519 den TagG2250 des GerichtsG2920 um bestraftG2849 zu werden; 10besondersG3122 aberG1161 die, welche inG1722 der LustG1939 der BefleckungG3394 dem FleischeG4561 nachwandelnG4198 G3694 undG2532 die HerrschaftG2963 verachtenG2706, VerwegeneG5113, EigenmächtigeG829; sie erzitternG5141 nichtG3756, HerrlichkeitenG1391 zu lästernG987, 11währendG3699 EngelG32, die an StärkeG2479 undG2532 MachtG1411 größerG3187 sindG5607, nichtG3756 ein lästerndesG989 UrteilG2920 widerG2596 sieG846 beimG3844 HerrnG2962 vorbringenG5342. 12DieseG3778 aberG1161, wieG5613 unvernünftigeG249, natürlicheG5446 TiereG2226, geschaffenG1080 zumG1519 FangG259 undG2532 VerderbenG5356, lästerndG987 überG1722 das, wasG3739 sie nicht wissenG50, werdenG2704 auch inG1722 ihrem eigenenG846 VerderbenG5356 umkommenG2704, 13indem sie den LohnG3408 der UngerechtigkeitG93 empfangenG2865; welche eine eintägigeG1722 G2250 SchwelgereiG5172 für VergnügenG2237 achtenG2233, FleckenG4696 undG2532 SchandfleckeG3470, die inG1722 ihren eigenenG846 BetrügereienG539 schwelgenG1792 und FestessenG4910 mit euchG5213 haltenG4910; 14welche AugenG3788 vollG3324 EhebruchG3428 habenG2192 undG2532 von der SündeG266 nicht ablassenG180, indem sie unbefestigteG793 SeelenG5590 anlockenG1185; die ein HerzG2588 habenG2192, in HabsuchtG4124 geübtG1128, KinderG5043 des FluchesG2671, welche, 15da sie den geradenG2117 WegG3598 verlassenG2641 haben, abgeirrtG4105 sind, indem sie dem WegeG3598 des BalaamG903 nachfolgtenG1811, des Sohnes BosorsG1007, derG3739 den LohnG3408 der UngerechtigkeitG93 liebteG25, 16aberG1161 eine ZurechtweisungG1649 seinerG2398 eigenen VerkehrtheitG3892 empfingG2192: ein sprachlosesG880 LasttierG5268, mitG1722 MenschenstimmeG444 G5456 redendG5350, wehrteG2967 der TorheitG3913 des ProphetenG4396. 17DieseG3778 sindG1526 BrunnenG4077 ohne WasserG504, und NebelG3507, vomG5259 SturmwindG2978 getriebenG1643, welchenG3739 das DunkelG2217 der FinsternisG4655 aufbewahrtG5083 ist [inG1519 Ewigkeit]G165. 18DennG1063 stolze WorteG5246 der EitelkeitG3153 aussprechendG5350, lockenG1185 sie mitG1722 fleischlichenG4561 LüstenG1939 durch AusschweifungenG766 diejenigen an, welche ebenG3689 entflohenG668 sind denen, die imG1722 IrrtumG4106 wandelnG390; 19ihnenG846 FreiheitG1657 versprechendG1861, während sie selbstG846 SklavenG1401 des VerderbensG5356 sindG5225; dennG1063 von wemG3739 jemandG5100 überwältigtG2274 ist, diesemG5129 istG1402 er auchG2532 als Sklave unterworfenG1402. 20DennG1063 wennG1487 sie, entflohenG668 den BefleckungenG3393 der WeltG2889 durchG1722 die ErkenntnisG1922 des HerrnG2962 undG2532 HeilandesG4990 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547, aberG1161 wiederumG3825 in dieseG5125 verwickeltG1707, überwältigtG2274 werden, so ist ihrG846 LetztesG2078 ärgerG5501 gewordenG1096 als das ErsteG4413. 21DennG1063 es wäreG2258 ihnenG846 besserG2909, den WegG3598 der GerechtigkeitG1343 nichtG3361 erkanntG1921 zu haben, alsG2228, nachdem sie ihn erkanntG1921 haben, umzukehrenG1994 vonG1537 dem ihnenG846 überliefertenG3860 heiligenG40 GebotG1785. 22Es istG4819 ihnenG846 aberG1161 nachG3588 dem wahrenG227 SprichwortG3942 ergangenG4819: Der HundG2965 kehrte umG1994 zuG1909 seinem eigenenG2398 GespeiG1829, undG2532 die gewascheneG3068 SauG5300 zumG1519 WälzenG2946 im KotG1004.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 FALSE TEACHERS TO ARISE: THEM BAD PRACTICES AND SURE DESTRUCTION, FROM WHICH THE GODLY SHALL BE DELIVERED, AS LOT WAS. (2Pe. 2:1-22)
But--in contrast to the prophets "moved by the Holy Ghost" (
2Pet 1:21).
also--as well as the true prophets (
2Pet 1:19-21). Paul had already testified the entrance of false prophets into the same churches.
among the people--Israel: he is writing to believing Israelites primarily (see on
1Pet 1:1). Such a "false prophet" was Balaam (
2Pet 2:15).
there shall be--Already symptoms of the evil were appearing (
2Pet 2:9-22;
Jude 1:4-
Jude 1:13).
false teachers--teachers of falsehood. In contrast to the true teachers, whom he exhorts his readers to give heed to (
2Pet 3:2).
who--such as (literally, "the which") shall.
privily--not at first openly and directly, but by the way, bringing in error by the side of the true doctrine (so the Greek): Rome objects, Protestants cannot point out the exact date of the beginnings of the false doctrines superadded to the original truth; we answer, Peter foretells us it would be so, that the first introduction of them would be stealthy and unobserved (
Jude 1:4).
damnable--literally, "of destruction"; entailing destruction (
Phil 3:19) on all who follow them.
heresies--self-chosen doctrines, not emanating from God (compare "will-worship,"
Col 2:23).
even--going even to such a length as to deny both in teaching and practice. Peter knew, by bitter repentance, what a fearful thing it is to deny the Lord (
Luke 22:61-
Luke 22:62).
denying--Him whom, above all others, they ought to confess.
Lord--"Master and Owner" (Greek), compare
Jude 1:4, Greek. Whom the true doctrine teaches to be their OWNER by right of purchase. Literally, "denying Him who bought them (that He should be thereby), their Master."
bought them--Even the ungodly were bought by His "precious blood." It shall be their bitterest self-reproach in hell, that, as far as Christ's redemption was concerned, they might have been saved. The denial of His propitiatory sacrifice is included in the meaning (compare
1John 4:3).
bring upon themselves--compare "God bringing in the flood upon the world,"
2Pet 2:5. Man brings upon himself the vengeance which God brings upon him.
swift--swiftly descending: as the Lord's coming shall be swift and sudden. As the ground swallowed up Korah and Dathan, and "they went down quick into the pit." Compare
Jude 1:11, which is akin to this passage.
2 follow--out: so the Greek.
pernicious ways--The oldest manuscripts and Vulgate read, "licentiousness" (
Jude 1:4). False doctrine and immoral practice generally go together (
2Pet 2:18-19).
by reason of whom--"on account of whom," namely, the followers of the false teachers.
the way of truth shall be evil spoken of--"blasphemed" by those without, who shall lay on Christianity itself the blame of its professors' evil practice. Contrast
1Pet 2:12.
3 through, &c.--Greek, "IN covetousness" as their element (
2Pet 2:14, end). Contrast
2Cor 11:20;
2Cor 12:17.
of a long time--in God's eternal purpose. "Before of old ordained to condemnation" (
Jude 1:4).
lingereth not--though sinners think it lingers; "is not idle."
damnation--Greek, "destruction" (see on
2Pet 2:1). Personified.
slumbereth not--though sinners slumber.
4 if--The apodosis or consequent member of the sentence is not expressed, but is virtually contained in
2Pet 2:9. If God in past time has punished the ungodly and saved His people, He will be sure to do so also in our days (compare end of
2Pet 2:3).
angels--the highest of intelligent creatures (compare with this verse,
Jude 1:6), yet not spared when they sinned.
hell--Greek, "Tartarus": nowhere else in New Testament or the Septuagint: equivalent to the usual Greek, "Gehenna." Not inconsistent with
1Pet 5:8; for though their final doom is hell, yet for a time they are permitted to roam beyond it in "the darkness of this world." Slaves of Tartarus (called "the abyss," or "deep,"
Luke 8:31; "the bottomless pit,"
Rev 9:11) may also come upon earth. Step by step they are given to Tartarus, until at last they shall be wholly bound to it.
delivered--as the judge delivers the condemned prisoner to the officers (
Rev 20:2).
into chains-- (
Jude 1:6). The oldest manuscripts read, "dens," as ALFORD translates: the Greek, however, may, in Hellenistic Greek, mean "chains," as Jude expresses it. They are "reserved" unto hell's "mist of darkness" as their final "judgment" or doom, and meanwhile their exclusion from the light of heaven is begun. So the ungodly were considered as virtually "in prison," though at large on the earth, from the moment that God's sentence went forth, though not executed till one hundred twenty years after.
5 eighth--that is, Noah, and seven others. Contrasted with the densely peopled "world of the ungodly."
preacher--not only "righteous" himself (compare
2Pet 2:8), but also "a preacher of righteousness": adduced by Peter against the licentiousness of the false teachers (
2Pet 2:2) who have no prospect before them but destruction, even as it overtook the ungodly world in Noah's days.
6 with, &c.--"TO overthrow" [ALFORD].
ensample--"of (the fate that should befall) those who in after-time should live ungodly." Compare
Jude 1:7, "set forth for an example."
7 just--righteous.
filthy conversation--literally, "behavior in licentiousness" (
Gen 19:5).
the wicked--Greek, "lawless": who set at defiance the laws of nature, as well as man and God. The Lord reminds us of Lot's faithfulness, but not of his sin in the cave: so in Rahab's case.
8 vexed--Greek, "tormented."
9 knoweth how--He is at no loss for means, even when men see no escape.
out of--not actually from.
temptations--trials.
to be punished--Greek, "being punished": as the fallen angels (
2Pet 2:4), actually under sentence, and awaiting its final execution. Sin is already its own penalty; hell will be its full development.
10 chiefly--They especially will be punished (
Jude 1:8).
after--following after.
lust of uncleanness--defilement: "hankering after polluting and unlawful use of the flesh" [ALFORD].
government--Greek, "lordship," "dominion" (
Jude 1:8).
Presumptuous--Greek, "Darers." Self-will begets presumption. Presumptuously daring.
are not afraid--though they are so insignificant in might; Greek, "tremble not" (
Jude 1:8, end).
speak evil of--Greek, "blaspheme."
dignities--Greek, "glories."
11 which are--though they are.
greater--than these blasphemers. Jude instances Michael (
Jude 1:9).
railing accusation--Greek, "blaspheming judgment" (
Jude 1:9).
against them--against "dignities," as for instance, the fallen angels: once exalted, and still retaining traces of their former power and glory.
before the Lord--In the presence of the Lord, the Judge, in reverence, they abstain from judgment [BENGEL]. Judgment belongs to God, not the angels. How great is the dignity of the saints who, as Christ's assessors, shall hereafter judge angels! Meanwhile, railing judgments, though spoken with truth, against dignities, as being uttered irreverently, are of the nature of "blasphemies" (Greek,
1Cor 4:4-5). If superior angels dare not, as being in the presence of God, the Judge, speak evil even of the bad angels, how awful the presumption of those who speak evil blasphemously of good "dignities."
2Sam 16:7-8, Shimei;
Num 16:2-
Num 16:3, Korah, &c., referred to also in
Jude 1:11;
Num 12:8, "Were ye (Aaron and Miriam) not afraid to speak evil of My servant Moses?" The angels who sinned still retain the indelible impress of majesty. Satan is still "a strong man": "prince of this world"; and under him are "principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world." We are to avoid irreverence in regard to them, not on their account, but on account of God. A warning to those who use Satan's name irreverently and in blasphemy. "When the ungodly curseth Satan, he curseth his own soul."
12 (
Jude 1:19).
But--In contrast to the "angels,"
2Pet 2:11.
brute--Greek, "irrational." In contrast to angels that "excel in strength."
beasts--Greek, "animals" (compare
Ps 49:20).
natural--transposed in the oldest manuscripts, "born natural," that is, born naturally so: being in their very nature (that is, naturally) as such (irrational animals), born to be taken and destroyed (Greek, "unto capture and destruction," or corruption, see on
Gal 6:8; compare end of this verse, "shall perish," literally, "shall be corrupted," in their own corruption.
Jude 1:10, naturally . . . corrupt themselves," and so destroy themselves; for one and the same Greek word expresses corruption, the seed, and destruction, the developed fruit).
speak evil of--Greek, "in the case of things which they understand not." Compare the same presumption, the parent of subsequent Gnostic error, producing an opposite, though kindred, error, the worshipping of good angels":
Col 2:18, "intruding into those things which he hath not seen."
13 receive--"shall carry off as their due."
reward of--that is, for their "unrighteousness" [ALFORD]. Perhaps it is implied, unrighteousness shall be its own reward or punishment. "Wages of unrighteousness" (
2Pet 2:15) has a different sense, namely, the earthly gain to be gotten by "unrighteousness."
in the daytime--Translate as Greek, "counting the luxury which is in the daytime (not restricted to night, as ordinary revelling. Or as Vulgate and CALVIN, "the luxury which is but for a day": so
Heb 11:25, "the pleasures of sin for a season"; and
Heb 12:16, Esau) to be pleasure," that is, to be their chief good and highest enjoyment.
Spots--in themselves.
blemishes--disgraces: bringing blame (so the Greek) on the Church and on Christianity itself.
sporting themselves--Greek, "luxuriating."
with--Greek, "in."
deceivings--or else passively, "deceits": luxuries gotten by deceit. Compare
Matt 13:22, "Deceitfulness of riches";
Eph 4:22, "Deceitful lusts." While deceiving others, they are deceived themselves. Compare with English Version,
Phil 3:19, "Whose glory is in their shame." "Their own" stands in opposition to "you": "While partaking of the love-feast (compare
Jude 1:12) with you," they are at the same time "luxuriating in their own deceivings," or "deceits" (to which latter clause answers
Jude 1:12, end: Peter presents the positive side, "they luxuriate in their own deceivings"; Jude, the negative, "feeding themselves without fear"). But several of the oldest manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac, and Sahidic Versions read (as Jude), "In their own love-feasts": "their own" will then imply that they pervert the love-feasts so as to make them subserve their own self-indulgent purposes.
14 full of adultery--literally, "full of an adulteress," as though they carried about adulteresses always dwelling in their eyes: the eye being the avenue of lust [HORNEIUS]. BENGEL makes the adulteress who fills their eyes, to be "alluring desire."
that cannot cease--"that cannot be made to cease from sin."
beguiling--"laying baits for."
unstable--not firmly established in faith and piety.
heart--not only the eyes, which are the channel, but the heart, the fountain head of lust.
Job 31:7, "Mine heart walked after mine eyes."
covetous practices--The oldest manuscripts read singular, "covetousness."
cursed children--rather as Greek, "children of curse," that is, devoted to the curse. Cursing and covetousness, as in Balaam's case, often go together: the curse he designed for Israel fell on Israel's foes and on himself. True believers bless, and curse not, and so are blessed.
15 have--Some of the seducers are spoken of as already come, others as yet to come.
following--out: so the Greek.
the way-- (
Num 22:23,
Num 22:32;
Isa 56:11).
son of Bosor--the same as Beor (
Num 22:5). This word was adopted, perhaps, because the kindred word Basar means flesh; and Balaam is justly termed son of carnality, as covetous, and the enticer of Israel to lust.
loved the wages of unrighteousness--and therefore wished (in order to gain them from Balak) to curse Israel whom God had blessed, and at last gave the hellish counsel that the only way to bring God's curse on Israel was to entice them to fleshly lust and idolatry, which often go together.
16 was rebuked--Greek, "had a rebuke," or conviction; an exposure of his specious wickedness on his being tested (the root verb of the Greek noun means to "convict on testing").
his--Greek, "his own": his own beast convicted him of his own iniquity.
ass--literally, "beast of burden"; the ass was the ordinary animal used in riding in Palestine.
dumb--Greek, "voiceless-speaking in man's voice"; marking the marvellous nature of the miracle.
forbade--literally, "hindered." It was not the words of the ass (for it merely deprecated his beating it), but the miraculous fact of its speaking at all, which withstood Balaam's perversity in desiring to go after God had forbidden him in the first instance. Thus indirectly the ass, and directly the angel, rebuked his worse than asinine obstinacy; the ass turned aside at the sight of the angel, but Balaam, after God had plainly said, Thou shalt not go, persevered in wishing to go for gain; thus the ass, in act, forbade his madness. How awful a contrast--a dumb beast forbidding an inspired prophet!
17 (
Jude 1:12-
Jude 1:13.)
wells--"clouds" in Jude; both promising (compare
2Pet 2:19) water, but yielding none; so their "great swelling words" are found on trial to be but "vanity" (
2Pet 2:18).
clouds--The oldest manuscripts and versions read, "mists," dark, and not transparent and bright as "clouds" often are, whence the latter term is applied sometimes to the saints; fit emblem of the children of darkness. "Clouds" is a transcriber's correction from
Jude 1:12, where it is appropriate, "clouds . . . without water" (promising what they do not perform); but not here, "mists driven along by a tempest."
mist--blackness; "the chilling horror accompanying darkness" [BENGEL].
18 allure--Greek, "lay baits for."
through--Greek, "in"; the lusts of the flesh being the element IN which they lay their baits.
much wantonness--Greek, "by licentiousness"; the bait which they lay.
clean escaped--Greek, "really escaped." But the oldest manuscripts and Vulgate read, "scarcely," or "for but a little time"; scarcely have they escaped from them who live in error (the ungodly world), when they are allured by these seducers into sin again (
2Pet 2:20).
19 promise . . . liberty--(Christian)--These promises are instances of their "great swelling words" (
2Pet 2:18). The liberty which they propose is such as fears not Satan, nor loathes the flesh. Pauline language, adopted by Peter here, and
1Pet 2:16; see on
1Pet 2:16; (compare
2Pet 3:15;
Rom 6:16-
Rom 6:22;
Rom 8:15,
Rom 8:21;
Gal 5:1,
Gal 5:13; compare
John 8:34).
corruption--(See on
2Pet 2:12); "destroyed . . . perish . . . corruption."
of whom--"by whatever . . . by the same," &c.
20 after they--the seducers "themselves" have escaped (
2Pet 2:19; see on
Heb 6:4-
Heb 6:6).
pollutions--which bring "corruption" (
2Pet 2:19).
through--Greek, "in."
knowledge--Greek, "full and accurate knowledge."
the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ--solemnly expressing in full the great and gracious One from whom they fall.
latter end is worse . . . than the beginning--Peter remembers Christ's words. "Worse" stands opposed to "better" (
2Pet 2:21).
21 the way of righteousness--"the way of truth" (
2Pet 2:2). Christian doctrine, and "the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour."
turn--back again; so the Greek.
from the holy commandment--the Gospel which enjoins holiness; in opposition to their corruption. "Holy," not that it makes holy, but because it ought to be kept inviolate [TITTMANN].
delivered--once for all; admitting no turning back.
22 But--You need not wonder at the event; for dogs and swine they were before, and dogs and swine they will continue. They "scarcely" (
2Pet 2:18) have escaped from their filthy folly, when they again are entangled in it. Then they seduce others who have in like manner "for a little time escaped from them that live in error" (
2Pet 2:18). Peter often quoted Proverbs in his First Epistle (
1Pet 1:7;
1Pet 2:17;
1Pet 4:8,
1Pet 4:18); another proof that both Epistles come from the same writer.
