ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 2 Peter 2

2 Pet. 2:1–22 Evaluation of False Teachers. In this third main section of his letter, Peter criticizes the false teachers, using biblical illustrations to do so.

2 Pet. 2:1 The false teachers will even deny the truth about the Master (Jesus Christ) who bought them. They claim to be redeemed because they were part of the church, but their beliefs and behavior show that they are not truly believers.

2 Pet. 2:2 Their false teaching results in sensuality, which means a lack of self-constraint or an abandonment to immoral behavior. Most often the word refers to sexual sin.

2 Pet. 2:4–10a Peter turns to a detailed argument proving God’s certain judgment on the false teachers. Four times he uses a lesser-to-greater method of argument (if A is true, how much more is B also true). His analogies in vv. 4–8 amount to minor premises (A’s) leading to the major premise (B) of vv. 9–10a.

2 Pet. 2:4 First minor premise: if God did not spare angels. If (A) God has eternally condemned the sinful angels, then (B) how much more certainly will he condemn the false teachers and their followers (major premise, vv. 9b–10a). (See note on Jude 6.)

2 Pet. 2:5 Second minor premise: if (A) he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah . . . with seven others, then (B) will he not even more certainly judge the false teachers (major premise, vv. 9b–10a) while at the same time preserving the godly (major premise, v. 9a). Christians may be a small minority, but God will protect them.

2 Pet. 2:6 Third minor premise: If (A) God condemned Sodom and Gomorrah, then (B) how much more certain it is that the same thing will happen to the ungodly who reject the gospel.

2 Pet. 2:7–8 Fourth minor premise: if (A) God rescued righteous Lot, who was greatly distressed and even tormented by the conduct of the wicked in Sodom (v. 6), then (B) how much more will he “rescue the godly” (major premise, v. 9a).

2 Pet. 2:9–10a Having stated his minor premises, Peter moves now to his major premise (see note on vv. 4–10a): “If” vv. 4–8 are true, then how much more true are vv. 9–10a. God indeed knows how to rescue the godly from trials and will certainly keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment. He will punish them in a partial, preliminary way before the final day of judgment (see Luke 16:23–24; Heb. 9:27). This applies especially to those who engage in defiling passion and who despise authority—probably a reference to false teachers (see 2 Pet. 2:12; 18; 3:3; Jude 8, 16, 18).

2 Pet. 2:10b–11 The false teachers blaspheme the glorious ones, probably evil angels (v. 11; compare Jude 8–9). They act as if these demonic forces have no power. They do not believe that their willful sins open them to demonic attack.

2 Pet. 2:12–13 The false teachers behave in irrational ways. They act like . . . animals. They do not use reason or truth, only instinct. Yet they behave like this while claiming to be Christians. In fact, they feast with you, probably a reference to participating in the Lord’s Supper.

2 Pet. 2:14 Their eyes desire adultery with nearly every woman they meet. insatiable for sin. Their appetite for sin is never satisfied. Even worse, they entice (“lure with bait”) unsteady people to sin with them. Accursed children! Peter assures his readers the false teachers will face God’s judgment.

2 Pet. 2:15–16 They have followed the way of Balaam (see Numbers 22–24). They spend their lives gaining things at other people’s expense. But God can use even a donkey to restrain someone who is following the way of madness.

2 Pet. 2:17 The false teachers are waterless springs and mists driven by the wind. They appear to be beneficial, but they are empty. The gloom of utter darkness has been reserved for them, as for the evil angels (v. 4) and the unrighteous (v. 9).

2 Pet. 2:18 entice by sensual passions . . . those who are barely escaping. The false teachers tell new Christians they can do whatever they wish sexually without harm.

2 Pet. 2:20–22 It would have been better for these false teachers never to have escaped the world in the first place. They had the knowledge of . . . Christ. They then returned to a life of sin and darkness. It is better not to have known about the holy commandment than to turn away from Christ. Those who turn away after falsely confessing the Christian faith often do not return to Christ. Their knowledge and experience of the Christian life also make them more accountable before God (compare Luke 12:47–48). It is likely that Peter refers to those who appeared to be Christians but then showed that they never truly belonged to Christ (see notes on John 15:2; 1 John 2:19; contrast John 10:27–29; Phil. 1:6). Those who thus turn back to a life of sin show their true character.