View 2nd Peter 2 in the note window.
1: But there were false prophets also - As well as true.
Among the people - Of Israel. Those that spake even the truth,
when God had not sent them; and also those that were truly sent
of him, and yet corrupted or softened their message, were false
prophets. As there shall be false - As well as true. Teachers
among you, who will privately briny in - Into the church.
Destructive heresies - They first, by denying the Lord, introduced
destructive heresies, that is, divisions; or they occasioned
first these divisions, and then were given up to a reprobate
mind, even to deny the Lord that bought them. Either the
heresies are the effect of denying the Lord, or the denying the
Lord was the consequence of the heresies. Even denying - Both
by their doctrine and their works. The Lord that bought them
- With his own blood. Yet these very men perish everlastingly.
Therefore Christ bought even them that perish.
2: The way of truth will be evil spoken of - By those who
blend all false and true Christians together.
3: They will make merchandise of you - Only use you to
gain by you, as merchants do their wares. Whose judgment now
of a long time lingereth not - Was long ago determined, and will
be executed speedily. All sinners are adjudged to destruction;
and God's punishing some proves he will punish the rest.
4: Cast them down to hell - The bottomless pit, a place of
unknown misery. Delivered them - Like condemned criminals to safe
custody, as if bound with the strongest chains in a dungeon of
darkness, to be reserved unto the judgment of the great day.
Though still those chains do not hinder their often walking up
and down seeking whom they may devour.
5: And spared not the old, the antediluvian, world, but
he preserved Noah the eighth person - that is, Noah and seven
others, a preacher as well as practiser, of righteousness.
Bringing a flood on the world of the ungodly - Whose numbers
stood them in no stead.
9: It plainly appears, from these instances, that the
Lord knoweth, hath both wisdom and power and will, to deliver
the godly out of all temptations, and to punish the ungodly.
10: Chiefly them that walk after the flesh - Corrupt
nature; particularly in the lust of uncleanness. And
despise government - The authority of their governors.
Dignities - Persons in authority.
11: Whereas angels - When they appear before the Lord,(Job 1:6,Job 2:1), to give an account of what they have
seen and done on the earth.
12: Savage as brute beasts - Several of which in the
present disordered state of the world, seem born to be
taken and destroyed.
13: They count it pleasure to riot in the day time
- They glory in doing it in the face of the sun. They are
spots in themselves, blemishes to any church. Sporting
themselves with their own deceivings - Making a jest of those
whom they deceive and even jesting while they are deceiving
their own souls.
15: The way of Balaam the son of Bosor - So the Chaldeans
pronounced what the Jews termed Beor; namely, the way of
covetousness. Who loved - Earnestly desired, though he did not
dare to take, the reward of unrighteousness - The money which
Balak would have given him for cursing Israel.
16: The beast - Though naturally dumb.
17: Fountains and clouds promise water: so do these
promise, but do not perform.
18: They ensnare in the desires of the flesh - Allowing
them to gratify some unholy desire. Those who were before
entirely escaped from the spirit, custom, and company of them
that live in error - In sin.
19: While they promise them liberty - From needless
restraints and scruples; from the bondage of the law.
Themselves are slaves of corruption - Even sin, the vilest
of all bondage.
20: For if after they - Who are thus ensnared. Have
escaped the pollutions of the world - The sins which pollute
all who know not God. Through the knowledge of Christ - That
is, through faith in him, (2Peter 1:3).
They are again entangled therein, and overcome, their last state
is worse than the first - More inexcusable, and causing a greater
damnation.
21: The commandment - The whole law of God, once not only
delivered to their ears, but written in their hearts.
22: The dog, the sow - Such are all men in the sight of
God before they receive his grace, and after they have made
shipwreck of the faith. (Pr 26:11).
