{"collection":"Bible & Christianity","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bib/cmt/pnt/pe2002.htm","path":"bib/cmt/pnt/pe2002.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/pnt/pe2002.htm","text":"The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, [1891]\nThere arose false prophets among the people. In Pe2 1:19 the true prophets are referred to. Here the false prophets are spoken of in contrast. By \"the people\" Israel is meant. The term \"false prophet\" occurs several times in the Old Testament. For example, see Jer 6:13. Christ foretells the rise of false prophets (Mat 24:24).\nThere shall be false teachers. Teachers of false doctrines. Paul often warns against such teachers. See Act 20:30.\nDamnable heresies. \"Destructive heresies\" in the Revision. Party divisions caused by false teaching. A heresy is a schism, or that which tends to produce schism.\nDenying the Lord that bought them. This is the culmination of false teaching in the church and has been fulfilled by those professedly Christian teachers who reject the divinity of Christ and the atoning power of his blood.\nSwift destruction. Sudden destruction.\nMany shall follow their pernicious ways. \"Lascivious doings\" in the Revision. Immoral life is the result of false doctrine, and thus a reproach is brought upon the truth.\nAnd in covetousness. By their \"feigned words,\" crafty speeches, the false teachers shall use their followers as a source of gain.\nFor if God spared not the angels that sinned. In order to show that judgments on these wicked teachers are sure, Peter cites examples. Even angels when they sinned were subjected to punishment.\nBut cast them down to hell. The sinning angels were cast out of heaven. The word rendered \"hell\" is not Gehenna, but Tartarus, a Greek term used for the place of future punishment.\nDelivered them into chains of darkness. \"Pits\" in the Revision; possibly dungeons of darkness gives the idea. Compare Jude 6. Both passages point to a time when angels sinned, fell, and thus became angels of darkness.\nAnd spared not the old world. The case of the antediluvians furnishes the second example of God's swift justice.\nBut preserved Noah with seven others. God did not then forget the righteous.\nA preacher of righteousness. By example as well as by word. See Gen 7:1-7, and Pe1 3:20.\nTurning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes. The third example of judgment on sin. See Gen 19:29.\nAnd delivered righteous Lot. The saving of the righteous is as marked as the punishment of the wicked. See Gen 19:1, Gen 19:7.\nVexed, etc. See Gen 19:5.\nFor that righteous man, etc. Lot, seeing and hearing the wickedness around him, was sore distressed.\nThe Lord knoweth, etc. These examples show that the Lord knows how to deliver the righteous from every species of trial, and to hold the wicked in reserve for judgment.\nChiefly. Those next named will receive the greater punishment.\nWho go after the flesh. Follow its dictates and live impure lives.\nDespise government. Refuse to submit to authority.\nNot afraid to speak evil of dignities. A characteristic of this class is their presumption and a want of reverence for what is high and holy.\nWhereas angels. The angels, superior in might and power, do not show such presumption, or disrespect to any lofty power. Compare Jude 9. There is so striking a parallel between a part of this chapter and a part of Jude that it is thought that either Peter or Jude had the epistle of the other before him. Jude shows us that even Michael did not rail against Satan.\nBut these, as natural brute beasts. As if utterly irrational. The brute beasts were destined to the slaughter for man's uses. So these men blindly rush to destruction.\nSpeak evil of the things that they understand not. How often the scoffer fulfills this description!\nShall receive the reward of unrighteousness. Their destruction is the legitimate reward of their own wrong doing.\nCount it pleasure to riot in the day time. Literally \"in the day.\" I believe that the idea is that, like dumb brutes forgetful of coming destruction, they take pleasure in carousal for a day, regardless of the morrow.\nSpots and blemishes. Marring the brightness and beauty of the church.\nRevelling in their love feasts (Revision). Converting even these into scenes of revel.\nHaving eyes full of adultery. Looking around with a lustful appetite.\nHaving followed the way of Balaam, the son of Bosor. See Numbers, chapter 31. Balaam sold himself out to an evil cause for the sake of gain.\nBut was rebuked. By the voice that was put into the mouth of the brute he rode.\nThese are springs without water. They promise much but disappoint.\nMists driven by a storm. The thought is the same. These mists promise rain, but it fails to descend.\nFor whom. For these apostates the \"blackness of darkness is reserved.\"\nFor. This shows how they promise great things and disappoint. They offer great swelling words, and entice those who are about to be delivered from error.\nPromising liberty. Liberty from all restraint, complete freedom to serve their own wills, such liberty as those who rail against God's law are wont to offer.\nServants of corruption. Those who offer liberty are themselves slaves, serving their own passions and lusts. He who is swayed by appetite or habit cannot be free.\nFor if, after they have escaped the pollution of the world. If one who has been converted is enticed back again into his sins, his state is worse than before. That this is possible is taught in many places.\nFor it had been better, etc. To other sins there is then added the sin of rejecting the way of righteousness after an experimental knowledge of it.\nFor it is happened. Their relapse is described in the proverbs. See Pro 1:1; Pro 26:11. Such a repulsive course can be compared only with the most disgusting habits of unclean animals.","title":"The People's New Testament: 2 Peter: 2 Peter Chapter 2","type":"page"}