2PE 2

2 Peter 2:1

WEB

But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.

BSB

Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

KJV

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

Matthew Henry

Verses 1–2

2 Peter 2:1–2

I. In the end of the former chapter there is mention made of holy men of God, who lived in the times of the Old Testament, and were used as the amanuenses of the Holy Ghost, in writing the sacred oracles; but in the beginning of this he tells us they had, even at that time, false prophets in the church as well as true. In all ages of the church, and under all dispensations, when God sends true prophets, the devil sends some to seduce and deceive, false prophets in the Old Testament, and false Christs, false apostles, and seducing teachers, in the New. Concerning these observe, 1. Their business is to bring in destructive errors, even damnable heresies, as the business of teachers sent of God is to show the way of truth, even the true way to everlasting life. There are damnable heresies as well as damnable practices; and false teachers are industrious to spread pernicious errors. 2. Damnable heresies are commonly brought in privily, under the cloak and colour of truth. Those who introduce destructive heresies deny the Lord that bought them. They reject and refuse to hear and learn of the great teacher sent from God, though he is the only Saviour and Redeemer of men, who paid a price sufficient to redeem as many worlds of sinners as there are sinners in the world. 4. Those who bring in errors destructive to others bring swift (and therefore sure) destruction upon themselves. Self-destroyers are soon destroyed; and those who are so hardened as to propagate errors destructive to others shall surely and suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

II. He proceeds, in the second verse, to tell us the consequence with respect to others; and here we may learn, 1. Corrupt leaders seldom fail of many to follow them; though the way of error is a pernicious way, yet many are ready to walk therein. Men drink in iniquity like water, and are pleased to live in error. The prophets prophesy falsely, and the people love to have it so. 2. The spreading of error will bring up an evil report on the way of truth; that is, the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth, and the life. The Christian religion is from the God of truth as the author, leads to true happiness in the enjoyment of the true God as the end, and works truth in the inward part as the means of acceptably serving God. And yet this way of truth is traduced and blasphemed by those who embrace and advance destructive errors. This the apostle has foretold as what should certainly come to pass. Let us not be offended at any thing of this in our day, but take care that we give no occasion to the enemy to blaspheme the holy name whereby we are called, or speak evil of that way whereby we hope to be saved.

III. Observe, in the next place, the method seducers take to draw disciples after them: they use feigned words; they flatter, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple, inducing them to yield entirely to the opinions which these seducers endeavour to propagate, and sell and deliver themselves over to the instruction and government of these false teacher, who make a gain of those whom they make their proselytes, serving themselves and making some advantage of them; for all this is through covetousness, with a desire and design to get more wealth, or credit, or commendation, by increasing the number of their followers. The faithful ministers of Christ, who show men the way of truth, desire the profit and advantage of their followers, that they may be saved; but these seducing teachers desire and design only their own temporal advantage and worldly grandeur.

Greek interlinear

G1096

γίνομαιgínomai/ghin'-om-ahee/

arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought

Derivation: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb;

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

KJV: arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.

G1161

δέ/deh/

also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English)

Derivation: a primary particle (adversative or continuative);

but, and, etc.

KJV: also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).

G2532

καίkaí/kahee/

and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet

Derivation: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force;

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

KJV: and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

G5578

ψευδοπροφήτηςpseudoprophḗtēs/psyoo-dop-rof-ay'-tace/

false prophet

Derivation: from G5571 and G4396;

a spurious prophet, i.e. pretended foreteller or religious impostor

KJV: false prophet.

See also: G5571, G4396.

G1722

ἐνen/en/

about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in)

Derivation: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537);

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.

KJV: about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (… sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in).

Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.

See also: G1519, G1537.

G3588

ho/ho/

the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc

, including the feminine , and the neuter τό in all their inflections;

Derivation: the definite article;

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom)

KJV: the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

G2992

λαόςlaós/lah-os'/

people

Derivation: apparently a primary word;

a people (in general; thus differing from G1218, which denotes one's own populace)

KJV: people.

See also: G1218.

G5613

ὡςhōs/hoce/

about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed

Derivation: probably adverb of comparative from G3739;

which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows)

KJV: about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.

See also: G3739.

G4771

σύ/soo/

thou

Derivation: the personal pronoun of the second person singular;

thou

KJV: thou.

See also G4571, G4671, G4675; and for the plural G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.

See also: G4675, G4571, G4671, G5209, G5210, G5213, G5216.

G1510

εἰμίeimí/i-mee'/

am, have been, X it is I, was

Derivation: the first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb;

I exist (used only when emphatic)

KJV: am, have been, X it is I, was.

See also G1488, G1498, G1511, G1527, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2771, G2468, G5600.

See also: G1488, G1498, G1511, G1527, G2258, G2071, G2070, G2075, G2076, G2771, G2468, G5600.

G5572

ψευδοδιδάσκαλοςpseudodidáskalos/psyoo-dod-id-as'-kal-os/

false teacher

Derivation: from G5571 and G1320;

a spurious teacher, i.e. propagator of erroneous Christian doctrine

KJV: false teacher.

See also: G5571, G1320.

G3748

ὅστιςhóstis/hos'-tis/

X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever)

, including the feminine ἥτις , and the neuter ὅτι

Derivation: from G3739 and G5100;

which some, i.e. any that; also (definite) which same

KJV: X and (they), (such) as, (they) that, in that they, what(-soever), whereas ye, (they) which, who(-soever).

Compare G3754.

See also: G3739, G5100, G3754.

G3919

παρεισάγωpareiságō/par-ice-ag'-o/

privily bring in

Derivation: from G3844 and G1521;

to lead in aside, i.e. introduce surreptitiously

KJV: privily bring in.

See also: G3844, G1521.

G139

αἵρεσιςhaíresis/hah'-ee-res-is/

heresy (which is the Greek word itself), sect

Derivation: from G138;

properly, a choice, i.e. (specially) a party or (abstractly) disunion

KJV: heresy (which is the Greek word itself), sect.

See also: G138.

G684

ἀπώλειαapṓleia/ap-o'-li-a/

damnable(-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste

Derivation: from a presumed derivative of G622;

ruin or loss (physical, spiritual or eternal)

KJV: damnable(-nation), destruction, die, perdition, X perish, pernicious ways, waste.

See also: G622.

G59

ἀγοράζωagorázō/ag-or-ad'-zo/

buy, redeem

Derivation: from G58;

properly, to go to market, i.e. (by implication) to purchase; specially, to redeem

KJV: buy, redeem.

See also: G58.

G846

αὐτόςautós/ow-tos'/

her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which

Derivation: from the particle αὖ (perhaps akin to the base of G109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward);

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative G1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

KJV: her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.

Compare G848.

See also: G109, G1438, G848.

G1203

δεσπότηςdespótēs/des-pot'-ace/

Lord, master

Derivation: perhaps from G1210 and πόσις (a husband);

an absolute ruler ("despot")

KJV: Lord, master.

See also: G1210.

G720

ἀρνέομαιarnéomai/ar-neh'-om-ahee/

deny, refuse

Derivation: perhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and the middle voice of G4483;

to contradict, i.e. disavow, reject, abnegate

KJV: deny, refuse.

See also: G1, G4483.

G1863

ἐπάγωepágō/ep-ag'-o/

bring upon

Derivation: from G1909 and G71;

to superinduce, i.e. inflict (an evil), charge (a crime)

KJV: bring upon.

See also: G1909, G71.

G1438

ἑαυτοῦheautoû/heh-ow-too'/

alone, her (own, -self), (he) himself, his (own), itself, one (to) another, our (thine) own(-selves), + that she had, their (own, own selves), (of) them(-selves), they, thyself, you, your (own, own conceits, own selves, -selves)

Derivation: from a reflexive pronoun otherwise obsolete and the genitive case (dative case or accusative case) of G846;

him- (her-, it-, them-, also (in conjunction with the personal pronoun of the other persons) my-, thy-, our-, your-) self (selves), etc.

KJV: alone, her (own, -self), (he) himself, his (own), itself, one (to) another, our (thine) own(-selves), + that she had, their (own, own selves), (of) them(-selves), they, thyself, you, your (own, own conceits, own selves, -selves).

See also: G846.

G5031

ταχινόςtachinós/takh-ee-nos'/

shortly, swift

Derivation: from G5034;

curt, i.e. impending

KJV: shortly, swift.

See also: G5034.

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