2<\/strong>. And many shall follow their pernicious ways<\/em> ] Better, their lasciviousnesses<\/strong>. The word is the same as in Mar 7:22<\/span>, Rom 13:13 , 1Pe 4:3<\/span>, and elsewhere; and the English version loses the distinctive character of the sectarian teaching and conduct (analogous to what is noted in Jude, 2Pe 2:4 ; 2Pe 2:8<\/span>, Rev 2:20<\/span>) which called down the Apostle’s condemnation. The needless variation in the rendering of the English version hinders the reader from perceiving the identity with St Jude’s condemnation of those who “turn the grace of God into lasciviousness<\/em>.”<\/p>\n the way of truth shall be evil spoken of<\/em> ] Better, reviled<\/strong> or blasphemed<\/strong>. Comp. Rom 2:24<\/span>. In the use of the term “ the way<\/em> of truth” we have an interesting parallel with the frequent occurrence of that word in the Acts (Act 18:26<\/span>, Act 19:9<\/span>; Act 19:23<\/span>, Act 22:4<\/span>, Act 24:22<\/span>), as equivalent to what we should call, in modern phrase, the “system” or the “religion” of Christ. The scandals caused by the impurities of the false teachers brought discredit upon the whole system with which, in the judgment of the outside world, they were identified.<\/p>\n And many shall follow their pernicious ways – <\/B>Margin: lascivious. A large number of manuscripts and versions read lascivious here – <\/SPAN><\/span> aselgeiais – instead of pernicious – <\/SPAN><\/span> apoleiais (see Wetstein), and this reading is adopted in the editions of the Greek Testament by Tittman, Griesbach, and Hahn, and it seems probable that this is the correct reading. This will agree well with the account elsewhere given of these teachers, that their doctrines tended to licentiousness, 2Pe 2:10<\/span>, 2Pe 2:14<\/span>, 2Pe 2:18-19<\/span>. It is a very remarkable circumstance, that those who have denied the essential doctrines of the gospel have been so frequently licentious in their own conduct, and have inculcated opinions which tended to licentiousness. Many of the forms of religious error have somehow had a connection with this vice. People who are corrupt at heart often seek to obtain the sanction of religion for their corruptions.<\/P> By reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of – <\/B> <\/P> (1)Because they were professors of religion, and religion would seem to be held responsible for their conduct; and,<\/P> (2)Because they were professed teachers of religion, and, by many, would be understood as expounding the true doctrines of the gospel.<\/P><\/p>\n 2Pe 2:2<\/span><\/p>\n Many shall follow their pernicious ways.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n Pernicious ways<\/strong><\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>The ringleaders.<\/p>\n (1)<\/strong> The necessity of a head to every schism and faction; never was breach made in the vineyard of Christ but some principal beast led the whole herd. If their reward in heaven be so great that save one soul from death, how great shall their torment be in hell that pervert many souls to destruction!<\/p>\n (a) <\/strong>The way to suppress a schism is to cut off the head; it will be hard for a body to move headless.<\/p>\n (b) <\/strong>Seeing there are such corrupters of our truth, and disturbers of our peace, let us be sure to hold the truth in peace, cleaving to our Head, Jesus Christ (Col 2:19<\/span>).<\/p>\n (2)<\/strong> The great force of example.<\/p>\n (a) <\/strong>Let this teach men of place to look unto their exemplary lives, lest, as they have made themselves examples of transgression, God make them examples of destruction.<\/p>\n (b) <\/strong>Seeing we are all apt to be followers, let us seek out the best patterns (Php 3:17<\/span>; Psa 16:3<\/span>).<\/p>\n (3)<\/strong> Their mischiefs.<\/p>\n (a) <\/strong>There is a plurality, diversity of their ways. Truth is but one, errors are infinite. Goodness is a uniform simple, sin a multiform compound. Satan baits his hook according to the appetite of the fish. He studies many ways to make you wretched; do you study one way to make yourselves blessed.<\/p>\n (b) <\/strong>These ways are pernicious or damnable. The wicked never rest till they meet with final ruin.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>The rabble.<\/p>\n (1)<\/strong> Their multitude many. Wickedness is never scant of followers.<\/p>\n (2)<\/strong> Their tractableness–shall follow. There is a pliable disposition in all men naturally to evil, in these a desperate precipitation.<\/p>\n (a) <\/strong>The greediness of the ungodly to sin, that they scarce tarry for temptation.<\/p>\n (b) <\/strong>Sin is strong when it meets with a weak resister. How easy is it for error to domineer over ignorance!<\/p>\n (c) <\/strong>Observe the power of evil men over their associates, whether in perverting the higher faculties of the soul, reason, and understanding, and conscience, or in corrupting the lower will and affections.<\/p>\n (d) <\/strong>We must not fall off from the faith and Church of Christ because multitudes travel another way.<\/p>\n (e) <\/strong>Seeing there is such certain danger in following after common copies, let me avert you from all these pestilent examples, and propose to you one worth your imitation.<\/p>\n 1. <\/strong>The patient that suffers.<\/p>\n (1)<\/strong> The singularity–the way, that excellent way. There is only one way of truth and of salvation by it.<\/p>\n (2)<\/strong> The sincerity–the way of truth.<\/p>\n (a) <\/strong>It is certain. It is called the testimony (Isa 8:20<\/span>) because it bears witness unto itself; so is it called the truth because it shall accomplish itself.<\/p>\n (b) <\/strong>It is excellent, as being the letters patent of our salvation.<\/p>\n 2. <\/strong>The injury that is offered to it.<\/p>\n (1)<\/strong> By whom. The instruments or occasioners of this scandal–those misled proselytes. The seminaries of infection have poisoned them, and they spread that pestilence, to the dishonour of Christ and the scandal of His gospel.<\/p>\n (a) <\/strong>Not only the principals, but even the accessories in schism are guilty of sin, and liable to punishment.<\/p>\n (b) <\/strong>The authors of this seducement are not discharged, though their scholars have dissipated the evil.<\/p>\n (2)<\/strong> The way of truth shall be evil spoken of. The aspersion laid upon the gospel by their means <\/strong>is blasphemy, the worst kind of evil speaking. (Thos. Adams.<\/em>)<\/p>\n Verse 2<\/span>. Many shall follow<\/B><\/I>] WILL follow, because determined to gratify their sinful propensities.<\/P> <\/P> Pernicious ways<\/B><\/I>] . Their destructions<\/I>; i.e. the heresies of destruction<\/I>, or destructive opinions<\/I>, mentioned above. But instead of , destructions<\/I>, , lasciviousnesses<\/I> or uncleannesses<\/I>, is the reading of ABC, and upwards of sixty others<\/I>, most of which are among the most ancient, correct, and authentic. This is the reading also of both the Syriac<\/I>, all the Arabic<\/I>, the Coptic, AEthiopic, Armenian, Slavonic,<\/I> Vulgate, Chrysostom, Theophylact, OEcumenius<\/I>, and Jerome<\/I>. A very few, and those of little repute, have the word in the text.<\/P> <\/P> The word lasciviousnesses<\/I> is undoubtedly the true reading, and this points out what the nature of the heresies was: it was a sort of Antinomianism; they pampered and indulged the lusts of the flesh; and, if the Nicolaitans are meant, it is very applicable to them, for they taught the community of wives, c. Griesbach has received this reading into the text.<\/P> <\/P> By reason of whom<\/B><\/I>] These were persons who professed Christianity<\/I> and because they were called Christians, and followed such abominable practices, the way of truth<\/I>-the Christian religion, , was blasphemed<\/I>. Had they called themselves by any name but that of Christ<\/I>, his religion would not have suffered.<\/P> <\/p>\n And many shall follow their pernicious ways; <\/B>Greek, their destructions, i.e. those ways of error which are attended with destruction (the effect being put for the cause by a metonymy); and the sense is, that as these false teachers shall bring destruction upon themselves by their heresies; so others, running with them into the same errors, shall fall into the same destruction. <\/P> By reason of whom; <\/B>or, by whom, viz. these false teachers, or their followers, or both. <\/P> The way of truth; <\/B>the gospel, so called, as being the doctrine of saving truth. It is called the way, <\/I>Act 9:2<\/I><\/span>; 19:9<\/span>; 22:4<\/span>; the way of salvation, <\/I>Act 16:17<\/I><\/span>; the way of God, <\/I>Act 18:26<\/I><\/span>. <\/P> Shall be evil spoken of; <\/B>blasphemed, whether by false teachers themselves and their followers, or by others taking occasion by them: see Rom 2:24<\/span>; 1Ti 6:1<\/span>; Tit 2:5<\/span>. <\/P> <\/p>\n 2. follow<\/B>out: so the Greek.<\/I><\/P> pernicious ways<\/B>Theoldest manuscripts and Vulgate<\/I> read, “licentiousness”(Jude 4<\/span>). False doctrine andimmoral practice generally go together (2Pe 2:18<\/span>;2Pe 2:19<\/span>). <\/P> by reason of whom<\/B>“onaccount of whom,” namely, the followers of the false teachers. <\/P> the way of truth shall beevil spoken of<\/B>“blasphemed” by those without, whoshall lay on Christianity itself the blame of its professors’ evilpractice. Contrast 1Pe 2:12<\/span>.<\/P><\/p>\n And many shall follow their pernicious ways<\/strong>,…. Their principles and their practices, which lead to destruction, The Complutensian edition, the Alexandrian copy, and six copies of Beza’s, and others, read “their lasciviousnesses”; and so the Vulgate Latin version renders it, “their luxuries”; and all the Oriental versions seem to have read in like manner. The Syriac version renders it, “their impurity”; and the Arabic version, “their unchastities”; and the Ethiopic version, “their lust”; and which seems to have respect to the impure conversation of the followers of Simon Magus, the Nicolaitans, the Gnostics, Carpocratians, and others, who indulged themselves in all unnatural lusts and uncleanness; and generally, when men make shipwreck of faith, they also do of a good conscience, and become immoral in their conversations; and yet, as destructive as their principles, and as dishonourable and scandalous as their practices be, many were, and are their followers; so it was foretold by Christ, Mt 24:11<\/span>, and so it has been, Re 13:3<\/span>. The road both of error and wickedness is a broad one, in which many walk; and a multitude is no proof of the truth of a church or of the principles of men, nor to be followed:<\/p>\n by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of<\/strong>; that is, either Christ, who is truth itself, and the true way to eternal life and happiness; or the Gospel, the word of truth, which holds forth Christ the truth, and points to him, and every other truth, and nothing but truth; or the Christian religion, which is the true way, in opposition to all sects and heresies; and is what should be blasphemed and spoken against, either by these men or their followers; for the phrase may be rendered, “by whom”, as it is in the Vulgate Latin version, and the meaning be, that they should, in a blasphemous way, speak and write against Christ and his truths, reproach and revile them, and in a virulent manner oppose them, and trample them under foot: “or for the sake of them”, as other versions read; and as we do; “by reason of them”; they should be the occasion, by their impure lives, of the name of Christ, and his doctrines, being blasphemed by profane and irreligious men; see Ro 2:24<\/span>. The Alexandrian copy, and one of Stephens’s, read “the glory of truth”; and so the Ethiopic version, “the glory of his truth”.<\/p>\n Lascivious doings <\/B> (<\/SPAN><\/span>). Associative instrumental ease after <\/SPAN><\/span> (future active, for which verb see 1:16<\/span>). See 1Pe 4:3<\/span> for this word.<\/P> By reason of whom <\/B> (‘ <\/SPAN><\/span>). “Because of whom” (accusative case of relative, referring to <\/SPAN><\/span>, many). <\/SPAN><\/span> (their) refers to <\/SPAN><\/span> (false teachers) while <\/SPAN><\/span> to their deluded followers. See Ro 2:23f.<\/span> for a picture of such conduct by Jews (quotation from Isa 52:5<\/span>, with <\/SPAN><\/span> used as here with ‘ <\/SPAN><\/span>, because of you).<\/P> The way of truth <\/B> ( <\/SPAN><\/span>). H<\/SPAN><\/span> (way) occurs often in N.T. for Christianity (Acts 9:2<\/span>; Acts 16:17<\/span>; Acts 18:25<\/span>; Acts 22:4<\/span>; Acts 24:14<\/span>). This phrase is in Ge 24:48<\/span> as “the right road,” and that is what Peter means here. So Ps 119:30<\/span>. See again 2Pet 2:15<\/span>; 2Pet 2:21<\/span>. <\/P> <\/p>\n Shall follow. See on ch. 2Pe 1:16<\/span>. <\/P> Pernicious ways [] <\/SPAN><\/span>. The true reading is ajselgeiaiv, lascivious doings. So Rev. See on 1Pe 4:3<\/span>. The use of the plural is rare. Compare Jude 1:4<\/span>.<\/P> <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n 1) “And many shall follow their pernicious ways.”<\/strong> False teachers and prophets will have (Greek polloi) many follow their (aselgeiais) pernicious ways of “licentiousness.” False teaching and immorality seem to be Siamese evils Jud 1:4<\/span>; Jud 1:8<\/span>; Jud 1:19<\/span>.<\/p>\n 2) “By reason of whom.”<\/strong> (Greek di ous) by reason or means of whom.<\/p>\n 3) “The truth shall be evil spoken of.”<\/strong> the (Greek aletheias) – the system or Word of truth shall be (blasphemethesetai) “blasphemed.” Even Paul once did this, Act 26:11<\/span>.<\/p>\n 2. And many shall follow. It is, indeed, no slight offense to the weak, when they see that false doctrines are received by the common consent of the world, that a large number of men are led astray, so that few continue in true obedience to Christ. So, at this day, there is nothing that more violently disturbs pious minds than such a defection. For hardly one in ten of those who have once made a profession of Christ, retains the purity of faith to the end. Almost all turn aside into corruptions, and being deluded by the teachers of licentiousness, they become profane. Lest this should make our faith to falter, Peter comes to our help, and in due time foretells that this very thing would be, that is, that false teachers would draw many to perdition. <\/p>\n But there is a double reading even in the Greek copies; for some read, “lasciviousness,” and others, “perdition.” I have, however, followed what has been mostly approved. (165) <\/p>\n By reason of whom the way of truth. This I consider to have been said for this reason, because as religion is adorned when men are taught to fear God, to maintain uprightness of life, a chaste and virtuous conduct, or when at least the mouth of the wicked is closed, that they do not speak evil of the gospel; so when the reins are let loose, and every kind of licentiousness is practiced, the name and the doctrine of Christ are exposed to the reproaches of the ungodly. Others give a different explanation — that these false teachers, like filthy dogs, barked at sound doctrine. But the words of Peter appear to me on the contrary to intimate, that these would give occasion to enemies insolently to assail the truth of God. Though then they would not themselves assail the Christian faith with calumnies, yet they would arm others with the means of reproaching it. <\/p>\n (165) Few copies have “perdition,” or perditions, for the word is in the plural number; and very many have “lasciviousness,” and also the Vulg. and Syr. versions. Having before mentioned their destructive opinions or heresies, which involved the denial of the Lord who bought them, he now refers to the immorality which accompanied their false doctrines; and that immorality is here referred to is evident from this, that the way of truth would be evil spoken of or calumniated. — Ed. <\/p>\n 2Pe. 2:2<\/span><\/strong> And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.<\/strong><\/p>\n Expanded Translation<\/strong><\/p>\n And many shall follow (imitate, observe and use as a guide for their own lives) their unbridled, unrestrained, and shameless ways; because of whom the way of truth shall be reviled, railed at, and spoken of with contempt.<\/p>\n _______________________<\/p>\n And many shall follow their lascivious doings<\/strong><\/p>\n See the word follow (exakoloutheo) defined under 2Pe. 1:16<\/span>. Following close at their heels, imitating and copying their ways, the weak, simple-minded, and ignorant would be led astray! How great will be the damnation of those who so lead others! (Note Jas. 3:1<\/span>.) And into what are their followers led? Into lascivious doings (aselgeia). Be sure to see our definition of this term under 1Pe. 4:3<\/span>. Instead of teaching them to restrain their immoral and sinful ways, these prevaricators help their dupes throw off their restraints and lose their self-control. How God shall hold them accountable in the day of judgment!<\/p>\n by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of<\/strong><\/p>\n The irreligious and the worldling often lump all religion together. These false teachers were instructors in religion. But their doctrines denied Christ and their lives were unrestrained, lawless, and immoral. How easy it was, then, for many to speak reproachfully of the right way.[58]<\/p>\n [58] blasphemeo (hence our word blaspheme), literally meant to speak against; to calumniate, rail at, revile.<\/p>\n (2) Many shall follow their pernicious ways.<\/strong>Pernicious ways is a translation of the plural of the word just rendered destruction. (See fourth Note on 2Pe. 2:1<\/span>.) But here the reading is undoubtedly wrong. The margin has the right readinglascivious ways<\/em> (or better, wanton ways<\/em>)being the plural of the word translated wantonness in 2Pe. 2:18<\/span>. Wiclif has lecheries; Rheims riotousnesses.<\/p>\n The connexion between false doctrine and licentiousness was often real, and is so still in some casese.g., <\/em>Mormonism. But it was often asserted and believed without foundation. Impurity was the common charge to bring against those of a different creed, whether between heathen and Christian or between different divisions of Christians.<\/p>\n By reason of whom.<\/strong>The many who are led astray are meant, rather than the original seducers. (Comp. Rom. 2:24<\/span>.)<\/p>\n The way of truth.<\/strong>(See Note on Act. 9:2<\/span>.) The way of truth occurs in Clement of Alexandria (Cohort. ad Gentes, <\/em>x.), the only near approach to anything in 2 Peter in all the writings of his that have come down to us. This is strong evidence that he did not know the Epistle, especially as references are frequent to 1 Peter, which is sometimes quoted thus: Peter in his Epistle says (Strom.<\/em> iv. 20).<\/p>\n Shall be evil spoken of.<\/strong>By the heathen, who will judge of the way of truth by the evil lives of the many who have really been seduced from it, though they profess still to follow it. In the homily commonly called the Second Epistle of Clement<\/em> (13) there is a remarkable amplification of this statement. Our Epistle was probably known to the writer of the homily, who to a considerable extent preaches against similar evils.<\/p>\n 2<\/strong>. <\/strong> Their pernicious ways<\/strong> Most of the oldest and best authorities read their <\/strong> licentiousness. <\/em> They carried their doctrine into practice; and the prediction that many <\/strong> would follow <\/strong> their example of dissoluteness, and think it purity, was abundantly fulfilled. Irenaeus says, that Simon Magus taught that “they who believed in him were free to live as they pleased, and that men would be saved by his grace, and not according to their works; and that nothing is good by nature, but only by institution. And therefore his votaries live in lasciviousness.” The immoral conduct of these Christian professors inevitably caused Christianity to be evil spoken of<\/strong>. Clemens Alexandrinus gives as a reason for his writing, the infamy brought upon the Christian name by the shameless lives of false teachers, and the necessity of disabusing the public mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n ‘And many will follow their lascivious doings, by reason of whom the way of the truth will be evil spoken of.’<\/p>\n A prominent aspect of their teaching would seem to have been a claim that the way to acceptability with the divine was by lascivious behaviour, probably including illicit sex and drunkenness. The idea may have been that they attained ‘oneness’ with their god(s) by ‘making love’ to sacred prostitutes and avid women in the Temples, or because their behaviour was seen as denying the flesh by treating it as irrelevant and letting it run away with itself. Either way lust and desire controlled their thinking.<\/p>\n Unbelievable though it may seem, there are so-called Christians today who also consider that they can behave in a similar way because it is ‘natural’, and because ‘God wants them to enjoy life’. This is the argument for illicit sex between homosexuals, which along with adultery, where the same excuse is often used, is clearly condemned in Rom 1:24-27<\/span>. It is also the basis for much drunkenness. And the result is that Christianity is held up to ridicule because of its supposed adherents, as a result of the fact that Christians fail to be Christlike. Here Peter reveals that those who argue in this way are false teachers and will come to their due end<\/p>\n The practical outworking of this was found in those days among the Nicolaitans and similar groups who are mentioned in Rev 2:6<\/span>; Rev 2:14-15<\/span>; Rev 2:20<\/span>, where attendance at idolatrous feasts and engaging in loose sex on religious grounds was clearly practised, along with drunkenness.<\/p>\n 2Pe 2:2<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. <\/strong>And many shall follow their pernicious ways, <\/em><\/strong>&c.<\/strong> The absurd doctrines and wicked practices of professed Christians have done infinite harm, and often caused the enemies of religion to Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
I. <\/strong>An attraction.<\/p>\n
II. <\/strong>A detraction.<\/p>\nFuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible <\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett<\/b><\/i><\/h4>\n