What does 2 Peter 2:5 mean?
After revealing that God will bring judgment—condemnation and destruction—upon the false teachers in the church, Peter offers a list of historical examples to show that God does indeed judge those who rebel against Him.The previous verse mentioned rebellious angels condemned to darkness and awaiting their judgment. Now Peter points to the great flood of Noah. In this fierce act of judgment, God destroyed every person in the entire ancient world, aside from Noah and his family (Genesis 6:1–8).
Why would God do such a thing? In addition to possessing great mercy and love, our God is a righteous judge. Genesis 6:5 says the world was in a catastrophic state of evil prior to the flood: "The LORD saw that wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
" But our God also saves. Noah is described as a preacher of righteousness. Instead of being done with humanity completely, God spared Noah and began again. It's important to note that, as he also did in 1 Peter 3:20, Peter affirms the flood of Noah as a historical event. Jesus, too, referenced Noah's flood. In fact, Jesus said that the world would be as it was in Noah's day when He returned (Matthew 24:36–44). Peter will also describe that day before the end of this letter.