2 Peter 2:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones,

NIV: This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings;

NASB: and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt passion, and despise authority. Reckless, self-centered, they speak abusively of angelic majesties without trembling,

CSB: especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold, arrogant people! They are not afraid to slander the glorious ones;

NLT: He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority. These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings without so much as trembling.

KJV: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

NKJV: and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

In prior verses, Peter wrote that the Lord knows how to keep the unrighteous for punishment until the coming day of God's judgment. Here, he adds that this is especially true for those guilty of two things. One is indulging in sexual sin and despising—living in contempt of—authority. As this passage continues, it will become clear that Peter is specifically referring to the false teachers among the Christians in the church. He is comparing them to the sinful men of Sodom and Gomorrah (2 Peter 2:6–8).

The specific sexual sins these false teachers did, and urged others to do, may have differed from the men of Sodom. Both, however, were guilty of unrestrained sexual expression. They were living in defiance of God's commands and His instructions on the right way to live. Peter calls them bold and daring, arrogant and willful, unafraid of the consequences of what they were doing and teaching.

Apparently, these false teachings also included some condemnation of spiritual powers. Peter uses the Greek noun doxas, which the NIV renders as "celestial beings," the ESV as "glorious ones," and the NASB as "angelic majesties." We don't know the specifics, but what Peter will condemn in the following verses is the irreverent and clueless arrogance with which these men delivered their false message.

God would not allow that to go unpunished.

2 Peter 2:10–22 further describes the sins of the false teachers spreading deception in the early church. Prior verses explained how God judged evil in the past, while saving those who were faithful. This passage describes those who reject Christ in favor of the world as ''enslaved'' by their own sins. No matter what they may claim, such persons prove their spiritual condition by constantly returning to their moral filth.

False teachers had entered the early community of Christians. These deceivers lied to the believers, challenging the authority of Jesus. They also invited others to indulge in their sexual sin. Sadly, there are still versions of these false teachers plaguing the modern Christian community. Peter harshly describes the sins of these ''cursed children,'' the eternal judgment waiting for them, and the tragic impact their deception is having on those enticed by them.

In chapter 1, Peter urged his Christian readers not to be unproductive in their knowledge of Jesus. Peter now describes the false teachers in the church who were leading people away from a true understanding of Christ. These deceivers were lying to the believers and encouraging them to indulge in sexual sin. Peter promises that God’s judgment is coming on these ''cursed children'' and details the tragic impact their lies have on anyone who believes them.

Apparently written shortly before his death in the AD 60s, 2 Peter may have been written to the same audience as 1 Peter, which was Christians scattered by persecution. Peter writes this letter to encourage Christians to live out the purpose of their lives in Christ. He warns readers to beware of teachers who claim to be believers, but present a false version of Christianity. And, Peter calls on all Christians to eagerly watch and wait for the return of the Lord.