2 Peter 2:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.

NIV: Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.

NASB: Many will follow their indecent behavior, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;

CSB: Many will follow their depraved ways, and the way of truth will be maligned because of them.

NLT: Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.

KJV: And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

NKJV: And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

In the previous verse, Peter revealed that false teachers will rise up from within the community of Christians. These deceivers will use deception in an attempt to convince believers to deny Jesus as Lord and Master.

One trait of these false teachers will be participation in immoral sexual conduct. This is something they will encourage Christians to join in, as well. Sadly, many in the church will follow their lead and do just that. In fact, Peter reveals that so many in the Christian church will join in these "depraved" or "sensual" practices that it will damage the reputation of the "way of truth." This is an all-too-familiar image of modern day cultures.

Many in the outside world, based on their experience of the Christians they know, will arrive at the conclusion that sexual immorality is normal for those who follow Jesus, harming the reputation of Christ Himself in the world.

For those of us in the church now, we have heard Peter warn us against two traits of false teachers. First is any teaching that would call into question Jesus' place as Lord. Second is any teaching from those who participate in sexual immorality, or suggest it is permissible for Christians to do so.

2 Peter 2:1–9 describes false teachers who greedily spread lies about Christ’s authority. They encourage Christians to indulge in sexual sin. They pursue erotic desires in the open, are experts in greed, despise authority, live in bold arrogance, and blaspheme things they don’t understand. Peter assures that these deceivers will be punished for the harm they’ve caused. This includes leading people away from Christ and back into the sinful practices from which they had begun to escape. God did not spare sinful angels, or the wicked of Noah’s day, or the people of Sodom and Gomorrah, and will not spare these false teachers, either.

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.