2 Peter 2:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.

NIV: They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.

NASB: suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. They count it a pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions as they feast with you,

CSB: They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. They are spots and blemishes, delighting in their deceptions while they feast with you.

NLT: Their destruction is their reward for the harm they have done. They love to indulge in evil pleasures in broad daylight. They are a disgrace and a stain among you. They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals.

KJV: And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

NKJV: and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,

Peter continues describing the sins and impending judgment of false teachers. These men have been attempting to lead the original readers of this letter away from the truth of the gospel of Jesus. In this verse, Peter writes to assure his readers that the false teachers will not get away with what they're doing. As much as they seem to be succeeding in the present moment, they will suffer wrong as the payment for the wrong they are doing. God is paying attention; judgment and destruction will follow.

One of the characteristics of these false teachers was an indulgence in sexual immorality. Peter now writes that they are so bold about their sin that they carouse or revel in their immorality in broad daylight. They lack even the shame to hide their sinful choices under the dark of night. In a more modern sense, this is the "loud and proud" attitude. Those who take this approach do not hide their sin, and are not subtle about it. Instead, they parade it for others to see.

Peter reveals that these false teachers are disfiguring the church. This is in the same way a stain or blemish might mar a shirt, for instance. They feast with the true believers while continuing to tell their lies about who Jesus is. This feasting Peter mentions may refer to immoral partying that people in the church were being lured into by these false teachers. Or it may be that the false teachers were attending the official gatherings of the early church, which included taking part in the Lord's Supper, creating a serious "stain" on that meaningful time before God.

This relates to an important point about church purity. Paul makes the point in Ephesians 5:3 that certain kinds of immorality should not be tolerated within the community of the church. It can be difficult to strike a balance between loving sinners, and not accepting sin. However, it is important for the church to stand for moral conduct. At some point, associating with an unrepentant sinner damages the reputation of the church, interfering with the spread of the gospel.

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.