2 Peter 2:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

NIV: They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity--for 'people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.'

NASB: promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved.

CSB: They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.

NLT: They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

KJV: While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

NKJV: While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

The world typically claims that "freedom" means doing whatever you want, whenever you want, and however you want. The false teachers in the early church promised this kind of freedom. For them, this meant guilt-free indulgence in every kind of sexual sin. This, they claimed, came with no risk of God's judgment. As Peter has made clear, the promise was a lie. It's not just wrong because these teachers are wrong about Jesus. It's also wrong by the practical evidence of their own lives.

They promise a freedom they don't have. Instead of being free to indulge in their sexual passions, they simply cannot do anything else. They are, in fact, slaves, mastered by their own sinful desires. This is one of the most poorly understood, but powerful truths about sin. What Satan tells you is an expression of freedom is actually the very thing which enslaves you.

Peter recites what may have been a proverb of the day: "For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved." This can be positive or negative. Those "overcome" with addictions and sins are certainly controlled by those. On the other hand, Peter began this letter by referring to himself as a slave—or bond servant—of Jesus Christ. One of the promises of life in Christ, life under the master Jesus, is true freedom, even from the harsh demands of our sinful selves.

What is true freedom? It is the ability to say no to ourselves, to leave the path of destruction, and to say yes to Christ and find true joy, meaning, and abundant life (John 10:10).

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.