2 Peter 2

2 Peter 2:1

BƲt there were false prophets also] Not true onely, is chap. 1. 21. but some false teachers also.

among the people] The people of God.

false teachers among you] Acts 20:29-30. Jude v. 4. 1 John 2:18-19. Among you Christians.

who pivily shall bring in] Gr. who shall bring in besides. That is, besides mens expectation, or, 〈◊〉 the truth taught by godly teachers, and by themselves in part also, to countenance their errours.

damnable heresies] Gr. heresies of destruction. Wicked opinions, that ruine mens souls; or, dangerous srsins, that will rent the Church, and bring destruction on it, if it be not prevented, 1 Corinthians 11:18-19.

denying] By totall apostacie, or evil life, unbeseeming the servants of Christ, Titus 1:16. See more on Jude v. 4.

the Lord that bought them] That gave a price sufficient for them, even his own precious Blood, Acts 20:28. 1 Corinthians 6:20. 1 Peter 1:18-19. Or, by whom they professed that they were redeemed: and therefore they should not have denied him.

bring upon themselves swift destruction] They do so offend God by their sins, that they cannot be long out of hell, and perhaps suddenly taken away by some grea judgement.

2 Peter 2:2

pernicious ways] Or, 〈◊〉 us ways, as some copies reade. See Jude v. 4. Gr. their destructions: that is, their doctrines, that bring destruction, as v. 1.

the way of truth] The true Christian religion revealed from heaven, which shews the way to true happinesse.

shall be evil spoken of] Romans 2:24. 1 Timothy 6:1.

2 Peter 2:3

through vetousnesse] See v. 15.

with feigned wor] See on chap. 1. 16.

make merchandise of you] See on Revelation 18:13.

whose judgement now of a long time ligeth nt] See on v. 1.

their damnation slmbreth not] See on Jude v. 4.

2 Peter 2:4

For if God spad not the angels, &c.] Look on Jude v. 6.

2 Peter 2:5

And spared not the old world] The world before the stood, or the ungodly men in it, as followeth in this verse.

Noah the eighth person] Of them that were saved from the deluge: for, besides himself, his wife, his sons and their wives, escaped, Genesis 7:13. 1 Peter 3:20.

a preacher of righteousnesse] A publisher of Gods just purpose to destroy the old world, and a perswader of them to repent and live righteously, that they might prevent so great a judgement, 1 Peter 3:19. or, a preacher of salvation to them, to be had by the righteousnesse of the Messias to come, 1 Pet. 4 6.

upon the world of the ungodly] The multitude of the ungodly then in the world. So a world of wickednesse is store of it, James 3:6.

2 Peter 2:6

the cities of Sodom, &c.] See on Jude v. 7.

into ashes] By fire from heaven, Genesis 19:24-25; Genesis 19:29.

condemned them with an everthrow] Shewed, by destroying them so strangely from heaven, that he had passed sentence on them for their wickednesse, Gen. 18. 20, 21. and 19. 28.

an ensample] For those cities remain to this day buried in the dead sea, for terrour to others.

2 Peter 2:7

And delivered] So God sometimes is pleased to shew mercy to his, when he destroys others: as to Noah, v. 5.

just Lot] Not that he had no sin in him, but because he endeavoured to keep all Gods commandments, Luke 1:6.

vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked] So Gods servants use to mourn for other mens sins, who mourn not for their own; Psal. 119. 136, 158.

2 Peter 2:8

in seeing and hearing] Lot dwelling among the wicked Sodomites, could not but daily see such filthy actions, and hear such unclean speeches, as vexed him to the very heart; because he loved God, whose Name was dishonoured grievously, and law broken grosly by them.

2 Peter 2:9

the Lord knoweth] If God have done all mentioned before, v. 4, &c. then it appears that he knows how to deliver good men, and punish bad ones, and will certainly do it.

out of temptations] Out of afflictions, which do but try Gods people, though they destroy others, v. 5, 6, 7. Genesis 22:6. 1 Corinthians 10:13. Hebrews 4:15. James 1:2. 1 Peter 1:6. Revelation 3:10.

to reserve the unjust] Verse 4. Jude v. 6.

2 Peter 2:10

But chiefly them] As being the greatest sinners, and misleaders of others.

that walk after the flesh] After the motions and lusts of their own corrupt nature, Romans 8:1; Romans 8:4; Romans 8:12-13. but here more specially the flesh seems to imply such motions and lusts as tend to uncleannesse of life; as 1 John 2:16. See further on Jude v. 7, 8, 18.

despise government] Or, dominion, Jude v. 8.

presumptuous are they] Or, O presumptuous persons! By way of admiration and exclamation.

to speak evil of dignities] Gr. of glories: That is, of princes, which shine most gloriously in the world. See Jude v. 8.

2 Peter 2:11

Whereas angels] See on Jude v. 9.

railing accusation] Gr. blasphemous judgement.

against them] Some read, against themselves: To wit, the good angels against the bad.

2 Peter 2:12

But these, &c.] Look on Jude v. 10.

made to be taken] Appointed for a prey, and to destruction, Romans 9:22. Alluding to such beasts as are kept, not for sight or delight, but to be hunted and destroyed.

in their own corruption] Which they have brought on themselves, or which naturally befalls them for their sinfull courses, Galatians 6:8. Or, which God hath appointed for them, Jude verse 4.

2 Peter 2:13

to riot in the day-time] Contrary to the course of many ungodly men, who dare not shew their sins in the light, John 3:20. Eph. 5. 11, 12. 1 Thess. 5. 7. and to the profession of the Gospel, Romans 13:13.

spots they are] Men grievously spotted and blemished. See further on Jude v. 12.

2 Peter 2:14

Having eyes full of adultery] Gr. of an adulteresse, Matthew 5:28. They were not given to riot and excesse onely, but to a laseivious and loose course of uncleannesse also. The eyes are mentioned, because they let in adulterous thoughts to the soul, Gen. 34. 1, 2. 2 Samuel 11:2. 4. And they are said to be full of the adulteresse, as if they cared not to look on any other object.

unstable] Not well grounded, and therefore easie to be seduced, chap. 16. 17. Ephesians 4:14. Hebrews 13:9.

with covetous practices] Vers. 3. 15. Jude v. 11.

cursed children] Gr. children of the curse, Ephesians 2:2-3. 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

2 Peter 2:15

the way of Balaam] See on Jude v. 11.

Bosor] Called Beor, Numbers 22:5. and, by some small change of the Hebrew letters, Bosor here.

who loved the wages of unrighteousnesse] Numbers 22:7; Numbers 22:13; Numbers 22:37. for he would have cursed the Israelites for those rewards, if God had not withheld him.

2 Peter 2:16

the madnesse] His hot desire to go against the will of God for gain.

of the prophet] He is called, a foothsayer, Joshua 13:22. Numbers 23:23. Such did sometimes, by ghesse, hit upon things to come. Or, he is called a prophet, because sometimes he had revelations from the true God, Numbers 23:24.

2 Peter 2:17

without water, &c.] See on Jude v. 12.

the mist of darknesse, &c.] See on Jude v. 13.

2 Peter 2:18

great swelling words] Look on Jude v. 16.

allure] With fair promises, as men lay baits for fishes.

those that were clean escaped] Gr. indeed escaped. They sought to seduce true Christians, but could not, Matthew 24:24. Or, a little escaped. Such as professed the true religion, having left idolatry, and lived without scandall. Or, a while escaped. Seemed to have done so, by embracing the true religion for a time; but soon after shewed they had not done it, by returning to courses contrary thereunto, 1 John 2:18-19.

2 Peter 2:19

they promise them liberty] Under pretence of liberty, they draw them to licentiousnesse and loosenesse of life, 1 Pet. 2. 16. Jude v. 4.

the servants of corruption] Chap. 1. 4. Romans 6:18-19.

is he brought in bondage] For prisoners were ever the conquerours slaves.

2 Peter 2:20

after they have escaped] Gr. fled from, as v. 18. Chap. 1. 4.

the pollutions of the world] Such sinfull courses as worldly men are wont to defile themselves withall, James 1:27.

knowledge] Gr. acknowledgement. Not knowing him onely, but professing him also. See John 12:42.

the later end is worse with them then the beginning] Matthew 12:45. because they sin out of knowledge now, and against former acknowledgement, who sinned out of ignorance before, Luke 12:47-48. James 4:17.

2 Peter 2:21

it had been better for them] That is, lesse evil. They had sinned lesse, and should have been punished lesse. For, neither the state of ignorant ones or backsliders is good; but the former is lesse dangerous then the later.

the way of righteousnesse] Vers. 2. 15.

from the holy commandment] Chap. 3. 2. Given by an holy God, and requiring holinesse in us.

2 Peter 2:22

proverb] See on Proverbs 1:1.

The dog is turned, &c.] Proverbs 26:11. They are as abominable in Gods sight, as such creatures here mentioned are offensive to mans sight. The words seem to have been the verses of some ancient poet, that were grown usuall in common speech in those times.