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2 Peter 2

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But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

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

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And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

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For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

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And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

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And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

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And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

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(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)

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The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

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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.

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Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

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But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

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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;

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Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

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Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

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But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

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These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

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For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

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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.

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For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

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For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

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But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

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2 Peter 2:15

“Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”

Study Summary

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing — Balaam's sin serves as historical precedent for false teachers who distort truth for profit. The way of Balaam (hodós Balaám) became proverbial for using spiritual authority for financial gain (cf. Numbers 22-24, Jude 11). The loved gain (misthos adikias) directly parallels the false teachers' exploitation.

Community Reflections

1
Omar Hassan (Test User)1d ago
The cost of discipleship — 2 Peter 2

His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this passage. Faith isn't the absence of doubt — it's choosing to believe despite it.. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting.. The promise here is not conditional on our strength but on His character.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrative arc becomes clear: God is always working redemption, even in the darkest moments.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in…

Read the note →
1
Omar Hassan (Test User)1d ago
The shepherd and the sheep — 2 Peter 2

We bring nothing; He provides everything.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I love how this passage doesn't shy away from the difficulty of obedience. God is faithful in every circumstance.. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. God is faithful in every circumstance.. There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. The imagery here is…

Read the note →

2 Peter 2:15

“Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;”

Study Summary

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing — Balaam's sin serves as historical precedent for false teachers who distort truth for profit. The way of Balaam (hodós Balaám) became proverbial for using spiritual authority for financial gain (cf. Numbers 22-24, Jude 11). The loved gain (misthos adikias) directly parallels the false teachers' exploitation.

Community Reflections

1
Omar Hassan (Test User)1d ago
The cost of discipleship — 2 Peter 2

His timing, His methods, His purposes — all beyond our comprehension, yet perfectly good.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. The contrast between human weakness and divine strength is so vivid in this passage. Faith isn't the absence of doubt — it's choosing to believe despite it.. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. God is faithful in every circumstance.. The imagery here is agricultural — the original audience would have immediately understood the metaphor of sowing, waiting, and harvesting.. The promise here is not conditional on our strength but on His character.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrative arc becomes clear: God is always working redemption, even in the darkest moments.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in…

Read the note →
1
Omar Hassan (Test User)1d ago
The shepherd and the sheep — 2 Peter 2

We bring nothing; He provides everything.. I think this is a call to trust beyond what we can see. God is faithful in every circumstance.. Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. It implies covenant loyalty, steadfast love that never wavers.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. This is one of those passages that reads differently in every season of life. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I love how this passage doesn't shy away from the difficulty of obedience. God is faithful in every circumstance.. My grandmother used to quote this verse every morning. God is faithful in every circumstance.. There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, and forever.. The imagery here is…

Read the note →

2 Peter 2:15

Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing — Balaam's sin serves as historical precedent for false teachers who distort truth for profit. The way of Balaam (hodós Balaám) became proverbial for using spiritual authority for financial gain (cf. Numbers 22-24, Jude 11). The loved gain (misthos adikias) directly parallels the false teachers' exploitation.