2nd Peter Chapter 2 verse 10 Holy Bible

Pulpit Commentary

Pulpit CommentaryVerse 10. - But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness; literally, in the lust of pollution. The word occurs nowhere else in the New Testament, but the corresponding verb is found in several places (Titus 1:15; Hebrews 12:15; Jude 1:8). We observe that in this verse St. Peter passes from the future tense to the present. And despise government; rather, lordship (κυριότητος). St. Jude has the same word in verse 8. In Ephesians 1:21 and Colossians 1:16 it is used of angelic dignities. Here it seems to stand for all forms of authority. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities; literally, daring, self-willed, they tremble not when speaking evil of glories; or, they fear not glories, blaspheming. The word rendered "daring" (τολμηταί) occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. These daring, self-willed men despise all lordship, all glories, whether the glory of Christ ("the excellent glory," 2 Peter 1:17), or the glory of the angels, or the glory of holiness, or the glory of earthly sovereignty. The next verse, however, makes it probable that the glory of the angels was the thought present to St. Peter's mind. It may be that, as some false teachers had inculcated the worship of angels (Colossians 2:18), others had gone to the opposite extreme (comp. Jude 1:8). The Vulgate strangely translates δόξας by sectas.

Ellicott's Commentary

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(10) Them that walk after the flesh.--Less definite than Jude 1:7. Here there is nothing about going away or astray, nor about the flesh being "other" than is allowed. This is natural; Jude's remark applying to the inhabitants of the cities of the plain in particular, this to sensual persons generally.In the lust of uncleanness.--Better, in the lust of pollution--i.e., the lust that causes pollution. The exact word occurs nowhere else; the same word, all but the termination, occurs in 2Peter 2:20, and nowhere else.Despise government.--(Comp. "despise dominion," Jude 1:8.) Our version is minutely perverse. The word translated "government" here and "dominion" in Jude is one and the same in the Greek: whereas the words translated in both places "despise" are different.Presumptuous are they.--A fresh verse should begin here; the construction is entirely changed, and a fresh start made. From "the unjust" to "government" the reference is to ungodly and sensual people in general; here we return to the false teachers in particular. Audacious would be more literal than "presumptuous." The word is found here only. On the change to the present tense, see Introduction, I., c, .Speak evil of dignities.--The exact meaning of "dignities," or "glories," is not clear, either here or in Jude 1:8. The context in both places seems to show that spiritual powers alone are intended, and that earthly powers, whether civil or ecclesiastical, are not included, much less exclusively indicated. The construction here resembles that in 2Peter 1:19 : "Do not tremble in (or, while) speaking evil of dignities," like "ye do well in taking heed." These men deny the existence of, or irreverently speak slightingly of, those spiritual agencies by means of which God conducts the government of the world. . . .