Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” New Living Translation They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you. English Standard Version They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. Berean Standard Bible They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. Berean Literal Bible promising them freedom, themselves being slaves of corruption. For by what anyone has been subdued, by that also he is enslaved. King James Bible 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. New King James Version 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. New American Standard Bible promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved. NASB 1995 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. NASB 1977 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. Legacy Standard Bible promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. Amplified Bible They promise them liberty, when they themselves are the slaves of depravity—for by whatever anyone is defeated and overcome, to that [person, thing, philosophy, or concept] he is continually enslaved. Christian Standard Bible They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them. Holman Christian Standard Bible They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them. American Standard Version promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage. Contemporary English Version They promise freedom to everyone. But they are merely slaves of filthy living, because people are slaves of whatever controls them. English Revised Version promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage. GOD'S WORD® Translation They promise these people freedom, but they themselves are slaves to corruption. A person is a slave to whatever he gives in to. Good News Translation They promise them freedom while they themselves are slaves of destructive habits--for we are slaves of anything that has conquered us. International Standard Version Promising them freedom, they themselves are slaves to depravity, for a person is a slave to whatever conquers him. Majority Standard Bible They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. NET Bible Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved. New Heart English Bible promising them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him. Webster's Bible Translation While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for by whom a man is overcome, by the same is he brought into bondage. Weymouth New Testament And they promise them freedom, although they are themselves the slaves of what is corrupt. For a man is the slave of any one by whom he has been worsted in fight. World English Bible promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionpromising liberty to them, themselves being servants of corruption, for by whom anyone has been overcome, he has been brought to servitude to this one also; Berean Literal Bible promising them freedom, themselves being slaves of corruption. For by what anyone has been subdued, by that also he is enslaved. Young's Literal Translation liberty to them promising, themselves being servants of the corruption, for by whom any one hath been overcome, to this one also he hath been brought to servitude, Smith's Literal Translation Promising them liberty, they being servants of corruption: for by whom any is conquered, by him has he been made to serve. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BiblePromising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the slaves of corruption. For by whom a man is overcome, of the same also he is the slave. Catholic Public Domain Version promising them freedoms, while they themselves are the servants of corruption. For by whatever a man is overcome, of this also is he the servant. New American Bible They promise them freedom, though they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is a slave of whatever overcomes him. New Revised Standard Version They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleThey, while they promise liberty, themselves are the slaves of corruption: for a man is overcome by whatever it is that enslaves him. Aramaic Bible in Plain English They promise liberty to them when they are servants of corruption; that by which anyone is conquered, to the same he is also a slave. NT Translations Anderson New TestamentWhile they promise them freedom, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for by whatever any man is overcome, he is also enslaved. Godbey New Testament promising them liberty, they themselves being the slaves of corruption: for to whatsoever any one has been subordinated, to this he has become enslaved. Haweis New Testament Preaching liberty to them, while they themselves are the slaves of corruption: for by whatever a man is overcome, by that also he is enslaved. Mace New Testament whilst they promise others liberty, they themselves are slaves to their corrupt passions, for he that is vanquished, is a slave to the conqueror. Weymouth New Testament And they promise them freedom, although they are themselves the slaves of what is corrupt. For a man is the slave of any one by whom he has been worsted in fight. Worrell New Testament promising them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what one is overcome by this he has become enslaved. Worsley New Testament promising them liberty, while they themselves are the slaves of corruption: for by whom any one is vanquished, by him he is also enslaved. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Deliverance from False Prophets…18With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error. 19They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first.… Cross References John 8:34 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Romans 6:16 Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery. Romans 6:20 For when you were slaves to sin, you were free of obligation to righteousness. 1 Corinthians 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything. Romans 6:18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life. Galatians 4:3 So also, when we were children, we were enslaved under the basic principles of the world. Galatians 4:9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you are turning back to those weak and worthless principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 2 Timothy 2:26 Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will. James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed. / Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Jude 1:13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. Proverbs 5:22 The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him. Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly. Isaiah 28:15 For you said, “We have made a covenant with death; we have fashioned an agreement with Sheol. When the overwhelming scourge passes through it will not touch us, because we have made lies our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.” Treasury of Scripture 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. they promise. Galatians 5:1,13 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage… 1 Peter 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. they themselves. John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. Romans 6:12-14,16-22 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof… Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. overcome. 2 Peter 2:20 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. Isaiah 28:1 Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine! Jeremiah 23:9 Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the LORD, and because of the words of his holiness. Jump to Previous Although Bondage Bondservants Corrupt Corruption Depravity Destruction Enslaved Fight Free Freedom Gets Liberty Makes Overcome Overcomes Promise Promising Servant Servants Slave Slavery Slaves Subdued Themselves WhateverJump to Next Although Bondage Bondservants Corrupt Corruption Depravity Destruction Enslaved Fight Free Freedom Gets Liberty Makes Overcome Overcomes Promise Promising Servant Servants Slave Slavery Slaves Subdued Themselves Whatever2 Peter 2 1. Peter warns of false teachers, showing the impiety and punishment both of them and their followers;7. from which the godly shall be delivered, as Lot was out of Sodom; 10. and more fully describes the manners of those profane and blasphemous seducers. They promise them freedom This phrase highlights the deceptive nature of false teachers who offer a false sense of liberty. The Greek word for "promise" (ἐπαγγέλλονται, epangellontai) suggests a proclamation or assurance, often with a sense of authority. Historically, false teachers in the early church claimed to offer spiritual freedom, yet their promises were empty. This mirrors the serpent's promise to Eve in Genesis, where the promise of enlightenment led to bondage. The concept of "freedom" here is ironic, as true freedom in Christ is contrasted with the false freedom offered by those who are themselves enslaved. while they themselves are slaves to corruption For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him Servants of corruption.--Better, bond-servants, or slaves of corruption. Our translators have often done well in translating the Greek word for "slave" by "servant" (see Note on 2Peter 1:1), but here the full force of the ignominious term should be given. Tyndale, Cranmer, and Geneva have "bond-servants;" Rheims "slaves." (Comp. "bondage of corruption," Romans 8:21.) Brought in bondage.--Or, enslaved. We seem here to have an echo of John 8:34 (see Notes there): "Every one who continues to commit sin is the slave of sin," words which St. Peter may have heard. Comp. Romans 6:16-20, which the writer may also have had in his mind. There is nothing improbable in St. Peter being well acquainted with the Epistle to the Romans during the last years of his life; the improbability would rather be in supposing that he did not know it. Verse 19. - While they promise them liberty; literally, promising. The words cohere closely with the preceding clause. Liberty was the subject of their great swelling words of vanity; they talked loudly, made a great boast, about liberty. Perhaps they were wresting to their own destruction (comp. 2 Peter 3:15, 16) the teaching of St. Paul concerning Christian liberty. St. Paul had spoken of the liberty of the glory of the children of God (Romans 8:21); he had again and again asserted the liberty of Christians in things indifferent (see 2 Corinthians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 8:9; 1 Corinthians 10:23, etc.). But he had insisted on the paramount duty of giving no offence (1 Corinthians 8:13, etc.), and had earnestly cautioned his converts to "use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh." There were false teachers who maintained that the true Gnostic was free from moral restraints, in fact, that liberty meant libertinism, liberty to sin (comp. 1 Peter 2:16). They themselves are the servants of corruption. The construction is still participial, "being" (ὑπάρχοντες) being from the beginning servants of corruption. Those who talked about liberty were themselves all the time the bondservants, the slaves, of corruption. The word rendered "corruption" (φθορά) includes the sense of" destruction," as in verse 12 and 2 Peter 1:4 (comp. Romans 8:21). For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. "Of whom," or "by whatever;" by Satan, the personal tempter, or by sin, the innate tendency; the Greek word will bear either meaning. Some good manuscripts add "also," which strengthens the assertion; "is he also brought in bondage." St. Peter's teaching corresponds exactly with that of St. Paul in Romans 6:16. There is a very close parallel to this clause in the 'Clementine Recognitions' (5:12; quoted by Dr. Salmon, in his 'Historical Introduction to the Books of the New Testament'): "unusquisque illius fit servus cui se ipse subjecerit."Parallel Commentaries ... Greek They promiseἐπαγγελλόμενοι (epangellomenoi) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 1861: From epi and the base of aggelos; to announce upon, i.e. to engage to do something, to assert something respecting oneself. them αὐτοῖς (autois) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. freedom, ἐλευθερίαν (eleutherian) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Strong's 1657: Freedom, liberty, especially: a state of freedom from slavery. From eleutheros; freedom. while they themselves αὐτοὶ (autoi) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. are ὑπάρχοντες (hyparchontes) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 5225: To begin, am, exist, be in possession. From hupo and archomai; to begin under, i.e. Come into existence; expletively, to exist (verb). slaves δοῦλοι (douloi) Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural Strong's 1401: (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave. to corruption. φθορᾶς (phthoras) Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Strong's 5356: Corruption, destruction, decay, rottenness, decomposition. From phtheiro; decay, i.e. Ruin. For γάρ (gar) Conjunction Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason. a man is a slave δεδούλωται (dedoulōtai) Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 1402: To enslave. From doulos; to enslave. to whatever ᾧ (hō) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Masculine Singular Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that. has overcome him. ἥττηται (hēttētai) Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2274: From the same as hetton; to make worse, i.e. Vanquish; by implication, to rate lower. Links 2 Peter 2:19 NIV2 Peter 2:19 NLT 2 Peter 2:19 ESV 2 Peter 2:19 NASB 2 Peter 2:19 KJV 2 Peter 2:19 BibleApps.com 2 Peter 2:19 Biblia Paralela 2 Peter 2:19 Chinese Bible 2 Peter 2:19 French Bible 2 Peter 2:19 Catholic Bible NT Letters: 2 Peter 2:19 Promising them liberty while they themselves (2 Pet. 2P iiP ii Pet) |