2 Peter 2

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In verse 10 we see a warning about despising government. The Greek word kuriotes does not actually mean "government" but "dominion".^[1]
Man was granted dominion by God in Genesis 1:26. That dominion includes our God given rights to choose to act in a righteous fashion. But many men choose to to give up their natural rights and grant that God given dominion to other men in exchange for something like Esau in Genesis 25:34^[2] who sold his God given birth right for "bread and pottage of lentiles" because he "despised" it.
God Hates this disregard for the rights and responsibilities He bestows on man. This is also the error of Balaam and the deeds of the Nicolaitan.
We cannot be seeking righteousness and given other men the power to choose for us what is good and evil. This is what man does when the Voice of the people reject God and elect rulers like Israel did in 1 Samuel 8 gives power to men in government.
To "grant dominion to other men" who call themselves Benefactors but who exercise authority one over another is the opposite of what Christ told us. To use any government to take from your neighbor to obtain benefits, social security or welfare is the essence of Covetous Practices which is the theme of this chapter.
While you may have to pay tribute you do not have to seek the Wages of unrighteousness‎.
This entire chapter is about doing what is righteous and taking from your neighbor through the agency of government is not righteous. It is sitting at the table of rulers and an appetite for their dainties and benefits is not only idolatry but a "fellowship" and "communion" with unbelievers that will yoke^[3] you as merchandise and curse your children.
Polybius and John the Baptist warned us as wells Peter, Paul, James and John.
No one can seek or apply to these Fathers of the earth for their benefits and still be able to say they are practicing Pure Religion.
In verse 13 we see Peter say that there are "spots" from the Greek spilos^[4] Our care of the needy of society as Christians must be "unspotted" to be Pure Religion.
People want government to pass laws to make them ave and secure but Tacitus knew 2000 years ago that "The more laws, the more corrupt the state."
We should be attending to the weightier matters Christ rebuked the Pharisees for neglecting but not by the voice of the people electing more rulers.
We need to repent and seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness by coming together according to the perfect law of liberty in free assemblies desiring to serve rather than merely be served.

2:1 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^[5] that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

2:3 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. 4 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; 5 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; 6 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;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation^[6] of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

10 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. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 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;

13 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; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 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; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 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. 19 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. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions^[7] of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled ^[8]therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 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. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb^[9] The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Peter
1 Peter
1 Peter 1 | 1 Peter 2 | 1 Peter 3 | 1 Peter 4 | 1 Peter 5

2 Peter
2 Peter 1 | 2 Peter 2 | 2 Peter 3
See also Submit yourselves? 1_Peter_2:13

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Footnotes

↑
2963 ~κυριότης~ kuriotes \@koo-ree-ot’-ace\@ from 2962; TDNT-3:1096,486; {See TDNT 418} n f AV-dominion 3, government 1; 4
1) dominion, power, lordship

2) in the NT: one who possesses dominion
- See Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 1:16, 2 Peter 2:10, Jude 1:8
↑ Genesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised [his] birthright.
↑ 2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
↑
4696 ~σπίλος~ spilos \@spee’-los\@ of uncertain derivation; ; n m AV-defile 1, spot 1; 2
1) a spot

2) a fault, moral blemish
2a) of base and gluttonous men
- Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot <4696>, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
- 2 Peter 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots <4696> they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
↑ 1203 ~δεσπότης~ despotes \@des-pot’-ace\@ perhaps from 1210 and posis (a husband); n m AV-Lord 5, master 5; 10 1) a master, Lord
↑ 391 ~ἀναστροφή~ anastrophe \@an-as-trof-ay’\@ from 390; n f AV-conversation 13; 13 1) manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment
↑ 3393 ~μίασμα~ miasma \@mee’-as-mah\@ from 3392 ("miasma"); n n AV-pollution 1; 1 1) that which defiles, defilement 2) metaph., vices the foulness of which contaminates one in his intercourse with the ungodly mass of mankind
↑ Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the Elements of the World.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light."
↑ Proverbs 26:11 ¶ As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.

[1] 2963 ~κυριότης~ kuriotes \@koo-ree-ot’-ace\@ from 2962; TDNT-3:1096,486; {See TDNT 418} n f AV-dominion 3, government 1; 4
1) dominion, power, lordship

2) in the NT: one who possesses dominion

See Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 1:16, 2 Peter 2:10, Jude 1:8

[2] See Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 1:16, 2 Peter 2:10, Jude 1:8

[2] Genesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised [his] birthright.

[3] 2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

[4] 4696 ~σπίλος~ spilos \@spee’-los\@ of uncertain derivation; ; n m AV-defile 1, spot 1; 2
1) a spot

2) a fault, moral blemish
2a) of base and gluttonous men

Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot <4696>, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

2 Peter 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots <4696> they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

[6] Ephesians 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot <4696>, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

[7] 2 Peter 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots <4696> they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

[5] 1203 ~δεσπότης~ despotes \@des-pot’-ace\@ perhaps from 1210 and posis (a husband); n m AV-Lord 5, master 5; 10 1) a master, Lord

[6] 391 ~ἀναστροφή~ anastrophe \@an-as-trof-ay’\@ from 390; n f AV-conversation 13; 13 1) manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment

[7] 3393 ~μίασμα~ miasma \@mee’-as-mah\@ from 3392 ("miasma"); n n AV-pollution 1; 1 1) that which defiles, defilement 2) metaph., vices the foulness of which contaminates one in his intercourse with the ungodly mass of mankind

[8] Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the Elements of the World.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light."

[9] Proverbs 26:11 ¶ As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.

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2 Peter 2

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