1The apostle foretelleth the appearance of false teachers, the impiety of them and their followers, and the judgments that would overtake them. 7The godly shall be delivered, as Lot was out of Sodom. 10The wicked principles and manners of these seducers described. 20The mischief of relapsing into sin.
1BUT 1there were falsea prophets also among 2the people, evenb as there shall be false teachers 3among you, who 4privily 5shall bring in 6damnable 7heresies, even 8denying 9the Lord 10that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
1 That is, even as there were true prophets among God’s people, to whose writings we must hold, 2 Peter 1:19, so there were false (ones) also, whom we must shun, Deut. 13:1.
a Deut. 13:1.
2 Namely, of God, or the people of the Jews.
b Mat. 24:11; Acts 20:29; 1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1.
3 Namely, Christians. So that the state of the congregation in this respect shall not be happier in the New Testament, than it was in the Old.
4 Or, from beside, or, moreover; namely, besides and contrary to the sound doctrine.
5 Namely, into the congregation or amongst Christians.
6 Gr. heresies of destruction. Hebraism.
7 Of this word see the annotation at Acts 5 on verse 17. It appears from what follows that he here speaks of heresies which concern not only the faith but also the doctrine of a christian life.
8 Namely, by the deed, and by their false doctrine and evil life, although they might profess Him with the mouth. See Titus 1:16; Jude verse 4.
9 Gr. despoten; of which word see Acts 4:24; Jude verse 4.
10 These here are said to be bought by the Lord, in regard that they give themselves out for such, and were according to charity so accounted by others as long as they were in the communion of the church. See the like phrase, John 15:2; Rev. 22:19. For, Christ has truly and really bought only His congregation by His blood, Acts 20:28; Eph. 5:25, that is, only true believers, who always remain with Christ and deny Him not. See 1 John 2:19; Rev. 14:3, 4.
2And many shall follow 11their pernicious ways; by reason of whom 12the way of truth 13shall be evil spoken of.
11 Gr. apoleiais, that is, their destructive doctrines and deceptions. Others read, aselgeiais, that is, their lasciviousness or wantonness.
12 That is, the true christian doctrine and religion, which shows the way to eternal salvation. See of this appellation, Acts 9:2; 19:9; 22:4.
13 Namely, by themselves, by speaking against and accusing the truth; as well as by others, who, from their evil doctrine and ungodly life, shall take occasion to reproach the christian religion.
3And 14through covetousness shall 15they with 16feigned words 17make merchandise of you: whosec18judgment now 19of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
14 Namely, being carried on, that is, for filthy lucre’s sake, Titus 1:11.
15 Namely, the false teachers.
16 That is, fictitious, sweet and flattering words, as Rom. 16:18.
17 Gr. merchandise you, that is, thereby, as it were, sell you to draw gain from you; seeking not your salvation but your goods. See Rev. 18:13.
c Jude verse 4.
18 That is, punishment, as 1 Cor. 11:29. Namely, temporal and eternal, as the following words declare.
19 That is, decreed against them for a great while ago, and shall certainly come upon them.
420For if God spared not thed angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them 21into chains of darkness, to be reserved 22unto judgment;
20 These five following verses are concluded at the ninth verse.
d Jude verse 6; Rev. 20:3.
21 Namely, as imprisoned criminals are kept with chains in dark prisons until they are drawn forth from them to be punished.
22 Namely, unto the last judgment; or, unto eternal punishment.
5And spared not 23the old world, but saved Noahe the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
23 That is, the people of the first world, before the flood. See Genesis 6; 7.
e Gen. 7:23; 1 Peter 3:19.
6And 24turning the cities off Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes 25condemned them with an overthrow, making them 26an ensampleg unto those that after 27should live ungodly;
24 That is, with a total destruction both of people and of cities.
f Gen. 19:24; Deut. 29:23; Isa. 13:19; Jer. 50:40; Ezek. 16:49; Hosea 11:8; Amos 4:11; Jude verse 7.
25 That is, punished, or damned.
26 Namely, of His righteous wrath and punishment upon ungodliness.
g example
27 Namely, in future times, as they have lived; that the like punishment shall come upon them also.
7And delivered 28just Lot, 29vexedh with 30the filthy conversationi31of the wicked:
28 That is, upright and godly Lot.
29 Or, oppressed, weary.
h Gen. 19:7, 8.
30 Gr. the conduct in licentiousness.
i walk or behavior*
31 The Greek word signifies men who care neither for right nor reason, and live according to no laws.
8(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, 32vexedjhis righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
32 Gr. tormented by the sight and hearing in unrighteous works.
j Psalm 119:158.
9The Lord knoweth 33howk to deliver the godly out of 34temptations, and to reserve 35the unjust unto the day 36of judgment 37to be punished:
33 That is, will and is able, as He has also shown oftentimes.
k 1 Cor. 10:13.
34 That is, afflictions, whereby they are tempted and tried by God. See James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:6.
35 Namely, who are and remain as such without turning from their unrighteousness. See Ezek. 18:21.
36 That is, of the last judgment, in which they shall be given up to be punished eternally both in soul and body.
37 Or, being punished, namely, now already according to the soul.
10But 38chiefly them that walk 39after the flesh 40in the lust of uncleanness, and despise 41government. Presumptuous are they, 42selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of 43dignities.
38 That is, principally, or, most grievously.
39 Or, according to the flesh, that is, fleshly impurities.
40 Gr. in lust of defilement, pollution; whereby not only the soul, but also the body is defiled. See 1 Cor. 6:18.
41 That is, those who are in authority.
42 Or, self-conceited. See of this word, Titus 1:7.
43 That is, dominions, which are placed in glory amongst men.
11Whereas 44angels, which are 45greater in power and might, bring 46not railingl accusation against them before the Lord.
44 That is, the good angels, among whom Michael is brought forth for an example, Jude verse 9.
45 Namely, than any people are.
46 That is, what they have to say against them, who are in authority, not setting it forth with reviling words.
l abusive, reviling*
12Butm47these, as 48natural brute beasts, 49made 50to be taken and destroyed, speakn evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly 51perish in their own corruption;
m Jer. 12:3.
47 Namely, false teachers.
48 Gr. natural; that is, following the instinct and the lusts of their nature, to which are like the false teachers, because they also follow the lusts of their corrupt nature.
49 Gr. begotten, or, born; that is, as the unreasonable beasts have nothing else to expect but to be taken and killed by men, even so also these false teachers have nothing else to expect but to be punished by God with an eternal destruction; as is declared in what follows.
50 Gr. for capture and corruption.
n Jude verse 10.
51 That is, be lost; or, perish in their corruption.
13And shall receive 52the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it 53pleasure 54to riot in the day time. 55Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own 56deceivings 57while they feast with you;
52 Namely, eternal death and damnation, which the unrighteousness deserves according to God’s just judgment; as on the contrary, eternal life is called a crown of righteousness, which is given of grace, 2 Tim. 4:8.
53 That is, living daintily, feasting and making good cheer, as the rich miser did, Luke 16:19.
54 Or, to delight.
55 Namely, of the christian name, which they use, and defile by their evil life.
56 Gr. apatais, that is, deceitful delusions.
57 Or, when they make good cheer with you, that is, are invited to eat with you, or keep common feasts with you.
14Having eyes 58full of adultery, and 59that cannot cease from sin; 60beguiling 61unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; 62cursed children:
58 That is, which clearly show forth their inclination to uncleanness, and which they cast upon other women to lust after them. See Mat. 5:28.
59 Gr. incessant from sin, that is, which continually, by unchaste beholding and desiring of other women, move the heart to adultery, and commit the same also with their heart.
60 Namely, with fair speaking, as with a bait.
61 Namely, in the truth or godliness.
62 That is, cursed people, as John 17:12; Eph. 2:2; Col. 3:6; 2 Thes. 2:3; 1 Peter 1:14.
15Which have forsaken 63the right way, and are gone astray, followingo64the way of Balaam the son of 65Bosor, who 66loved 67the wages of unrighteousness;
63 Namely, of salvation, or of godliness, which leads unto salvation.
o Num. 22:7, 21; Jude verse 11.
64 That is, his manner of doing. See 1 Cor. 4:17; Jude verse 11.
65 He is called Beor in Num. 22:5.
66 That is, to obtain that reward out of covetousness, contrary to God’s will and his own conscience.
67 That is, which Balak had promised him to do an unrighteous thing, namely, to curse the people of God.
16But was rebuked for his 68iniquity: 69thep dumb ass 70speaking with man's voice forbad the 71madness of the prophet.
68 Or, transgression.
69 That is, the she ass on which he rode.
p Num. 22:21.
70 Gr. giving sound.
71 Namely, of Balaam, who is called a prophet, as also Joshua 13:22, a foreteller or soothsayer, because he was accounted for such a one with the Moabites, as the prophets were accounted with the people of God, though he also, by the inspiration of God, prophesied the truth concerning the Messiah, Num. 24:17. See the like John 11:51.
17Theseq are 72wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; 73to whom 74the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
q Jude verse 12.
72 That is, seem indeed to be wells, but yield no water; by which similitude their seeming holiness and hypocrisy is described; as in their unsteadfastness, which follows.
73 Namely, false teachers.
74 That is, very thick darkness, which is also called utter darkness, Mat. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30, whereby is signified - hell.
18For when they speak 75great swelling words of vanity, they allure 76through the lusts of the flesh, through much 77wantonness, those that were 78clean escaped from them who live in error.
75 Gr. very great swelling things of vanity, that is, boldly propounding their false and vain doctrine with great inflation.
76 Gr. in, as also in what follows.
77 Or, lasciviousness, lustfulness.
78 That is, who now had indeed the knowledge of the right truth. Others read for ontoos, that is, truly, oligon, that is, scarcely.
19While they promise them 79liberty, they themselves are the servants of 80corruption: forr of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
79 Namely, a carnal liberty, under the pretext of the Gospel.
80 Namely, which is and reigns in them; or, of eternal destruction. For, both are true in diverse respect.
r John 8:34; Rom. 6:16.
20Fors if after they have 81escaped 82the pollutions of the world 83through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and 84overcome, thet85latter end is worse with them than 86the beginning.
s Heb. 6:4; 10:26.
81 Namely, from these errors, sins and idolatries, betaking themselves unto the church of God, which the hypocrites and unregenerate do also oftentimes.
82 That is, fleeing themselves from the errors, idolatries and gross sins, wherein they were stuck before, and which are in the world.
83 Namely, which they have obtained by the preaching of the Gospel, which the unregenerate indeed have also sometimes. See Mat. 13:19, 20, etc.
84 Namely, so that they again fall thereunto and remain therein, without turning from them, permitting the same sins to reign over them.
t Mat. 12:45.
85 That is, this their last state, wherein they are when they become apostate to the truth.
86 That is, their first state in which they were before they knew the truth. See Luke 12:47.
21For it had been better for them not to have known 87the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy 88commandment delivered unto them.
87 That is, the doctrine of the Gospel, which previously is called the way of truth, verse 2.
88 That is, the holy doctrine of the Gospel, which consists not only in promises, but also in commandments, and the apostle speaks thus, because the false teachers deceived people not only from the truth, but also to all manner of ungodliness.
22But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, Theu dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
u Prov. 26:11.