2 Peter 2:2 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) And many people will follow their unrestrained, indecent conduct, which will result in the true way [of God] being spoken against. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition And many will follow their immoral ways and lascivious doings; because of them the true Way will be maligned and defamed. American Standard Version (1901) And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of. Common English Bible Many will follow them in their unrestrained immorality, and because of these false teachers the way of truth will be slandered. Catholic Public Domain Version And many persons will follow their indulgences; through such persons, the way of truth will be blasphemed. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version And many shall follow their riotousnesses, through whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. |
So, they sent their disciples, [along] with the Herodians to Him [Note: These were members of a political party favoring King Herod], saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and that you teach the truth about God’s way. You do not care for [i.e., do not fear or give in to] anyone or allow the position of any person to influence you.
For false christs and false prophets will appear and they will perform great [miraculous] signs and [supernatural] wonders in order to lead astray even the elect [i.e., God’s people], if possible.
But the door that is narrow and the road that is restricted lead to [spiritual] life and [only] a few people will find them.
And when they arrived, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and [that you] do not care for [i.e., do not fear or give in to] anyone. For you do not allow [the position of] any person to influence you, but teach the truth about God’s way. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?
For false christs and false prophets will appear and they will perform [miraculous] signs and [supernatural] wonders in order to lead astray [even] the elect, if possible.
Jesus answered him, “I am the way [to God], and the truth [to believe], and the life [to live]. No one can go to the Father, except through [believing in] me.
and said, “You child of the devil; you enemy of all that is right; you are full of deceit and every kind of evil [thing]. When will you stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?
But the Jews who did not obey [the Gospel message] incited the spirits of the [unconverted] Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers.
She followed Paul and us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Supreme God and they are proclaiming to you the way to be saved.”
He began speaking boldly in the synagogue and when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and proceeded to explain to him God's way more accurately [than he had known].
But some became stubborn and refused to obey [the message], saying false things about “the Way” [Note: This was a term used to designate the early church] in front of the large crowds. So, Paul left [the synagogue] and took the disciples and began holding discussions every day at Tyrannus’ school [house].
And I persecuted this ‘Way’ [even to the point of] putting people to death. [I had] both men and women bound [in chains] and locked up in prisons.
But, I declare to you, I am serving the God of our forefathers according to the ‘Way,’ called [by my detractors] a sect, and I believe everything that is in harmony with the Law of Moses and what is written in [the writings of] the prophets.
For God’s name is being spoken against among the Gentiles because of your behavior, just as it is written. [See Isa. 52:5].
Therefore, I want the younger widows to get married, have children and manage their homes, so that they do not give the enemy [i.e., non-Christians] an opportunity for speaking against [the church].
to be sensible, [morally] pure, [good] homemakers, kind [and] in subjection to their own husbands, so that God’s message will not be spoken against.
and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that the person who opposes [us] will have to be ashamed for not having anything bad to say about us.
You should live such good lives before [unconverted] Gentiles, so that even though they accuse you of being evildoers, by seeing your good deeds, they will [be led to] honor God [for you] on the day He visits us again [i.e., to bring judgment].
However, these people are like unreasonable, ignorant creatures of instinct, born as animals which are [to be] caught and destroyed. They speak out against things about which they are ignorant. In [the process of] destroying others, they will certainly be destroyed themselves.
They strayed away [from God] by taking the wrong road like Balaam, the son of Bosor did, who loved the reward for doing wrong.
[Although] their talk is big, what they say is worthless, and by [offering people] fleshly desires [i.e., sexual gratification], they lead people astray, who are barely escaping from the error of the world.
It would have been better for them if they had not known the right way [to God] than, after knowing it, to turn back from the sacred message that had been presented to them.
and if He rescued the righteous man Lot, who had become very disturbed by unrestrained wickedness [of the people there in Sodom]
But these people [i.e., the “certain men” of verse 4] speak against whatever they do not understand, and what they do understand naturally, the way animals do, proves to be their ruination.
to bring judgment upon all [such people], and to convict every person of their ungodly behavior, which they have wickedly committed, and of all the evil things that [such] ungodly sinners have spoken against God.”
For certain men have secretly infiltrated [your ranks]; they are men who had been written about long ago that they should be judged [and condemned] for perverting the unearned favor of our God into [a license for] living unrestrained, indecent lives, and who deny [the identity and work of] our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
So also, in a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah, and their surrounding towns, which had abandoned themselves to sexual immorality and [sexually] perverted behavior, serve as an example [of people] who [will] suffer the punishment of never ending fire.
Then the great dragon was thrown out [of heaven]; he is the snake from ancient times who is [also] called “the Devil,” and “Satan,” the deceiver of the entire world. He was thrown down to earth along with his angels.
[And] by being given [power] to perform these signs in the sight of the [first] beast, he deceives the people on earth. He told them to make a statue to [honor] the [first] beast, which had been wounded by a sword and yet lived [through it].
And everyone who lives on earth will worship the beast, [even those] people whose names had not been recorded in the book of life belonging to the Lamb, who was killed [i.e., in prospect] from the creation of the world. [Note: This sentence could also read “...not been recorded from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed”].