Peter completes the first chapter of his second Epistle with a warning much like Paul does knowing that he is about to die. He elaborates on heresy among the brethren in chapter 2; then further apostasy in the last days in the third and final chapter. This is very clearly paralleled in the Book of Jude; giving pause to consider whether both authors communicated this theme or Jude got his ideas from Peter who perhaps had gotten it from Paul. This is all the inspired Word of God; of course. The concern for these things was clearly indicated when Paul stated that he prayed with tears "day and night for three years" concerning the state of the church. ( Acts 20:31; also see 20:37 when people wept about the prophecy of his imprisonment and likely martyrdom eventually in Jerusalem). Jude was going to discuss general doctrine; but the Lord redirected him with similar exhortations as he states in the beginning of the book.
There clearly is no mincing of words here. Verse 20 and 21 are particularly sobering warning that it is better not to know the truth than to know it and become reprobate (i.e. harsher judgment). The only one in this generation that may have been similar that I am aware of was David Wilkerson. Aside from interpretations of certain end time verses and prophetic statements that he made; which is the subject of another post; he certainly spoke against heretical practices.
Think about it. Today we remember men who were fabulous expositors of scripture; orators or who tenaciously held to the traditions of church doctrines. All of these things of course are commendable. But would they be held in such high esteem if they warned about apostasy; in their own midst no less. Surely the pride of those who had stakes in the institution; denomination; Christian school (not to mention FAMILY MEMBERS) would be offended. To use past successes as our standard in how Christ sees a church today is unwise in light of verses such as Rev. 2:5!!!
2 Peter 2:4 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;
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. -- notice it says branch in me.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. --- This is Jesus its not my opinion (fire)
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art (converted), strengthen thy brethren.--- Peter you must not cut off people ear --
John 18:36 if my kingdom were of this world my servants would fight
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
We make mistakes, but a Christian stops lying, steeling, killing, adultery, + the other commandments
I'm not understanding your question/statement. I'm not sure which pastors you speak of. Riots that happened early 2020?
Anti mask? Antivax? These five you've quoted Can't, in truth, be lumped together. Let's address the first 2.=
GOD made us in HIS image, we reflect HIS glory, HE didn't create humanity with masks. HE created us with an immune system. We are to go about with unveiled faces. We are to live by faith & not fear. Many discussions have been had on this site about these issues.
Revelations 21:8,
Ecclesiastes 37:11, John 2:13-17
USA We The People are the Governing Authority & by Duty, are required to right the "government" when they usurp their authority.
The last 3 labels Antilove,- charity, ect, clearly are not of Christ.
1John 4:18, 2 Timothy 3:15-17,
Isaiah 26:3,
Hopefully these are helpful in the heaviness you feel
BEHOLD! CAN YOU NOT SEE THE PARADINE HERE ? The riots,protests,violence! With some pastors ,and christians leading the way against the goverment the world antimask, antivax,antilove,anticharity,antichrist!
David, Way too much. Sorry. But if I could encourage anyone not to backslide no matter what, I would be so grateful. Even when Job like trials come you gotta hold on to God and don't Look to the left or to the right just hold to Gods unchanging hand! When the pain is so great you cannot bear it fall on your face before God but do not look to the left or the right. Do not take matters into your own hands. Trust the Lord wholly. Lean not upon your own understanding. Job came thru his trials with victory. What about those who don't?
Peter is dealing with false teachers in the church. 1 Peter was written to warn believers about the threat from outside the church, from the world. Peter wrote his second letter to warn the church about the threat within, false teaching, and the false teachers.
1 Peter 2:20-21 speaks about the position of the captives, the ones who fell captive to the false teachers. We see their condition in verse 20. It starts out by saying, "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, and please notice this: through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
They have responded to the truth, the facts about Jesus. And they've come and said yes, this is true. And they are again entangled therein, and they are overcome. And the concept is: the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
And then verse 21 says, "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.
Notice that the emphasis is on what they know! They haven't surrendered their life to Christ. These are not saved people. They received the knowledge of the truth, but then they came into the church and latched onto false teachers that taught them how to go out into the world, and get sin "In the name of Jesus."
Then we have the portrayal of the captives in 2 Peter 2:22. It says, "But it is happened unto them (These are the people in verses 20-21), which is a fulfillment of prophecy ( Proverbs 26:11), but it has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow, that is, the pig that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
There has to be a transformation and a change, because a pig will always go back. You can wash it clean and you know what's going to happen? It's going to dive right back into that mud hole again! Cleaning people up on the outside is not anyone's commission. It's bringing them to Christ!
My hand is raisedOh pick me! I know this one! From personal experience. I'm sorry to say.
It means; If you get truly saved and then you walk away from the things of the kingdom to live your life according to your own wisdom, backsliding, it will be very bad. Very very bad. Bad things will happen. The destroyer will kill, steal, and destroy you, and yours. Gods chastisement may well be upon you too. Which will also be very painful. And you may never make it back to a victorious life "in Christ" unless. You come back to God through Christ 1timothy 2five 100%. Fully repenting and dying to self completely.
Hi Victor I'm sharing not to persuade you just to show scripture, backsliding is a turning away from. Now God always
keeps His Promises and His word is true When we are[ born again spiritually] confess Romans 10:9+10 we are freely given holy spirit and all sin old
nature acts or actions are paid for in full. Committed renewed mind believers sin or break fellowship but not on purpose
we confess the broken fellowship and get back on track 1 John 1:8+9 The believers who for awhile stand then get caught up in the things of the world again and will eventually go back to their old man nature a dog wallowing in its own vomit
2 Peter 2:20-22 ways of the world. The guy who tricks people into that is satan by deception. We will all that are born again be rewarded for the time we stood on the word and all the other works will be burned up 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. That's what Jesus Christ paid for in this age of Grace of the Church, its like being given a full box of mechanics tools, some will put the gift to full use others will commit for a while others will commit a lifetime, God new that and still kept His promise. In the eyes of God we are saints his children period. P.S. I don't listen to her because there's a lot of stuff not kosher. God Bless
GRACE_ambassador {ChrisE} 'temporary' salvation? - In Reply on 2 Peter 2 - 2 years ago
Precious friend Victor, IF God's ETERNAL Salvation "is false," then I believe we have A Severe BIBLICAL problem With the Following Truths Of The SAVIOUR, The LORD JESUS CHRIST!
1 The LORD "Knows them that are His" 2 Timothy 2:19, And, The LORD "Has ALWAYS Known them that are His" Ephesians 1:4
2 The LORD "Has NEVER Known" them that "Are NOT His" Matthew 7:21-23
3 Therefore, it is BIBLICALLY 'Impossible' for "one to be saved, AND THEN to be lost" Correct?
For More Encouragement And Edification, here is my 2-Part "study" (scroll down the page some) On 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 Three Tenses Of God's ETERNAL Salvation Link
Backsliders .. these scriptures tear down the false baptist doctrine once saved always saved, and Joyce Meyers false doctrine of God forgives present sins and the ones we sin willfully after..
To get a better understanding on this verse we may have to take it from verse 18.
I will try to point out some important points in parentheses.
2 Peter 2:18-22. ( 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.)
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.
( 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.
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.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
I believe what we have here as shown in the parentheses we have those who have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in verse 20. However the previous verses 18 and 19, they don't seem to have ever accepted Christ.
That's why they're identified as a Dog and a Sow instead of a Son. In Luke 15:11-32. You have a Son returning home, All 3 found their way home.
In away 2 Peter 2:18-22. reminds me of Mathew 12:43-45. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, HE FINDS IT EMPTY, SWEPT, AND GARNISHED. (NO INDWELLING OF THE HG.)
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Miss Smith In the context Peter is talking about is a person who gets born again and tasted the good word of God then chooses to go back to the corruption of the world. The end result is that persons life will be worse then it was before they believed. A dog wallowing in its own vomit gives you an idea of the state of existence the individual would be in. These are they that followed corrupt leaders that opposed pure doctrine.
The two proverbs are , the dog is eating its own vomit ,and the pig that was washed has gone back into the mud . Humans , we , are the dog and the pig in question , if after we have heard the Word , pledged ourselves to it , been washed clean in the blood of Christ but then go back to our own unclean sinfull ways as if nothing had happened .
10-16 Impure seducers and their abandoned followers, give themselves up to their own fleshly minds. Refusing to bring every thought to the obedience of Christ, they act against God's righteous precepts. They walk after the flesh.
17-22 The word of truth is the water of life, which refreshes the souls that receive it; but deceivers spread and promote error, and are set forth as empty, because there is no truth in them. Seeing that these men increase darkness in this world, its just that the darkness should be their portion in the next. In the midst of their talk of liberty, these men are the vilest slaves; their own lusts gain a complete victory over them, and they are actually in bondage. When men are entangled, they are easily overcome; therefore Christians should keep close to the word of God, and watch against all who seek to bewilder them. A state of apostacy is worse than a state of ignorance. To bring an evil report upon the good way of God, and a false charge against the way of truth, must expose to the heaviest condemnation. How dreadful is the state here described! Yet though such a case is deplorable, it is not utterly hopeless; the leper may be made clean, and even the dead may be raised. Is thy backsliding a grief to thee? Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved. [Commentary by Matthew Henry]
You can type your scripture in google
Put a comma, and then type what you want to search: meaning or commentaries or history
Matthew Henry is a good choice. Be careful and choose links that have the word 'Bible'.
This website has Commentaries. Put your verse in the SEARCH BOX. Commentary is below it.
Hi Rich. That's a good question & the answer is found in that chapter. If you read the whole chapter, you'll see from verse 1 that Peter is speaking about the false prophets & false teachers that would enter the Church - they would appear as 'normal' Christians but their objective would be to bring in their false doctrines & teaching & bring the Church to ruin. And Peter highlights some of their many sins & deceptions in several verses, especially verses 13-19.
Now there are always opportunities for apostates or reprobates to repent & turn back to the Lord & follow the true path, but often, these false teachers were so embedded in their false beliefs & sins that issued out from them, that they never found any need to change. And such were these infiltrators that would come into the Church. They certainly had knowledge of Christ & the holy Faith, but that knowledge kept them from salvation, from hearing the warnings of God's Spirit, & entrenched in their sins. So Peter says in verse 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."
This chapter harmonizes with Hebrews 6:4-6, where the Hebrews writer also speaks of those who had received light, partaking of the Spirit's benefits & of the good Word, yet they ultimately turned their backs to God. The writer was referring particularly to those Jews (as the Letter title suggests) who after tasting of the good things of Christ, left it all to return back to Judaism. They weren't saved, just as those in Peter's letter, & so the Word is true that says, "By their fruits ye shall know them" ( Matthew 7:20). A person who is not "in Christ" & Christ in them will soon have his true motives & sins exposed & so Peter's warning to the Church to beware of such people who bring teaching inconsistent to what they were taught ( 2 Peter 1:4-8). May you be blessed as you study God's Word further, Rich.
Verse 20-22 Is Peter talking about apostasy? Would an apostate or reprobate not want to repent or would not be able to repent? Any honest truthful help would be most appreciated.
Andrea has indeed received a correct reply from Mishael on Spiritual Warfare; demons are the cause of many problems. For many years I was always curious about how the devil works. Yet I was wise enough not to play around with it. Several things influenced my mind and made me much wise. The devil is not to be played around with. In the end he will get the best of us. About 27 years ago I was so tired of being a christian that was filled with doubts. So finally after listening many times on tape to a Salvation Army preacher stop a song right in the middle and then quote a bible verse that I decided to use that verse and challenge God. Yes challenge , because I believe God can not lie. The bible verse was Jeramiah 33.3 "CALL ON ME AND I WILL ANSWER THEE AND SHOW THEE GREAT THINGS THOU KNOWEST NOT" God answered after 6 months. Led me to a Church that has the most truth. Now thru a correct study of daniel and Revelation I see clearly. All doubts are taken away. However to further increase my knowledge I bought a book for $20 and the man who wrote the book can also be watched freely on youtube. This book describes a man who was starting to dance with the devil but God intervening and thru bible study the man was saved . The book is ; A TRIP INTO THE SUPERNATURAL BY ROGER MORNEU. Another great book , not so much a trip into the supernatural but amazing just the same was written by a German Officer during ww2 . Amazing how God protected both him and his wife/children who were at home.
A Thousand Shall Fall: The Electrifying Story of a Soldier and His Family Who Dared to Practice Their Faith in Hitler's Germany.
Matthew 16:13-17, Luke 4:40,41, Matthew 15:29-38, Isaiah 42:1-7, Matthew 12:17-23,
Luke 24:6,7,15,16,27, in context Luke 24, Luke 23,
Hopefully these are helpful
There clearly is no mincing of words here. Verse 20 and 21 are particularly sobering warning that it is better not to know the truth than to know it and become reprobate (i.e. harsher judgment). The only one in this generation that may have been similar that I am aware of was David Wilkerson. Aside from interpretations of certain end time verses and prophetic statements that he made; which is the subject of another post; he certainly spoke against heretical practices.
Think about it. Today we remember men who were fabulous expositors of scripture; orators or who tenaciously held to the traditions of church doctrines. All of these things of course are commendable. But would they be held in such high esteem if they warned about apostasy; in their own midst no less. Surely the pride of those who had stakes in the institution; denomination; Christian school (not to mention FAMILY MEMBERS) would be offended. To use past successes as our standard in how Christ sees a church today is unwise in light of verses such as Rev. 2:5!!!
Isaiah 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
John 15:2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. -- notice it says branch in me.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. --- This is Jesus its not my opinion (fire)
Luke 22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art (converted), strengthen thy brethren.--- Peter you must not cut off people ear --
John 18:36 if my kingdom were of this world my servants would fight
Revelation 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
We make mistakes, but a Christian stops lying, steeling, killing, adultery, + the other commandments
Our preamble to the constitution
Is what defines us the peopl
This is our country
We are the masters
And all elected officials are our public servants from president own down
We the people are 325 million people
Yes we have to take back control
Our constitution says that when Washington DC
Try's to become socialized
Dictators or ever what you want to all them
We the people militia etc not only have the right but duty to remove them from office
I am not talking about bloodshed
That is the last thing we Christians
Would want
Remove them peacefully
We have the tight to peacefully assemble
And redress our greviences
Some would say our military would obey government and shot we the
People
I say that would not
The military would not because they are there to protect the people not Washington DC
Asking the military to fire on us
Would require they shots their mothers
Fathers
Brothers
Sisters
Spouses
Children
Not a chance
That would only happen in a communist markist
Dictator country
That is not who we are
We can do it without bloodshed
God bless America
We do need to return to God
The most important thing we have to do
God never blessed a country
That rejects him
Anti mask? Antivax? These five you've quoted Can't, in truth, be lumped together. Let's address the first 2.=
GOD made us in HIS image, we reflect HIS glory, HE didn't create humanity with masks. HE created us with an immune system. We are to go about with unveiled faces. We are to live by faith & not fear. Many discussions have been had on this site about these issues.
Revelations 21:8,
Ecclesiastes 37:11, John 2:13-17
USA We The People are the Governing Authority & by Duty, are required to right the "government" when they usurp their authority.
The last 3 labels Antilove,- charity, ect, clearly are not of Christ.
1John 4:18, 2 Timothy 3:15-17,
Isaiah 26:3,
Hopefully these are helpful in the heaviness you feel
I also Believe they were Never saved for the same reason mentioned and also they're referred to as DOGS AND PIGS!!
They're Not Sheep, Where in scripture does dogs and pigs refers to the saved?
And it doesn't say they were sheep and became dogs, It says they dog returned to HIS VOMET again.
God bless.
they were born again and were so to speak talked out of abstaining from the lust of the world and thinking they could
operate in the old man nature eventually becoming worse than they were. I also understand what you shared, its all
profitable.
Peter is dealing with false teachers in the church. 1 Peter was written to warn believers about the threat from outside the church, from the world. Peter wrote his second letter to warn the church about the threat within, false teaching, and the false teachers.
1 Peter 2:20-21 speaks about the position of the captives, the ones who fell captive to the false teachers. We see their condition in verse 20. It starts out by saying, "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, and please notice this: through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
They have responded to the truth, the facts about Jesus. And they've come and said yes, this is true. And they are again entangled therein, and they are overcome. And the concept is: the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
And then verse 21 says, "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.
Notice that the emphasis is on what they know! They haven't surrendered their life to Christ. These are not saved people. They received the knowledge of the truth, but then they came into the church and latched onto false teachers that taught them how to go out into the world, and get sin "In the name of Jesus."
Then we have the portrayal of the captives in 2 Peter 2:22. It says, "But it is happened unto them (These are the people in verses 20-21), which is a fulfillment of prophecy ( Proverbs 26:11), but it has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow, that is, the pig that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
There has to be a transformation and a change, because a pig will always go back. You can wash it clean and you know what's going to happen? It's going to dive right back into that mud hole again! Cleaning people up on the outside is not anyone's commission. It's bringing them to Christ!
It means; If you get truly saved and then you walk away from the things of the kingdom to live your life according to your own wisdom, backsliding, it will be very bad. Very very bad. Bad things will happen. The destroyer will kill, steal, and destroy you, and yours. Gods chastisement may well be upon you too. Which will also be very painful. And you may never make it back to a victorious life "in Christ" unless. You come back to God through Christ 1timothy 2five 100%. Fully repenting and dying to self completely.
of the world i.e. lust of flesh lust of eyes, pride of life they are again entangled trapped by the old man nature the
next verse is a very remarkable mind picture. It would have been better to have not known the way of righteous
then the end result it is like a dog wallowing in its own vomit, you are in a state worse than when you were not
born again. That I can't imagine! They have walked away from God.
What does this mean?
keeps His Promises and His word is true When we are[ born again spiritually] confess Romans 10:9+10 we are freely given holy spirit and all sin old
nature acts or actions are paid for in full. Committed renewed mind believers sin or break fellowship but not on purpose
we confess the broken fellowship and get back on track 1 John 1:8+9 The believers who for awhile stand then get caught up in the things of the world again and will eventually go back to their old man nature a dog wallowing in its own vomit
2 Peter 2:20-22 ways of the world. The guy who tricks people into that is satan by deception. We will all that are born again be rewarded for the time we stood on the word and all the other works will be burned up 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. That's what Jesus Christ paid for in this age of Grace of the Church, its like being given a full box of mechanics tools, some will put the gift to full use others will commit for a while others will commit a lifetime, God new that and still kept His promise. In the eyes of God we are saints his children period. P.S. I don't listen to her because there's a lot of stuff not kosher. God Bless
1 The LORD "Knows them that are His" 2 Timothy 2:19, And, The LORD "Has ALWAYS Known them that are His" Ephesians 1:4
2 The LORD "Has NEVER Known" them that "Are NOT His" Matthew 7:21-23
3 Therefore, it is BIBLICALLY 'Impossible' for "one to be saved, AND THEN to be lost" Correct?
For More Encouragement And Edification, here is my 2-Part "study" (scroll down the page some) On 2 Corinthians 1:9-10 Three Tenses Of God's ETERNAL Salvation Link
To get a better understanding on this verse we may have to take it from verse 18.
I will try to point out some important points in parentheses.
2 Peter 2:18-22. ( 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.)
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.
( 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.
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.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
I believe what we have here as shown in the parentheses we have those who have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in verse 20. However the previous verses 18 and 19, they don't seem to have ever accepted Christ.
That's why they're identified as a Dog and a Sow instead of a Son. In Luke 15:11-32. You have a Son returning home, All 3 found their way home.
In away 2 Peter 2:18-22. reminds me of Mathew 12:43-45. When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, HE FINDS IT EMPTY, SWEPT, AND GARNISHED. (NO INDWELLING OF THE HG.)
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
God bless.
10-16 Impure seducers and their abandoned followers, give themselves up to their own fleshly minds. Refusing to bring every thought to the obedience of Christ, they act against God's righteous precepts. They walk after the flesh.
17-22 The word of truth is the water of life, which refreshes the souls that receive it; but deceivers spread and promote error, and are set forth as empty, because there is no truth in them. Seeing that these men increase darkness in this world, its just that the darkness should be their portion in the next. In the midst of their talk of liberty, these men are the vilest slaves; their own lusts gain a complete victory over them, and they are actually in bondage. When men are entangled, they are easily overcome; therefore Christians should keep close to the word of God, and watch against all who seek to bewilder them. A state of apostacy is worse than a state of ignorance. To bring an evil report upon the good way of God, and a false charge against the way of truth, must expose to the heaviest condemnation. How dreadful is the state here described! Yet though such a case is deplorable, it is not utterly hopeless; the leper may be made clean, and even the dead may be raised. Is thy backsliding a grief to thee? Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved. [Commentary by Matthew Henry]
You can type your scripture in google
Put a comma, and then type what you want to search: meaning or commentaries or history
Matthew Henry is a good choice. Be careful and choose links that have the word 'Bible'.
This website has Commentaries. Put your verse in the SEARCH BOX. Commentary is below it.
Now there are always opportunities for apostates or reprobates to repent & turn back to the Lord & follow the true path, but often, these false teachers were so embedded in their false beliefs & sins that issued out from them, that they never found any need to change. And such were these infiltrators that would come into the Church. They certainly had knowledge of Christ & the holy Faith, but that knowledge kept them from salvation, from hearing the warnings of God's Spirit, & entrenched in their sins. So Peter says in verse 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."
This chapter harmonizes with Hebrews 6:4-6, where the Hebrews writer also speaks of those who had received light, partaking of the Spirit's benefits & of the good Word, yet they ultimately turned their backs to God. The writer was referring particularly to those Jews (as the Letter title suggests) who after tasting of the good things of Christ, left it all to return back to Judaism. They weren't saved, just as those in Peter's letter, & so the Word is true that says, "By their fruits ye shall know them" ( Matthew 7:20). A person who is not "in Christ" & Christ in them will soon have his true motives & sins exposed & so Peter's warning to the Church to beware of such people who bring teaching inconsistent to what they were taught ( 2 Peter 1:4-8). May you be blessed as you study God's Word further, Rich.
A Thousand Shall Fall: The Electrifying Story of a Soldier and His Family Who Dared to Practice Their Faith in Hitler's Germany.
Moses and Elijah