2 Peter 2:19 kjv

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.

2 Peter 2:19 nkjv

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.

2 Peter 2:19 niv

They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity?for "people are slaves to whatever has mastered them."

2 Peter 2:19 esv

They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

2 Peter 2:19 nlt

They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

2 Peter 2 verses

2 Peter 2 19 Meaning

Second Peter 2:19 reveals the inherent hypocrisy and spiritual trap set by false teachers. While these deceivers claim to offer liberation from societal or religious constraints, their own lives and teachings demonstrate that they are utterly enslaved to moral decay and destructive desires. The verse powerfully articulates a foundational spiritual principle: whatever overcomes a person ultimately controls and enslaves them. True freedom, as promised by these false teachers, is not merely freedom from external rules, but true emancipation from the dominion of sin itself, which they do not possess. Their so-called liberty is actually bondage to corruption, exposing the tragic irony of their deceptive message and the ruin it brings to their followers.

2 Peter 2 19 Context

This verse is part of Peter's fervent denunciation of false teachers who infiltrate the Christian community. In 2 Peter chapter 2, Peter first warns of their secret introduction of "destructive heresies" (v. 1) and their motivation of greed (v. 3). He then reassures believers of God's certain judgment for such unrighteousness, referencing past acts of divine punishment (angels, the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah) and God's concurrent preservation of the righteous (Noah, Lot, v. 4-9). The character of these false teachers is then graphically depicted: they are audacious, contemptuous of authority, carousers, Spots and blemishes, greedy for gain, alluring "unstable souls" (v. 10-14).

Verse 18 sets the immediate stage for verse 19, stating that these teachers "speak great swelling words of vanity" and use "the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness," to allure those who have barely escaped their former lives of error. Into this deceptive promise of sensuality and license steps verse 19, revealing the bitter irony: they promise "liberty" while being themselves "servants of corruption." Peter thus unmasks their hollow promises, showing that their so-called freedom leads not to true liberation, but deeper enslavement to destructive appetites. This exposes the heart of their false doctrine as antinomianism – a belief that divine grace provides freedom from moral laws, which they twist into an excuse for sensual indulgence. The surrounding verses in the chapter detail their practices and the tragic end for those who fall for their deceit.

2 Peter 2 19 Word analysis

• While they promise them liberty:

  • promise (ἐπαγγελλόμενοι, epangellomenoi): Present participle, highlighting an ongoing action. This is not a one-time offer, but a continual rhetoric. It implies making solemn or boastful declarations. Their declarations are appealing but lack substance.
  • liberty (ἐλευθερίαν, eleutherian): Freedom, particularly freedom from slavery or restraint. Here, it refers to a perceived release from moral constraints, the Law, or perceived restrictive teachings. In the context of false teachers, this often meant an invitation to unrestrained sensuality or antinomian license rather than true spiritual freedom in Christ. This term is ironically employed, as what they offer is counterfeit.

• they themselves are the servants of corruption:

  • themselves (αὐτοὶ, autoi): Emphatic pronoun. Peter stresses the direct contradiction: they, who offer liberty, are themselves enslaved.
  • servants (δοῦλοι, douloi): Slaves, bond-servants. This is a strong term indicating absolute ownership and control, not merely hired hands or free individuals. It speaks of a deep, inescapable subjugation.
  • corruption (φθορᾶς, phthoras): Moral decay, ruin, destruction, perversion, putrefaction. It describes a state of moral rottenness and destructive depravity. The false teachers are not just affected by corruption, but are utterly owned by it, embodying its destructive essence. Their entire being is under its sway.

• for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage:

  • for (γὰρ, gar): A causal conjunction, introducing the reason or explanation for the preceding statement. It establishes the principle governing the hypocrisy observed.
  • of whom a man is overcome (ᾧ γὰρ ἥττηται τις, hō gar hēttētai tis):
    • overcome (ἥττηται, hēttētai): To be defeated, vanquished, or brought into subjection. It describes the state of being conquered in a struggle or yielding to a superior force. The phrasing suggests a loss of mastery over oneself.
  • of the same is he brought in bondage (τούτου καὶ δεδούλωται, toutou kai dedoulōtai):
    • brought in bondage (δεδούλωται, dedoulōtai): Perfect passive indicative, meaning "has been enslaved" or "is in a state of being enslaved." The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action with ongoing results: once overcome, the state of bondage is established and continues. It underlines the finality and thoroughness of the enslavement.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption": This phrase captures the core hypocrisy and irony. The contrast between the promised ideal (liberty) and the tragic reality (bondage to decay) is stark. It reveals a classic characteristic of spiritual deception: offering something alluring (freedom from restraint) that the purveyor does not genuinely possess and cannot truly deliver, instead leading others into their own compromised state. The false teachers are the masters of deceptive rhetoric, but slaves to destructive immorality.

• "for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage": This clause provides the underlying theological and moral principle that explains the previous statement. It functions as an explanatory maxim: subjugation leads to slavery. Whatever force, habit, or desire gains the upper hand in a person's life, that power subsequently dictates and controls their existence. It applies universally to sin, addiction, or even harmful philosophies. This statement clarifies that the false teachers are not merely "unfree," but are in a definite state of subjugation because something has conquered them. It emphasizes a deterministic spiritual reality: surrender leads to enslavement.

2 Peter 2 19 Bonus section

The profound irony presented in 2 Peter 2:19 is a key element for understanding the deception of false teachers. They are effectively offering spiritual bondage in a packaging that screams "freedom." This highlights that spiritual deception often comes not as overt evil but as a twisted version of something good or desirable. True liberty is a gift of God in Christ (Jno 8:36, Gal 5:1), characterized by freedom from the dominion of sin and freedom to serve righteousness. The counterfeit liberty, as offered by the false teachers, is an invitation to moral license which invariably results in deeper chains. Peter emphasizes this deterministic principle – surrender to anything other than God invariably leads to spiritual slavery, serving the very thing that vanquished one's will.

2 Peter 2 19 Commentary

Second Peter 2:19 serves as a potent warning against those who masquerade as deliverers but are themselves captive. The false teachers allure with "liberty," an intoxicating offer that appeals to natural human desires for autonomy, especially for those who have recently experienced restraint (whether from sin or legalistic structures). However, their true nature is revealed: they are not free but are "servants of corruption," completely subjected to depravity, moral decay, and their own lusts.

The core of the verse articulates a profound spiritual law: "of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." This isn't just a metaphor; it's a statement of spiritual physics. What conquers you dictates you. If sin, lust, pride, or worldly desires overcome you, then you become a slave to those masters. The "liberty" they promise is a hollow deception, allowing for indulgence under the guise of freedom, yet culminating in deep, self-destructive enslavement. This stark truth underlines the necessity of truly overcoming the world and sin through Christ, rather than surrendering to the flesh under a false banner of freedom. It exposes the spiritual blindness of those who, having gained a sliver of knowledge, allow themselves to be re-ensnared.

• Example 1: A cult leader promises followers 'freedom' from societal norms and 'enlightenment,' but demands absolute obedience to himself, leading them into financial ruin and moral compromise, demonstrating his own control by covetousness.
• Example 2: An individual pursuing an unrestricted "sexual liberation" without moral boundaries may find themselves addicted, empty, and devoid of genuine relationships, thus ironically becoming enslaved by the very desires they sought to freely express.