2 Peter 2:2 kjv
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2 Peter 2:2 nkjv
And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.
2 Peter 2:2 niv
Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.
2 Peter 2:2 esv
And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.
2 Peter 2:2 nlt
Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.
2 Peter 2 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 13:1-5 | If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you… saying, “Let us follow other gods”… you must not listen… that prophet or dreamer must be put to death… | Warning against false prophets and their idolatrous lead. |
| Jer 14:14 | The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them… They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. | False prophets deceive with self-made delusions. |
| Mt 7:15 | Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ferocious wolves. | Danger of hidden destructive nature in false teachers. |
| Rom 1:24-27 | Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity… dishonoring their bodies… Men committed shameful acts with other men… | God's judgment on widespread depravity. |
| Rom 2:24 | As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” | Ungodly behavior of professing believers dishonors God. |
| 1 Cor 5:1 | It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you… a man has his father’s wife. | Church's reputation damaged by immorality within. |
| 2 Cor 2:17 | Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity… | Contrast to those who corrupt and distort the Word for gain. |
| 2 Cor 11:13-15 | For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ… Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. | False teachers disguise themselves as good. |
| Gal 5:19 | The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery… | Description of fleshly, depraved ways. |
| Eph 4:19 | Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. | Abandonment to limitless indulgence. |
| 1 Tim 6:1 | All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. | Believers' actions prevent dishonoring God and Christian doctrine. |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive… without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous… | Depraved conduct characterizes those in the last days. |
| Titus 2:5 | …then no one will malign the word of God. | Right living by believers avoids slander of God's Word. |
| Heb 6:6 | …they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. | Backsliding brings shame to Christ. |
| Jas 2:7 | Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong? | Oppressors blaspheme Christ's name. |
| 1 Pet 4:3-4 | For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised… and heap abuse on you. | Former lifestyle aligns with depraved ways, causing slander by outsiders. |
| Jude 1:4 | For certain individuals whose condemnation was long ago written about have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless people, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality… | False teachers turn grace into license for sensuality. |
| Jude 1:12-13 | These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm… They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars… | False teachers are a stain, producing shame through their conduct. |
| 2 Pet 2:13 | …They are stains and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you. | Reinforces the depravity of these individuals. |
| 2 Pet 2:21 | It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command passed on to them. | Contrasts "way of truth" with "way of righteousness." |
| Rev 13:3 | The whole world was astonished and followed the beast. | Many are led astray by evil, analogous to false teachings. |
2 Peter 2 verses
2 Peter 2 2 Meaning
2 Peter 2:2 conveys that a significant number of people will adopt the immoral and unrestrained practices introduced by false teachers. As a direct consequence of this widespread embracing of corrupt behavior, the very "way of truth"—which signifies the authentic Christian message, teaching, and lifestyle—will be disparaged and brought into disrepute by those outside the faith. This verse highlights the profound negative impact of false teachers' conduct on the perception of true Christianity.
2 Peter 2 2 Context
This verse is situated within 2 Peter chapter 2, which serves as a solemn warning against the deceptive influence and destructive behavior of false teachers. Peter draws parallels to God's judgment in the past (e.g., angels who sinned, the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah) to emphasize the certainty of future judgment awaiting these deceivers. Verse 2 specifically describes the widespread negative impact of these false teachers, stating that "many" will adopt their corrupt practices. This adoption is not merely intellectual agreement but an embrace of their dissolute lifestyle, leading directly to the broader scandalization of the "way of truth." The immediate context paints a picture of cunning infiltrators who operate under the guise of religious authority, yet exploit, twist truth, and indulge in depraved conduct. Historically, the early church grappled with various forms of antinomianism—the belief that one is no longer bound by moral laws under grace—and proto-Gnostic tendencies that separated spiritual knowledge from ethical living, often resulting in moral license. Peter’s polemic is thus against those who twist Christian liberty into license for sin and, by their actions, cause outsiders to mock and reject the genuine gospel message.
2 Peter 2 2 Word analysis
Many (πολλοί - polloi):
- Significance: Denotes a considerable number, suggesting that the influence of these false teachers is widespread and successful in attracting followers, indicating the insidious nature and broad appeal of their message/lifestyle.
Follow (ἐξακολουθήσουσιν - exakolouthēsousin):
- Meaning: Future indicative of exakoloutheō, from ek (out of) and akoloutheō (to follow). It implies following thoroughly, persistently, and consistently, indicating a committed adherence or devotion rather than casual acquaintance.
- Significance: Not just hearing or tolerating, but actively imitating and living out the practices. This underscores the complete alignment of "many" with the depraved ways.
Depraved ways (ἀσελγείαις - aselgeiais):
- Meaning: Dative plural of aselgeia. Refers to wantonness, sensuality, licentiousness, debauchery, and unbridled lust. Crucially, it signifies a shameless and open lack of restraint, often public, without concern for reputation or decorum.
- Significance: These are not hidden vices but a noticeable lifestyle of immorality. It's an aggressive, impudent, defiant sinfulness that violates established norms.
Because of them (δι’ οὓς - di’ hous):
- Meaning: Literally "through whom." Denotes the instrumental cause or agent.
- Significance: Clearly establishes a direct causal link. The actions of the "many" who follow the "depraved ways" are the very reason for the slander. The negative impact flows directly from their conduct.
The way of truth (ἡ ὁδὸς τῆς ἀληθείας - hē hodos tēs alētheias):
- Meaning: Hodos (way, path) often used in the New Testament to refer to the Christian faith or lifestyle (e.g., "The Way" in Acts). Aletheia (truth) refers to objective reality, particularly divine truth revealed in Christ and the Gospel.
- Significance: This phrase denotes the comprehensive system of Christian belief, ethical living, and salvific knowledge revealed by God. It embodies the essence of authentic Christianity.
Will be slandered/maligned (βλασφημηθήσεται - blasphēmēthēsetai):
- Meaning: Future passive indicative of blasphēmeō. To speak evil of, revile, defame, blaspheme (especially of God). In this context, it refers to speaking ill of the "way of truth," thereby dishonoring God and the gospel.
- Significance: This is not merely criticism, but outright abusive and defamatory speech that undermines the integrity and credibility of the Christian faith. It indicates that the misconduct of false believers provides ammunition for non-believers to scoff at or despise true Christianity.
Word-Groups Analysis:
- "Many will follow their depraved ways": Highlights the dangerous appeal and extensive reach of false teachers. Their immorality isn't just an internal sin but a contagious practice. The passive "will follow" indicates they are drawn into this rather than simply observing. This directly challenges the exclusivity of the "way of truth" by presenting a distorted alternative that is attractive to many.
- "And because of them the way of truth will be slandered": This clause demonstrates the direct and grievous consequence of widespread spiritual and moral apostasy. The actions of professing Christians—especially those led astray by false teaching—have significant external repercussions, damaging the reputation of the gospel itself in the eyes of the world. The world observes inconsistency and hypocrisy, which becomes grounds for rejecting or mocking the entire message.
2 Peter 2 2 Bonus section
Peter's emphasis on "depraved ways" (aselgeiais) underscores a recurrent danger for believers, a subtle perversion of grace into license for immorality. This type of error, a spiritual hedonism, stands in stark contrast to the true "way of righteousness" (2 Pet 2:21) which involves disciplined obedience to God's commands. The "slandering" mentioned is not mere verbal criticism; it implies blasphemy directed against Christ and the message of redemption, provoked by the unholy lives of those who bear His name. This highlights the severe responsibility of those who claim to follow Christ; their actions have implications not just for themselves but for the reputation of the Lord and the expansion of His kingdom. The warning here anticipates challenges throughout church history where internal moral failures have been weaponized by external adversaries, slowing the spread of the gospel and discrediting the faithful. The solution isn't stricter rules alone, but a genuine embrace of Christ's transforming power that leads to true freedom from sin, not license for it.
2 Peter 2 2 Commentary
2 Peter 2:2 delivers a stark warning about the damaging consequences of spiritual deviation. It posits that the attractive, self-indulgent doctrines propagated by false teachers will succeed in drawing a substantial following. These followers will not merely tolerate but actively embrace the teachers' "depraved ways"—a life characterized by open, shameless licentiousness and disregard for moral boundaries. The verse critically links this internal corruption within professing Christian circles to an external repercussion: the "way of truth"—the authentic Christian gospel and its associated lifestyle—will be "slandered." This means that unbelievers, witnessing the hypocrisy and moral failure of those who claim to follow Christ, will justly bring disrepute upon the very name of God and the gospel message. The scandal of behavior becomes a stumbling block to belief, undermining the integrity and persuasive power of genuine faith. This serves as a potent reminder that Christian conduct is intrinsically tied to the public witness of the gospel.
- Example 1: A community hears a church leader preach freedom in Christ, but then that leader and many followers engage in public drunken revelry or dishonest business practices. Outsiders may conclude that Christianity itself is morally bankrupt.
- Example 2: Social media comments about a scandal involving professing Christians often extend to attacking all believers or "religion" in general, showing how individual or group actions can broadly malign "the way of truth."