2 Peter 2 · Verse 2

2 Peter 2:2

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2 Peter 2:2, King James Version

2 Peter 2:2 in other translations

BSBMany will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.
WEBMany will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.
ASVAnd many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.
YLTand many shall follow out their destructive ways, because of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of,
DARBYand many shall follow their dissolute ways, through whom the way of the truth shall be blasphemed.
BBEAnd a great number will go with them in their evil ways, through whom the true way will have a bad name.
WebsterAnd many will follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth will be evil spoken of.

What does 2 Peter 2:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. follow--out: so the Greek. pernicious ways--The oldest manuscripts and Vulgate read, "licentiousness" (Jude 4). False doctrine and immoral practice generally go together (2Pe 2:18, 19). by reason of whom--"on account of whom," namely, the followers of the false teachers. the way of truth shall be evil spoken of--"blasphemed" by those without, who shall lay on Christianity itself the blame of its professors' evil practice. Contrast 1Pe 2:12.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 2. And many shall follow their pernicious ways. Marg., lascivious. A large number of manuscripts and versions read lascivious here ασελγειαις--instead of pernicious-- απωλειαις, (see Wetstein ) and this reading is adopted in the editions of the Greek Testament by Tittman, Griesbach, and Hahn, and it seems probable that this is the correct reading. This will agree well with the account elsewhere given of these teachers, that their doctrines tended to licentiousness, 2Pet 2:10,14,18,19. It is a very remarkable circumstance, that those who have denied the essential doctrines of the gospel have been so frequently licentious in their own conduct, and have inculcated opinions which tended to licentiousness. Many of the forms of religious error have somehow had a connexion with this vice. Men who are corrupt at heart often seek to obtain for their corruptions the sanction of religion.

By reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

(1.) Because they were professors of religion, and religion would seem to be held responsible for their conduct; and,

(2,) because they were professed teachers of religion, and, by many, would be understood as expounding the true doctrines of the gospel.

(1) "pernicious" "lascivious" (*) "reason of" "Because of"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Many shall follow - Will follow, because determined to gratify their sinful propensities. Pernicious ways - Ταις απωλειαις· Their destructions; i.e. the heresies of destruction, or destructive opinions, mentioned above. But instead of απωλειαις, destructions, ασελγειαις, lasciviousnesses or uncleannesses, is the reading of ABC, and upwards of sixty others, most of which are among the most ancient, correct, and authentic. This is the reading also of both the Syriac, all the Arabic, the Coptic, Ethiopic, Armenian, Slavonic, Vulgate, Chrysostom, Theophylact, Ecumenius, and Jerome. A very few, and those of little repute, have the word in the text. The word lasciviousnesses is undoubtedly the true reading, and this points out what the nature of the heresies was: it was a sort of Antinomianism; they pampered and indulged the lusts of the flesh; and, if the Nicolaitans are meant, it is very applicable to them, for they taught the community of wives, etc. Griesbach has received this reading into the text. By reason of whom - These were persons who professed Christianity; and because they were called Christians, and followed such abominable practices, the way of truth - the Christian religion, βλασφημηθησεται, was blasphemed. Had they called themselves by any name but that of Christ, his religion would not have suffered.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 2 Peter 2:1-9

Though the way of error is a hurtful way, many are always ready to walk therein. Let us take care we give no occasion to the enemy to blaspheme the holy name whereby we are called, or to speak evil of the way of salvation by Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. These seducers used feigned words, they deceived the hearts of their followers. Such are condemned already, and the wrath of God abides…

Read the full comment on 2 Peter 2:1-9 →

2 Peter 2:2 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
πολλοὶpolloimanyG4183
ἐξακολουθήσουσινexakolouthēsousinwill follow afterG1811
αὐτῶνautōntheirG846
ταῖςtais<the>G3588
ἀσελγείαις,aselgeiaissensuality,G766
δι᾽di᾽throughG1223
οὓςhouswhomG3739
ἡhētheG3588
ὁδὸςhodoswayG3598
τῆςtēsof theG3588
ἀληθείαςalētheiastruthG225
βλασφημηθήσεται·blasphēmēthēsetaiwill be denigrated;G987

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 2 Peter 2:2

  • Romans 2:24

    For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

  • Jude 1:10

    But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

  • Matthew 24:24

    For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

  • 2 Peter 2:15

    Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

  • Titus 2:8

    Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

  • Revelation 13:14

    And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

  • Matthew 24:10-13

    And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

  • Jude 1:15

    To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.

  • 1 Peter 2:12

    Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

  • Acts 24:14

    But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:

  • Acts 16:17

    The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

  • 2 Peter 2:21

    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.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
many.
Mt 24:10-13,24; Mr 13:22; 1Jo 2:18,19; Re 12:9; 13:8,14
pernicious ways. or, lascivious ways, as some copies read.by reason.
Ro 2:24; 1Ti 5:14; Tit 2:5,8
way.
15,21; Ps 18:21; Isa 35:8; Jer 6:16; Mt 7:14; 22:16; Mr 12:14
Joh 14:6; Ac 13:10; 16:17; 18:26; 19:9; 24:14
evil.
12; Ac 14:2; 1Pe 2:12; Jude 1:10,15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 2 Peter 2:1

    But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

  • 2 Peter 2:2

    And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

  • 2 Peter 2:3

    And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

Read all of 2 Peter 2

2 Peter 2:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y muchos seguirán sus disoluciones, por los cuales el camino de la verdad será blasfemado;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et plusieurs suivront leurs excès: et à cause d’eux la voie de la vérité sera blasphémée;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und viele werden ihren Ausschweifungen nachfolgen, um welcher willen der Weg der Wahrheit verlästert werden wird.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et multi sequentur eorum luxurias, per quos via veritatis blasphemabitur: