2 Peter 2 Bible study: The way of the truth

"whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber" (2:3). Strong's gives the verb behind linger as "to be idle, i.e. (figuratively) to delay" (G691), and the verb behind slumber as "to nod, i.e. (by implication) to fall asleep; figuratively, to delay" (G3573). Two pictures, being idle and nodding off, stand side by side in one half of the verse, and Strong's says each can stand for delay (both verbs in all eight editions TAGNT compares; the verb behind linger is the New Testament's only use of it, counted in RP2018).

2 Peter 2:3

The chapter opens: "But false prophets also arose among the people, as false teachers will also be among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction." (2:1). "Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned." (2:2) (tap maligned). "In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn’t linger, and their destruction will not slumber." (2:3) (tap from of old). These notes say nothing of who the false prophets and false teachers were or are, explain none of these words beyond the verses' own, and reckon no time for the sentence or the destruction of 2:3. Throughout the chapter they explain the letter only from its words, and apply none of it to any teacher, preacher, church, group, movement or person, then or now: "false prophets" and "false teachers" (2:1), and every other name the chapter gives them, are quoted as the verses have them and are a verdict on no one today.

Numbers 22:28→leads to2 Peter 2:15-16

The New Testament names this chapter. Peter warns of false teachers "denying even the Master who bought them" (2 Peter 2:1), who "In covetousness… will exploit you with deceptive words" (2 Peter 2:3). They have "followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of wrongdoing; but he was rebuked for his own disobedience. A speechless donkey spoke with a man’s voice and stopped the madness of the prophet" (2 Peter 2:15-16). In the same chapter Peter names "the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 2:20). Balak had promised Balaam "very great honor" (22:17), and "The LORD opened the mouth of the donkey" (22:28). Peter sets that way of Balaam beside teachers who deny the Master who bought them.

βλασφημέωblasphemeosay blas-fay-MEH-o

Strong's: "to vilify; specially, to speak impiously". "the way of the truth will be maligned" (2:2): behind maligned is this verb. 2 Peter has it three times, all in this chapter (counted in RP2018, and in all eight editions TAGNT compares). Favor's Romans 3 studies it and counts it in Romans.