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2 Peter 2 · a question people ask

"promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption" (2:19). How can those who promise liberty be bondservants?

In the text

The same verse goes on with for: "for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him" (2:19) (tap overcomes). In one verse it sets the liberty they promise beside their own bondage, and gives its reason in its last words. These notes say no more of it than the verse's words.

The verses

“promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.”
2 Peter 2:19 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Peter 2

2 Peter 2: The way of the truth

In 2 Peter 2 one Greek verb comes three times: the way of the truth will be maligned (2:2), they speak evil of dignitaries (2:10), and they are speaking evil in matters they are ignorant of (2:12). In between, angels "don’t bring a slanderous judgment" (2:11), with the adjective Strong's makes that verb from.

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Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions