2 Peter 2

King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context

About this chapter

AI-assisted, sourced

Peter warns that "there shall be false teachers among you," who bring in "damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them," and make merchandise of believers through covetousness. God judged the angels that sinned, the old world in the flood and Sodom and Gomorrha, yet saved Noah and "delivered just Lot": "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly." The rest of the chapter describes the false teachers and their end. 2 Peter 2:1 2 Peter 2:3 2 Peter 2:4 2 Peter 2:5 2 Peter 2:6 2 Peter 2:7 2 Peter 2:9

Who, where, when, and the key verses

Who

Peter writes to the believers about coming false teachers, recalling Noah, "a preacher of righteousness," Lot, and Balaam the son of Bosor. 2 Peter 2:1 2 Peter 2:5 2 Peter 2:7 2 Peter 2:15

Where

The letter names no place for its readers. It recalls Sodom and Gomorrha, turned "into ashes." 2 Peter overview 2 Peter 2:6 Sodom Gomorrah

When

Traditionally about AD 64-68. Many scholars date it later. The false teachers are spoken of as still to come ("there shall be"), yet already described in the present ("These are wells without water"). 2 Peter overview 2 Peter 2:1 2 Peter 2:17

How it fits

Chapter 1 ended with true prophecy from the Holy Ghost; this chapter begins, "But there were false prophets also among the people." Chapter 3 turns to scoffers who doubt the Lord's coming. Much of this chapter closely parallels Jude. 2 Peter 1:21 2 Peter 2:1 2 Peter 3:3 2 Peter overview

Key verses

Verse 1
False teachers will "privily... bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them." Matthew 7:15 also warns, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing." 2 Peter 2:1 Matthew 7:15
Verse 9
"The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment," as he did with Noah and Lot. 2 Peter 2:5 2 Peter 2:7 2 Peter 2:9
Verse 19
"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption." Jesus said, "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." 2 Peter 2:19 John 8:34

Takeaway

Test teachers by how they live and whether they honour the Lord who bought them, and take comfort that God knows how to rescue the godly. 2 Peter 2:1 2 Peter 2:9 2 Peter 2:14 2 Peter 2:19

Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-10-29.

False teachers will come

¹But 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. ²And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ³And 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.

God judges the wicked and delivers the godly

⁴For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; ⁵And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; ⁶And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; ⁷And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: ⁸(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) ⁹The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

What the false teachers are like

¹⁰But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. ¹¹Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. ¹²But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; ¹³And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; ¹⁴Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: ¹⁵Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; ¹⁶But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. ¹⁷These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. ¹⁸For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. ¹⁹While 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. ²⁰For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. ²¹For 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. ²²But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.