2 Peter 2:10
in 2 Peter 2Such punishment is specially reserved for those who indulge the corrupt desires of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and self-willed, they are unafraid to slander glorious beings.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities:
KJV
But 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.
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This verse in 2 Peter 2
Commentary
13 notes on this verseBut chiefly them that walk - That is, God will in the most signal manner punish them that walk after the flesh - addict themselves to sodomitical practices, and the lust of pollution; probably alluding to those most abominable practices where men abuse themselves and abuse one another.
This site's exposition
Such punishment is specially reserved
on 2 Peter 2:10-11
The unrighteous despise authority, kyriotetos, and are bold, tolmetai, and self-willed, authadeis. They are unafraid to slander glorious beings, doxas, while angels, though greater in strength and power, hold back. Jude 9 shows the same restraint in Michael before the devil.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, but to keep the unjust for the day of judgment, especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of pollution and despise authority: bold, brave, who do not fear to speak evil …
Man did not fall away from the supreme Being as to be absolutely nothing, but insofar as he turned himself toward himself he became less than he was when he was adhering to him who is the supreme Being. To be no longer in God but in oneself is not to be nothing, but rather to be heading in that direction. For this reason, Holy Scripture gives another name to the proud, calling them "rash" and "self-willed."
The Medieval Church3 voices
This refers to the Simonians, who combined wicked behavior with false doctrine.
But especially those who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness. He speaks of fornicators, who will suffer greater torments in judgment for the guilt of their corruption than general iniquities.
And despise government, daring, self-willed. He speaks of the proud and arrogant, who will also endure severer punishments than the general ones.
6 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church3 voices
They do not fear to introduce sects, blaspheming. He calls heretics those who, blaspheming the faith or life of the orthodox, introduce sects in their own name, that is, heresies, who themselves, with the former, will hear, for a stronger punishment awaits the stronger.
Giving an example of those who are going to act impiously. For even the fire which once punished the Sodomites plainly shows that the impious are to suffer without end. And that their land remains scorched with smoke, that its most beautiful fruits have ashes …
Now from the above-cited examples the apostle skillfully transitioned to the main subject. He speaks of the accursed Nicolaitans, Naassenes, and Cerdonians; for their wickedness has many names and is considered together, as similar in foul deeds and designations. They represented the first principles of …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
chiefly--They especially will be punished (Jude 8). after--following after. lust of uncleanness--defilement: "hankering after polluting and unlawful use of the flesh" [ALFORD]. government--Greek, "lordship," "dominion" (Jude 8). Presumptuous--Greek, "Darers." Self-will begets presumption. Presumptuously daring. are not afraid--though they are so insignificant in might;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But chiefly - That is, it may be presumed that the principles just laid down would be applicable in an eminent degree to such persons as he proceeds to designate. That walk after the flesh - That live for the indulgence of their carnal appetites. Notes, Rom 8:1. In the lust of uncleanness - In polluted pleasures. Compare the notes at 2Pe 2:2. And despise government - Margin: “dominion.” That is, they regard all government in the state, the church, and the family, as an evil. Advocates for unbridled freedom of all sorts; declaimers on liberty and on the evils of oppression; defenders of what they regard as the rights of injured man, and yet secretly themselves lusting for the exercise of the very power which they would deny to others - they make no just distinctions about what constitutes true freedom, and in their zeal array themselves against government in all forms. No topic of declamation would be more popular than this, and from none would they hope to secure more followers; for if they could succeed in removing all respect for the just restraints of law, the way would be open for the accomplishment of their own purposes, in setting up a dominion ever the minds of others. It is a common result of such views, that men of this description become impatient of the government of God himself, and seek to throw off all authority, and to live in the unrestrained indulgence of their vicious propensities. Presumptuous are they - Τολμηταὶ Tolmētai - daring, bold, audacious, presumptuous men. Self-willed - αὐθάδεις authadeis. See the notes at Tit 1:7. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities - The word rendered “dignities” here, (δόξας doxas,) means properly honor, glory, splendor; then that which is fitted to inspire respect; that which is dignified or exalted. […]
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| μάλιστα | malista | especially | G3122 → | |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| τοὺς | tous | those | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀπίσω | opiso | after | G3694 → | |
| σαρκὸς | sarkos | [the] flesh | G4561 → | |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἐπιθυμίᾳ | epithumia | [the] passion | G1939 → | 38 times |
| μιασμοῦ | miasmou | of defilement | G3394 → | |
| πορευομένους | poreuomenous | walking | G4198 → | |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| κυριότητος | kuriotetos | authority | G2963 → | |
| καταφρονοῦντας. | kataphronountas | despising. | G2706 → | |
| τολμηταί, | tolmetai | Bold, | G5113 → | |
| αὐθάδεις, | authadeis | self-willed, | G829 → | |
| δόξας | doxas | glorious ones | G1391 → | 165 times |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| τρέμουσιν | tremousin | they tremble | G5141 → | |
| βλασφημοῦντες· | blasphemountes | blaspheming; | G987 → | 34 times |
μάλισταespecially
malistaG3122 →
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
τοὺςthose
tousG3588 →19766 times
ὀπίσωafter
opisoG3694 →
σαρκὸς[the] flesh
sarkosG4561 →
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ἐπιθυμίᾳ[the] passion
epithumiaG1939 →38 times
μιασμοῦof defilement
miasmouG3394 →
πορευομένουςwalking
poreuomenousG4198 →
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
κυριότητοςauthority
kuriotetosG2963 →
καταφρονοῦντας.despising.
kataphronountasG2706 →
τολμηταί,Bold,
tolmetaiG5113 →
αὐθάδεις,self-willed,
authadeisG829 →
δόξαςglorious ones
doxasG1391 →165 times
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
τρέμουσινthey tremble
tremousinG5141 →
βλασφημοῦντες·blaspheming;
blasphemountesG987 →34 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Jude 1:18when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.”
it leads to
- 1 Timothy 4:1–2
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Peter 3:3
Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
- 2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.
- 2 Timothy 3:1–5
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come.
- 2 Timothy 3:13
while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
- 1 Timothy 4:1–2
Through
2 Peter 3:3Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
it leads to
- Jude 1:18
when they said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow after their own ungodly desires.”
- Jude 1:18
Through
Jude 1:10These men, however, slander what they do not understand, and like irrational animals, they will be destroyed by the things they do instinctively.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 2:12
These men are like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be captured and destroyed. They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too will be destroyed.
- 2 Peter 2:12
Through
Jude 1:16These men are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage.
it leads to
- 2 Peter 2:18
With lofty but empty words, they appeal to the sensual passions of the flesh and entice those who are just escaping from others who live in error.
- 2 Peter 2:18
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies8
On this verse
About 2 Peter
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Augustine of Hippo, City of God 14.13; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Oecumenius, Commentary on 2 Peter and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Peter.