2 Peter 2:20

2 Peter 2:20

For 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.

a. NLT: And when people escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then get tangled up and enslaved by sin again, they are worse off than before. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. ASV: For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. YLT: For, if having escaped from the pollutions of the world, in the acknowledging of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and by these again being entangled, they have been overcome, become to them hath the last things worse than the first, [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

d. Classic Amplified: For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through [the full, personal] knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they again become entangled in them and are overcome, their last condition is worse [for them] than the first.

 [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

1. “For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…”

a. For Strong: 1063. gar gar a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):--and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. if [Strong: 1487. ei i a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:--forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in 1489, 1490, 1499, 1508, 1509, 1512, 1513, 1536, 1537.]

c. after they have escaped [Strong:668. apopheugo ap-of-yoo'-go from 575 and 5343; (figuratively) to escape:--escape.] [apopheugo; apo-from; pheugo-to flee.] [Zodhiates: to flee away from, escape.]

d. the [Strong: 3588. [ta] ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [ta] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

e. pollutions [Strong: 3393. miasma mee'-as-mah from 3392 ("miasma"); (morally) foulness (properly, the effect):--pollution.] [Zodhiates: the contamination of the world upon the godly as a result of living in it.] [Thayer: that which defiles, defilement, metaphorically, vices the foulness of which contaminates one in his intercourse with the ungodly mass of mankind.] 

f. [of] the [Strong: 3588. [tou] ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tou] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

g. world [Strong: 2889. kosmos kos'-mos]  probably from the base of 2865; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally)):--adorning, world.]

f. through [Strong: 1722 en en: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

g. knowledge [1922 * epignosis; epi-intensive; gnosis-knowledge][ Zodhiates: It is more intensive than gnosis, knowledge, because it expresses a more thorough participation in acquiring of knowledge on the part of the learner. In the NT, it often refers to knowledge which very powerfully influences the form of religious life, a knowledge laying claim to personal involvement.]

1). This “knowledge” is of course “revelation knowledge”, it is knowledge revealed to the human spirit by the Holy Ghost, through study, confession and meditating the Scripture. It is the living knowledge that enables us to “escape” the corruption, the pollution, the contamination of the world.  

1). 2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

h. [of] the [Strong: 3588. [tou] ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [tou] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

i. Lord [Strong: 2962. kurios koo'-ree-os from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.]

j. and [Strong: 2532 kai kahee  apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

k. savior [Strong: 4990. soter so-tare' from 4982; a deliverer, i.e. God or Christ:--saviour.]

l. Jesus [Strong: 2424  Iesous ee-ay-sooce'  of Hebrew origin (3091); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus.]

m. Christ [Strong: 5547  Christos khris-tos' from 5548; anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus:--Christ.

1). It is only the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, believed from the heart that can deliver mankind from sin and damnation.

a). Romans 10:9, 10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

b). Romans 6:16-18 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

2). We are delivered from the dominion when we believe with our whole heart the truths in the New Testament.

a). John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

b). Romans 16:16-18 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

c). Acts 13:38, 39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

d). justified [1344 * dikaioo] [Zodhiates: referring to Acts 13:39, to all those things from which the Mosaic Law could not liberate us. In this instance…it refers to our liberation from something, i.e., that is sin which holds a man in bondage. It does not mean mere declaration of innocence, but the liberation from sin.]

2). These individuals in 2 Peter 2:20 had escaped the corruption through revelation knowledge, which means they were believers, they had been saved. They had grown in their Christian life to the point they had escaped and gotten victory over the lusts of the flesh, but as the next part of the verse reveals, they became entangled again in them.

2. “… they are again entangled therein, and overcome…”

a. [they are] again [Strong:3825. palin pal'-in probably from the same as 3823 (through the idea of oscillatory repetition); (adverbially) anew, i.e. (of place) back, (of time) once more, or (conjunctionally) furthermore or on the other hand:--again.] [Thayer:  anew, again, renewal or repetition of the action, again, anew, again, i.e. further, moreover, in turn, on the other hand.]

b. entangled [Strong: 1707. empleko em-plek'-o from 1722 and 4120; to entwine, i.e. (figuratively) involve with:--entangle (in, self with).] [empleko; en-in; pleko-to connect, tie.] [Zodhiates: to braid in, interweave, entangle, in the NT used metaphorically to involve in.]

c. therein [Strong:  toutois too'-toice dative case plural masculine or neuter of 3778; to (for, in, with or by) these (persons or things):--such, them, there(-in, -with), these, this, those.]

d. and [Strong:1161 de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

e. overcome [Strong: 1096. ginomai ghin'-om-ahee a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.] [Thayer: to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being, to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen.] [Strong:  a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.]

f. [Strong: 2274 hettao hayt-tah'-o from the same as 2276; to make worse, i.e. vanquish (literally or figuratively); by implication, to rate lower:--be inferior, overcome.

3. “… the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.”

a. the [Strong: 3588. [ta] ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [ta] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

b. latter end [Strong: 2078. eschatos es'-khat-os a superlative probably from 2192 (in the sense of contiguity); farthest, final (of place or time):--ends of, last, latter end, lowest, uttermost.] [Thayer:  extreme, last in time or in place, last in a series of places, last in a temporal succession, the last, last, referring to time.] [Strong: a superlative probably from 2192 (in the sense of contiguity); farthest, final (of place or time):--ends of, last, latter end, lowest, uttermost.

c. [is] worse [Strong: 5501 cheiron khi'-rone irregular comparative of 2556 an obsolete equivalent cheres (of uncertain derivation); more evil or aggravated (physically, mentally or morally):--sorer, worse.]

d. [with] them [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

e. [than] the [Strong: 3588. [ta] ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.] [Thayer: [ta] ὁ, ἡ, τό, originally τος, τῇ, τό (as is evident from the forms τοι, ται for οἱ, αἱ in Homer and the Ionic writings), corresponds to our definite article the (German der, die, das), which is properly a demonstrative pronoun, which we see in its full force in Homer, and of which we find certain indubitable traces also in all kinds of Greek prose, and hence also in the N. T.]

f. beginning [4413 protos pro'-tos contracted superlative of 4253; foremost (in time, place, order or importance):--before, beginning, best, chief(-est), first (of all), former.]

1). I believe the “beginning” he is referring to is before they were saved, before they “escaped the pollutions of the world.” Meaning of course they are not going to make it to heaven and their torment in hell will be worse than if they had not gotten saved. A couple of passages that comment on this sad event are in both Testaments.

a). Matthew 12:43-45 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

12:44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

12:45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

b). Ezekiel 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.

3). Revealing passages in Deuteronomy and Ezekiel show how God is grieved when his people backslide.

a). Deuteronomy 32:28, 29 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them.

32:29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!

b). Ezekiel 18:31, 32 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

4). Those who believe once saved always saved deflect this verse by saying these people were not really saved, but looking at the verses cited above ( Romans 16:16-18; Acts 13:3839), it reveals a person can’t get spiritually free from sin other than believing in Christ Jesus. Besides, in the next verse it reveals these people knew the way of righteousness. Also they declare there is no reference to the lake of fire in this passage so these people do go to heaven. So let’s connect the dots here. These people who are saved turn away from God and Scripture says it will be worse for them than if they had not been saved. Ok, people who are not saved end up in the lake of fire and people who are saved and turn from God still go to heaven but it will be worse with them than if they had not been saved. What they are saying is there is a place in heaven that is worse than the lake of fire.