2 Peter 2:21
For 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.
a. NLT: It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life. [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 it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]
c. YLT: For it were better to them not to have acknowledged the way of the righteousness, than having acknowledged it, to turn back from the holy command delivered to them, [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 never to have obtained a [full, personal] knowledge of the way of righteousness would have been better for them than, having obtained [such knowledge], to turn back from the holy commandment which was [verbally] delivered to them.
[Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]
1. “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness…”
a. Far [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. [it] had been [Strong: 2258 en ane imperfect of 1510; I (thou, etc.) was (wast or were):--+ agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were.]
c. better [Strong: 2909 kreitton krite'-tohn comparative of a derivative of 2904; stronger, i.e. (figuratively) better, i.e. nobler:--best, better.]
d. [for] 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. not [Strong: 3361 me may a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations.]
f. to have known [Strong: 1921 epiginosko ep-ig-in-oce'-ko from 1909 and 1097; to know upon some mark, i.e. recognize; by implication, to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge:--(ac-, have, take)know(-ledge, well), perceive.] [Thayer: to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly, to know accurately, know well, to know, to recognize, by sight, hearing, of certain signs, to perceive who a person is, to know i.e. to perceive, to know i.e. to find out, ascertain, to know i.e. to understand.]
g. the [Strong: 3588. [ten] 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: [ten] 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.]
h. way [Strong: 3598 hodos hod-os' apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress (the route, act or distance); figuratively, a mode or means:--journey, (high-)way.]
i. of righteousness [Strong: 1343 dikaiosune dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay from 1342; equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification:--righteousness.]
1). This is not referring to being just acquainted with someone. It is “to know thoroughly”. I believe these Scriptures reveal perhaps more than any other, the folly of the doctrine of unconditional eternal security or once saved always saved. Why else would Peter under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost write, “the latter end is worse with them than the beginning” and then follow it up with, “it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness”. The words of Peter confirm perfectly what Jesus spoke during his earthly ministry, “the last state of that man is worse than the first.”
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.
2). When speaking about Judas who was about to betray him, Jesus said it would have been good “if he had not been born.”
a). Matthew 26:21-24 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
26:22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?
26:23 And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.
26:24 The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.
(1) good [Strong: 2570 kalos kal-os' properly, beautiful, but chiefly (figuratively) good (literally or morally), i.e. valuable or virtuous (for appearance or use, and thus distinguished from [agaqoV] - agathos 18, which is properly intrinsic):--X better, fair, good(-ly), honest, meet, well, worthy.]
(2) A number of translations have “better” instead of “good”. [NLT] “It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!" [NIV] “It would be better for him if he had not been born.” [RSV] “It would have been better for that man if he had not been born."
3). In this verse it reveals these people knew the way of righteousness. Those who defend the doctrine of unconditional eternal security (once saved always saved), also 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.
2. “… than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”
a. than [Strong: 2228 e ay a primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than:--and, but (either), (n-)either, except it be, (n-)or (else), rather, save, than, that, what, yea. Often used in connection with other particles.
b. after they have known it [Strong: 1921 epiginosko ep-ig-in-oce'-ko from 1909 and 1097; to know upon some mark, i.e. recognize; by implication, to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge:--(ac-, have, take)know(-ledge, well), perceive.] [Thayer: to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly, to know accurately, know well, to know, to recognize, by sight, hearing, of certain signs, to perceive who a person is, to know i.e. to perceive, to know i.e. to find out, ascertain, to know i.e. to understand.]
c. to turn [Strong: 1994 epistrepho ep-ee-stref'-o to revert (literally, figuratively or morally):--come (go) again, convert, (re-)turn (about, again).]
d. from [Strong: 1537 ek ek a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause; literal or figurative; direct or remote):--after, among, X are, at, betwixt(-yond), by (the means of), exceedingly, (+ abundantly above), for(- th), from (among, forth, up), + grudgingly, + heartily, X heavenly, X hereby, + very highly, in, ...ly, (because, by reason) of, off (from), on, out among (from, of), over, since, X thenceforth, through, X unto, X vehemently, with(-out). Often used in composition, with the same general import; often of completion.]
e. the [Strong: 3588. [tes] 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: [tes] 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. holy [Strong: 40 hagios hag'-ee-os from hagos (an awful thing) (compare 53, 2282); sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):--(most) holy (one, thing), saint.] [Zodhiates: Holy, set apart, sanctified, consecrated, saint…It fundamental idea is separation, consecration, devotion to the service of Deity, sharing in God’s purity and abstaining from earth’s defilement.]
g. commandment [Strong: 1785 entole en-tol-ay' from 1781; injunction, i.e. an authoritative prescription:--commandment, precept.]
1). Looking at all the Scriptures given in these few verses concerning those who turn away from God after knowing Him, it is clear that it will be worse for them. Their judgment will be more severe because they rejected God after they have known Him. Jesus gave us a perfect example in the gospel of Matthew.
a). Matthew 11:20-24 Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
11:21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
11:22 But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
11:24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
2). Peter refers to the Scripture as “the holy commandment”. Our attitude toward the Bible should be that it is not like other books, it is set apart, consecrated. The Bible is the God-breathed word of God.
g. delivered [Strong: 3860 paradidomi par-ad-id'-o-mee from 3844 and 1325; to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit:--betray, bring forth, cast, commit, deliver (up), give (over, up), hazard, put in prison, recommend.]
1). The Greek word for “delivered” used in this verse (2 Peter 2:21), is the same Greek word translated “delivered” in Romans 6:17. It proves the fact the individuals in this passage were believers, for they “escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”.
a). 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.
h. 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.]
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