What Does 2 Peter 2:10 Mean?

(10) **Them that walk after the flesh.**—Less definite than Jude 1:7. Here there is nothing about going *away* or *astray, *nor about the flesh being “other” than is allowed. This is natural; Jude’s remark applying to the inhabitants of the cities of the plain in particular, this to sensual persons generally. **In the lust of uncleanness.**—Better, *in the lust of pollution*—*i.e., *the lust that causes pollution. The exact word occurs nowhere else; the same word, all but the termination, occurs in 2Peter 2:20, and nowhere else. **Despise government.**—(Comp. “despise dominion,” Jude 1:8.) Our version is minutely perverse. The word translated “government” here and “dominion” in Jude is one and the same in the Greek: whereas the words translated in both places “despise” are different. **Presumptuous are they.**—A fresh verse should begin here; the construction is entirely changed, and a fresh start made. From “the unjust” to “government” the reference is to ungodly and sensual people in general; here we return to the false teachers in particular. *Audacious* would be more literal than “presumptuous.” The word is found here only. On the change to the present tense, see *Introduction, *I., *c, γ*. **Speak evil of dignities.**—The exact meaning of “dignities,” or “glories,” is not clear, either here or in Jude 1:8. The context in both places seems to show that spiritual powers alone are intended, and that earthly powers, whether civil or ecclesiastical, are not included, much less exclusively indicated. The construction here resembles that in 2Peter 1:19 : “Do not tremble in (or, *while*) speaking evil of dignities,” like “ye do well in taking heed.” These men deny the existence of, or irreverently speak slightingly of, those spiritual agencies by means of which God conducts the government of the world.