A Word on 2Peter 2:20, 21

[NetChaplain]

Decided to share some commentary concerning “heresies” from “false teachers” (v 1):
“Through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” I believe this phrase is the same as many other passages like Heb 10:26 – “receiving the knowledge of the truth” i.e. Gospel. I think if this intended to mean receiving or accepting the truth of the Gospel, and not just the knowledge of it, this would be stated differently, because Scripture is directly plain when the subject concerns being saved, redeemed or reborn. Thus, it is more hermeneutically reasonable that “the knowledge of the Lord” intends only the knowledge of the Lord is learned, received or discovered, but not His Gospel and Himself received.


“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world”: “these, men may escape, abstain from, and outwardly reform, with respect unto, and yet be destitute of the grace of God; so that this can be no instance of the final and total apostasy of real saints; for the house may be swept and garnished with an external reformation; persons may be outwardly righteous before men, have a form of godliness and a name to live, and yet be dead in trespasses and sins.”

“By which ‘knowledge’ is meant, not a spiritual experimental knowledge of Christ, for that is eternal life, the beginning, pledge, and earnest of it; but a notional knowledge of Christ, or a profession of knowledge of Him, for it may be rendered "acknowledgment"; or rather the Gospel of Christ, which, being only notionally received, may have such an effect on men, as outwardly to reform their lives, at least in some instances, and for a while, in whose hearts it has no place.”
–J Gill


I strongly recommend viewing the entirety of Gill’s commentary on 2Peter 2! 2 Peter 2 Bible Commentary - John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

 

[B-A-C]

Sorry, no J. Gill for me. No hyper-calvinism for me.

John Gill (theologian) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

2Pet 2:20; For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

You can't do something "again". Unless you stopped doing it for a while. Otherwise you are simply "still" doing it.

Heb 6:4; For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
Heb 6:5; and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
Heb 6:6; and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

Heb 10:26; For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

In my opion J. Gill was one of the people Peter was speaking of in 2Peter 2:1-19;

 

[NetChaplain]

2Pet 2:20; For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

You can't do something "again". Unless you stopped doing it for a while. Otherwise you are simply "still" doing it.

The false teacher's (2Pe 2:1) "escape" was only temporary, because they only had the "knowledge" of Crist but not Christ. Otherwise they would be "delivered out of temptations" (2Pe 2:9). Their escape was that their consciences were a bit relieved from a hypocritical profession, and not genuine.

 

[Garee]

Sorry, no J. Gill for me. No hyper-calvinism for me.

John Gill (theologian) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

2Pet 2:20; For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first.

You can't do something "again". Unless you stopped doing it for a while. Otherwise you are simply "still" doing it.

Heb 6:4; For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,
Heb 6:5; and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,
Heb 6:6; and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.

Heb 10:26; For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

In my opion J. Gill was one of the people Peter was speaking of in 2Peter 2:1-19;

Those who crucify him over every time their heart condemns them over they sin again by not giving God the glory ..They by thier works or action define what is called “dead works” No faith coming from God .

Hebrews 6 :2-3 King James Version (KJV)Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.

Later in the chapter the better things that accompany salvation is reveled assuring us he will not forget the good works we offer towards his name .Not the names of those offering dead works towards him over and over. . Faith works in two ways in us to both hear the will and empowers us to work it out without murmuring. .a dead hope.