2 Peter 2:1

New Testament Epistle (General) ASV (1901)

What does 2 Peter 2:1 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:1 — American Standard Version

Context — 2 Peter 2

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“But there were false prophets also among the people, etc.] As well as holy men of God, who gave out prophecies, by the inspiration and impulse of the Holy Spirit; that is, among the people of the Jews, God's professing people, whose God was the Lord, and who had chosen them to be a special and peculiar people, above all people of the earth; and had distinguished them by his favours from all others: among these, though the Syriac version reads “in the world”, there were false prophets, who ran, and were not sent; and who prophesied, and the Lord spake not to them: of these there were many in Jeremiah's time, and in the times of Ezekiel; and in Ahab's time, besides the four hundred and fifty…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“FALSE TEACHERS TO ARISE: THEM BAD PRACTICES AND SURE DESTRUCTION, FROM WHICH THE GODLY SHALL BE DELIVERED, AS LOT WAS. (2Pe. 2:1-22) But--in contrast to the prophets "moved by the Holy Ghost" (Pe2 1:21). also--as well as the true prophets (Pe2 1:19-21). Paul had already testified the entrance of false prophets into the same churches. among the people--Israel: he is writing to believing Israelites primarily (see on Pe1 1:1). Such a "false prophet" was Balaam (Pe2 2:15). there shall be--Already symptoms of the evil were appearing (Pe2 2:9-22; Jde 1:4-13). false teachers--teachers of falsehood. In contrast to the true teachers, whom he exhorts his readers to give heed to (Pe2 3:2). who--such as…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“But there were false prophets also among the people - In the previous chapter, 2 Peter 2:19-21, Peter had appealed to the prophecies as containing unanswerable proofs of the truth of the Christian religion. He says, however, that he did not mean to say that all who claimed to be prophets were true messengers of God. There were many who pretended to be such, who only led the people astray. It is unnecessary to say, that such men have abounded in all ages where there have been true prophets. Even as there shall be false teachers among you - The fact that false teachers would arise in the church is often adverted to in the New Testament. Compare Matthew 24:5, Matthew 24:24; Acts 20:29-30. Who…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“But there were false prophets also - As well as true. Among the people - Of Israel. Those that spake even the truth, when God had not sent them; and also those that were truly sent of him, and yet corrupted or softened their message, were false prophets. As there shall be false - As well as true. Teachers among you, who will privately briny in - Into the church. Destructive heresies - They first, by denying the Lord, introduced destructive heresies, that is, divisions; or they occasioned first these divisions, and then were given up to a reprobate mind, even to deny the Lord that bought them. Either the heresies are the effect of denying the Lord, or the denying the Lord was the consequence…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“2:1-3 Alongside authentic prophets (1:20-21), there have always been false prophets who receive God’s judgment. 2:1 They will: Peter’s use of the future tense in 2:1-3 does not imply that false prophets had not yet come, but it alludes to Jesus’ prediction that false teachers would arise (Matt 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22; cp. Acts 20:29-31; 2 Tim 3:1-6). The false teachers who had arisen fulfilled that prediction. • deny the Master who bought them: The false teachers might have been overtly renouncing Christ, but it is more likely that their immoral conduct constituted a denial of Christ (cp. Titus 1:16).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“there were: Deu 13:1-3; Kg1 18:19-22, Kg1 22:6; Neh 6:12-14; Isa 9:15, Isa 56:10, Isa 56:11; Jer 14:13-15, Jer 23:16, Jer 23:17, Jer 23:25-32, Jer 27:14, Jer 27:15, Jer 28:15-17, Jer 29:8, Jer 29:9, Jer 29:31, Jer 29:32; Jer 37:19; Lam 2:14; Ezek. 13:3-18; Hos 9:8; Mic 2:11, Mic 3:5, Mic 3:11; Zac 13:3, Zac 13:4; Mat 7:15; Luk 6:26; Rom 16:18 even: Mat 24:5, Mat 24:11, Mat 24:24; Mar 13:22; Luk 21:8; Act 20:29, Act 20:30; Co1 11:19; Co2 11:13-15; Gal 4:17; Eph 4:14; Col 2:8, Col 2:18; Th2 2:3-12; Ti1 4:1-3; Ti2 3:1-9, Ti2 4:3; Tit 1:11; Jo1 2:18, Jo1 2:19, Jo1 2:26, Jo1 4:1; Jde 1:18; Rev 2:9, Rev 13:14 privily: Pe2 2:3; Gal 2:4 damnable: Pe2 2:3; Gal 5:20; Tit 3:10 denying: Mat 10:33; Luk…”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification