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DECEMBER 1
2 Peter 2:1–22 things they do not understand, and will
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utterly perish in their own corruption, and
But there were also false prophets among
2 the people, even as there will be false will receive the wages of unrighteousness,
teachers among you, who will secretly bring as those who count it pleasure to carouse in
in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord the daytime. They are spots and blemishes,
who bought them, and bring on themselves carousing in their own deceptions while
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swift destruction. And many will follow their they feast with you, having eyes full of
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destructive ways, because of whom the way of adultery and that cannot cease from sin,
truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness enticing unstable souls. They have a heart
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they will exploit you with deceptive words; for trained in covetous practices, and are
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a long time their judgment has not been idle, accursed children. They have forsaken the
and their destruction does not slumber. right way and gone astray, following the way
For if God did not spare the angels who 16
4 of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the
sinned, but cast them down to hell and deliv- wages of unrighteousness; but he was
ered them into chains of darkness, to be rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey
reserved for judgment; and did not spare the speaking with a man’s voice restrained the
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ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight madness of the prophet.
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people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing These are wells without water, clouds car-
in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and ried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the
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turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah blackness of darkness forever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words
into ashes, condemned them to destruction,
making them an example to those who after- of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of
ward would live ungodly; and delivered righ- the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who
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teous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy have actually escaped from those who live in
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conduct of the wicked (for that righteous error. While they promise them liberty, they
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man, dwelling among them, tormented his themselves are slaves of corruption; for by
righteous soul from day to day by seeing and whom a person is overcome, by him also he is
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hearing their lawless deeds)— then the Lord brought into bondage. For if, after they have
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knows how to deliver the godly out of tempta- escaped the pollutions of the world through
tions and to reserve the unjust under punish- the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus
ment for the day of judgment, and especially Christ, they are again entangled in them and
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those who walk according to the flesh in the overcome, the latter end is worse for them
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lust of uncleanness and despise authority. than the beginning. For it would have been
They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are better for them not to have known the way of
not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, where- righteousness, than having known it, to turn
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as angels, who are greater in power and from the holy commandment delivered to
might, do not bring a reviling accusation them. But it has happened to them according
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against them before the Lord. to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own
But these, like natural brute beasts made vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wal-
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to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the lowing in the mire.”
2:11 angels,who are greater in power.A ref- 2:19 promise them liberty. False teachers
erence to the holy angels, who are greater in promise those “trying to escape”the struggles
power than human beings. do not bring a of life the very freedom they seek. slaves of
reviling accusation. Unlike false teachers corruption. The false teachers can’t deliver
who are defiant toward higher powers, the the freedom they promise, because they
holy angels so revere their Lord that they will themselves are enslaved to the very corrup-
not speak insults against any authority. Even tion which people are trying to escape. over-
the archangel Michael, recognizing the great come,…bondage. Whoever puts himself, in
presence and power of Satan,refused to speak the name of freedom,into the hands of a false
evil of him (Jude 8,9),but called on the Lord to teacher, who is a prisoner himself, also
do so. No believer should be so boldly foolish becomes a prisoner. Bondage to corruption
as to mock or command the power of super- awaits all followers of false teachers.
natural demons, especially Satan.
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