Bible Passage Scripture Block

These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.

These [those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority – vs 10] are worthless springs and like mist in a storm. For them the despair of utter darkness is waiting. With foolish boasting they use fleshly sensuality to lure back those that have just barely escaped those living in sin. They promise them freedom but are themselves enslaved to corruption, for people are slaves to whatever masters them.

Peter is concluding a lengthy instruction/warning about false teachers (2:1) rising up among them. He embarks on a treatise about the danger of coming to a “swift destruction” (vs 1) and how “the way of truth will be blasphemed” (vs 2). He provides examples including some illuminating information re: angels (vs 4) and several more from the Old Testament including Noah (vs 5), Sodom and Gomorrah (vs 6), and Balaam (vs 15). This section closely parallels Jude 1 and Peter relates this process of one’s descent to spiritual destruction with Proverbs 26:11, “Like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.”