Vincent Word Studies - 2 Peter 2:13

Vincent Word Studies - 2 Peter 2:13 - 2:13

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Vincent Word Studies - 2 Peter 2:13 - 2:13

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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
And shall receive (κομιούμενοι)

Lit., being about or destined to receive. See on 1Pe 1:9, and compare 1Pe 5:4. Some good texts read ἀδικούμενοι, suffering wrong. So Rev., suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing.

Reward of unrighteousness (μισθὸν ἀδικίας)

Μισθὸς is hire, and so is rendered in Rev. Compare Mat 20:8; Luk 10:7; Joh 4:36. It also has in classical Greek the general sense of reward, and so very often in the New Testament, in passages where hire or wages would be inappropriate. Thus Mat 5:12; Mat 6:1; Mat 10:41. Hire would seem to be better here, because of the reference to Balaam in 2Pe 2:15, where the word occurs again and requires that rendering. The phrase μισθός ἀδικίας, reward of wages of iniquity, occurs only here and in Peter's speech concerning Judas (Act 1:18), where the Rev. retains the rendering of the A. V., reward of iniquity. It would have been better to render wages of iniquity in both places. Iniquity and unrighteousness are used in English almost synonymously; though etymologically, iniquity emphasizes the idea of injustice (inaequus), while unrighteousness (non-rightness) is more general, implying all deviation from right, whether involving another's interests or not. This distinction is not, however, observed in the Rev., where the rendering of ἄδικία, and of the kindred adjective ἄδικος, varies unaccountably, if not capriciously, between unrighteous and unjust.

As they that count it pleasure to riot (ἡδονὴν ἡγούμενοι τρυφήν)

The as of the A. V. is needless. The discourse proceeds from 2Pe 2:13 by a series of participles, as far as following (2Pe 2:15). Literally the passage runs, counting riot a pleasure.

Riot (τρυφήν)

Meaning rather daintiness, delicacy, luxuriousness. Even the Rev. revel is almost too strong. Compare Luk 7:25, the only other passage where the word occurs, and where the Rev. retains the A. V., live delicately. So, also, Rev. substitutes, in Jam 5:5, lived delicately for lived in pleasure.

In the daytime

Compare Peter's words Act 2:15; also, 1Th 5:7.

Spots (σπίλοι)

Only here and Eph 5:27. Compare the kindred participle spotted (Jud 1:23), and defileth (Jam 3:6).

Blemishes (μῶμοι)

Only here in New Testament. The negatives of the two terms spots and blemishes occur at 1Pe 1:19.

Sporting themselves (ἐντρυφῶντες)

From τρυφή, luxuriousness. See on riot. Rev., revelling.

With their own deceivings (ἐν ταῖς ἀπάταις αὑτῶν)

The Rev., however, follows another reading, which occurs in the parallel passage Jud 1:12 : ἀγάπαις, love-feasts, the public banquets instituted by the early Christians, and connected with the celebration of the Lord's Supper. Rev. renders revelling in their love-feasts, though the American Committee insist on deceivings. On the abuses at these feasts, see 1Co 11:20-22. For αὑτῶν, their own, the best texts read αὐτῶν, their.

While they feast with you (συνευωχούμενοι)

The word originally conveys the idea of sumptuous feasting, and is appropriate in view of the fact to which Peter alludes, that these sensualists converted the love-feast into a revel. Compare Paul's words, 1Co 11:21, “one is hungry and another drunken.” This seems to favor the reading ἀγάπαις. The word occurs only here and Jud 1:12.