False Teachers
BUT there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you; who, will bring in destructive factions and deny the Master that redeemed them: bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many will follow their destructive ways; on account of whom, the way of truth shall be blasphemed.
3 And on account of their greediness, with false words they will cheat you: whose judgment is of long ago, and is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.
God’s Righteous Judgement
4 ¶ For if God spared not the Angels that sinned, rather cast them down to Tartarus, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but rather watched over Noah one of eight, a preacher of righteousness, bringing the flood upon the world of the ungodly.
6 ¶ And reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes; condemning them with a catastrophe, and making an example to those that would live ungodly in the future.
7 And rescued righteous Lot, who was tormented because of the lascivious conduct of the lawless
8 (Because that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds).
9 So then, the Lord knows how to rescue the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unrighteous to the day of judgment to be punished.
The Reward of Unrighteousness
10 ¶ And especially those that walk after the defiling desire of the flesh, whom also despise lordship. Bold, arrogant, they do not tremble when they blaspheme dignities.
11 Whereas Angels, which are greater in strength and power, do not bring railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these are like brute beasts of nature, born to be captured and destroyed; blaspheming that which they do not understand; and, in their own corruption will be utterly destroyed;
13 And shall receive the wages of unrighteousness; they that consider it pleasurable to revel in the day time. They are spots and blemishes, revelling in their own deceitfulness while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and never ceasing from sin; enticing unstable souls: a heart trained with greed; having accursed children.
15 ¶ Which have forsaken the straight way, and wandered off the path, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his lawlessness: the mute donkey, speaking with a man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are springs without water, clouds that are carried away by a wind storm; to whom the gloom of darkness is reserved forever.
A Dog Returns to his Vomit
18 ¶ Because, speaking boastful vain words, they lead astray through fleshly desires, and by lasciviousness; those who were sure, and who were escaping the way of life of those in deceit.
19 They promise them liberty, but they themselves are the slaves of corruption; because, a man is enslaved by that which he succumbs to.
20 ¶ For, if having escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; they are entangled again, and succumb; their final state is worse than at the beginning.
21 Because, it is better for them not to have known the way of righteousness; than, having known it, turn back from the holy commandment that delivered them.
22 But it has happened to them according to the true parable: The dog has returned to his own vomit; and: The sow that was washed, to wallowing in her filth.