Are - Notice this verb is in the present tense which indicates their continual enslavement to sin, their master, a cruel master indeed! The idea is to be put to the worse and hence to be defeated or conquered. Compare Galatians 5:13. Greeting. Yet the Stoic would never call himself the doúlos theoú; he moves through the world as basileús and despótēs, the very opposite of the doúlos. On numerous occasions, Aristotle spoke of the Gk. Liberty! 2 Peter 2:19 (note) promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. They actually delivered bondage and temporal judgment. Legalistic repression is no biblical value. He said then, "There is a relation between thee and me, elder than either thy or my birth, if thou be the daughter of Laban (The works of Josephus Ant I, xix 5). (2 Peter 2- William Barclay's Daily Study Bible). Politicians cannot produce liberty. 2 Peter chapter 2 KJV (King James Version) comment by Alex on 2 peter 2 v 22 When we are bornagain we birth a new man which is the H.G. These were called servi, slaves, from the verb servare, to keep or preserve. The liberty spoken of in Gal 5:1 is liberty from the Mosaic law, not liberty to do as one pleases. Paul implies that he encountered a similar error in Corinth (read 1Cor 6:12ff). A profound irony of sin is evident here: the quest for freedom from God leads only to slavery to sin and self. In his opening comments Peter reminded the believers that... by these (His own glory and excellence) He has granted (perfect tense = permanence of these divine gifts) to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption (phthora) that is in the world by lust. They are may look very successful but they are not to be envied because they are "defeated" men! 2 Peter 2:19 REV and Commentary - They promise them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption. Their message was arrogant because it was the contradiction of the message of Christ; it was futile because he who followed it would find himself a slave. 2 Peter 2:19 Commentary. (NET Bible), NJB: They may promise freedom but are themselves slaves to corruption; because if anyone lets himself be dominated by anything, then he is a slave to it; (NJB), NLT: They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption. By contrast, bondage predictably and inescapably comes to anyone who ignores God's truth. What are distinguishing marks of the people of God which separate them from the world? They probably quoted Gal 5:1 with great power among the new and unstable converts: "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery!" Could it be added in the comment on “responsible decisions” that it is in obedience to the revealed principles and code of conduct in the N.T. Unwilling to look the other way any longer, on September 22, 1862, he presented what came to be known as the Emancipation Proclamation, an official document condemning human slavery. It is our job to search them out. A list of the best commentaries on 2 Peter/Jude ranked by scholars, journal reviews, and site users. Spiritual Practice of Forgiveness $ 4.99 – $ 9.99 Select options; Deity of Yeshua, The $ 4.99 – $ 9.99 Select options; Those officially emancipated people, thinking slavery was the way they were condemned to exist, continued to live in bondage though they had been declared free men and women since the fall of 1862. Joel 2:30-31 (cited in Acts 2:19-20) refers to the future cosmic signs that will manifestly herald the day of the Lord. Noah warned the world of God’s righteous judgment. Eleutheria thus means freedom, independence, in the sense of being independent of others, being able to dispose. When explaining this passage ask your audience, “better WHEN?” The text, properly understood, only allows one answer: better in this life. :) So often, we want to make a new start in our lives, and we're going along great, but then suddenly screw it up, even this soon after New Year's. Eerdmans, 2 Peter Devotionals & Sermon Illustrations, By the Holy Spirit -Romans 8:15; 2Co 3:17, Proclaimed by Christ -Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18, The service of Christ is -1 Corinthians 7:22, Jewish ordinances -Galatians 4:3; Colossians 2:20, Called the glorious liberty of the children of God -Romans 8:21, Not offend others by -1Corinthians 8:9; 10:29,32, The gospel is the law of -James 1:25; 2:12, Typified -Lv 25:10-17; Ga 4:22, 23, 24, 25, 26,31, Jn 8:34; Ro 6:12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22; Titus 3:3, A characteristic of the wicked -Psalms 49:18, Prosperity frequently leads to -Psalms 30:6; Hosea 12:8; Luke 12:17-19, Obstinate sinners often given up to -Psalms 81:11,12; Hosea 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:10,11, We should adhere to established wicked practices -Jeremiah 44:17, We are rich in spiritual things -Revelation 3:17, We may have peace while in sin -Deuteronomy 29:19, Gifts entitle us to heaven -Matthew 7:21,22, Privileges entitle us to heaven -Matthew 3:9; Luke 13:25,26, God will not punish our sins Psalms 10:11; Jeremiah 5:12, Christ shall not come to judge 2 Peter 3:4, Our lives shall be prolonged Isaiah 56:12; Luke 12:19; James 4:13, Frequently preserved in, to the last Matthew 7:22; 25:11,12; Luke 13:24,25, Fatal consequences of Matthew 7:23; 24:48-51; Luke 12:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Is to the devil -1 Timothy 3:7; 2 Timothy 2:26, Is to sin -John 8:34; Acts 8:23; Romans 6:16; 7:23; Galatians 4:3; 2 Peter 2:19, Deliverance from, promised -Isaiah 42:6,7, Christ delivers from -Luke 4:18,21; John 8:36; Romans 7:24,24; Ephesians 4:8, The gospel, the instrument of deliverance from -John 8:32; Romans 8:2, Saints are delivered from -Romans 6:18,22, Deliverance from, illustrated -Deuteronomy 4:20. O. Schrader derives it from the Indo-Germanic *leudh-, belonging to the people, and thus not subject. A fish is free in the water, but leave him on the sand and he perishes. Liberty means ability not to violate the law of God. The glory of the Gospel brings spiritual freedom, while the disgrace of this "brand" of false teaching brings bondage to sin, self and Satan. Comment: The motif of bondage and freedom is central to the teaching of Paul, and it takes two forms: bondage to law and bondage to sin and death. (see note 2 Peter 1:4). (See under point #1 - Of the Mortification of Sin). Remember that it was only a "little thing," (one bite of a forbidden fruit) through which "sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned." The one set at liberty from the law is under a stronger and more effective compulsion, namely, divine love as ministered to the yielded saint by the Holy Spirit (Gal. For many Protestant believers, a category for a judgment according to works does not exist; we’re saved by faith after all! No man is right to do as he pleases unless he pleases to do right! (Phillips: Touchstone). Thus the person who is overcome by his lusts is represented as being the slave of those lusts (see Ro 6:16-note). There would have been far less likelihood of my falling, for I would have been aware of the danger." To be vanquished, subdued and enslaved or overcome as in a conflict or a lawsuit. Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Theywere Christians who lived in the country that we now call Turkey. So Peter blasts the trumpet of warning: they are twisting the Scriptures to their own destruction and their promised freedom is a bondage to corruption. They are slaves to their own “corruption.” This is why politics (liberal or conservative) cannot solve man’s problems. :) And there is a lot of warning in these verses, but I … They professed to be born again but had never really been redeemed (set free) themselves as proven by their permanent condition of enslavement! (, The techniques of false teachers are only workable with the naive, for the heretics are like a 300-pound man selling diet books— they promise . Galatians 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Be ALWAYS at it whilst you live; cease not a day from this work; be killing sin or it will be killing you." Young's Literal: liberty to them promising, themselves being servants of the corruption, for by whom any one hath been overcome, to this one also he hath been brought to servitude. Freedom is presented as a signal blessing of the economy of grace, and these false teachers are turning the grace of God into licentiousness, continually promising those “trying to escape” the struggles of life, the very freedom they themselves do not possess. 1986. He came like a servant when they were expecting a king. How can we be thankful to the Lord for something a Christian brother or sister is going to stumble over? For a person is - Bible verse Romans 6:22 (note) But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. Interesting to think about... that obedience brings freedom and rebellion brings slavery. Eleutheria was used especially in NT times of the freeing of slaves. A man was walking down a hill in the woods when he stepped on a little twig. 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