2 Peter 2:1
What does 2 Peter 2:1 mean?
A plain-English look at 2 Peter 2:1 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 2 Peter 2:1 means
Peter warns that just as Israel once had false prophets, the churches will face false teachers. They slip in quietly, smuggling destructive ideas that fracture the faith. Their worst offense is to deny the very Master who purchased them—language that points to Jesus’ redeeming lordship. Their end is self-inflicted: by rejecting the Lord and his truth, they set themselves on a path of swift ruin. The church must not be naïve; deception often wears religious clothing and trades on Christian vocabulary while undermining apostolic doctrine at its core.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But there were false prophets among the people, as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly put forward wrong teachings for your destruction, even turning away from the Lord who gave himself for them; whose destruction will come quickly, and they themselves will be the cause of it.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And there did come also false prophets among the people, as also among you there shall be false teachers, who shall bring in besides destructive sects, and the Master who bought them denying, bringing to themselves quick destruction,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you lying teachers who shall bring in sects of perdition and deny the Lord who bought them: bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But there were false prophets also among the people, as there shall be also among you false teachers, who shall bring in by the bye destructive heresies, and deny the master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction;
Context
This verse opens the chapter by shifting from chapter 1’s sure prophetic word to a sober contrast: not all who speak religiously are from God. Peter sets the theme—false teachers within the community—and names their tactics and end. The next verses show the impact on many followers and the dishonor this brings to the faith (verse 2), then expose the greed that drives such teachers and the certainty of divine judgment (verse 3).
v.1This passage
v.2And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 28:15
Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah: Jehovah hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
- Ephesians 4:14
that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error;
- Jude 1:18
that they said to you, In the last time there shall be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts.
- Luke 12:9
but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God.
- 1 Peter 1:8
whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
- Isaiah 56:10
His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
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