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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
2:4-10a Judgment of False Teachers. Peter turns to a detailed argument proving God's certain judgment on the false teachers. He uses a rabbinic form of proof that moves from minor premise to major premise (if A is true, how much more is B also true), and his analogies in vv. 4-8 amount to minor premises leading to the major premise of vv. 9-10a.
2:4 First minor premise: if God did not spare angels. If (A) God has eternally condemned the sinful angels, then (B) how much more certainly will he condemn the false teachers and their followers (major premise, vv. 9b-10a). (See note on Jude 6.)
2:5 Second minor premise: if (A) he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah . . . with seven others, then (B) will he not even more certainly judge the false teachers (major premise, vv. 9b-10a) while at the same time preserving the godly (major premise, v. 9a). Christians may be a small minority, but God will protect them.
2:6 Third minor premise: Peter sees the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah as a "type" (a divine foreshadowing) of judgment by fire on the last day (3:10-12), an event that will be denied by false teachers (2:4). If (A) God condemned Sodom and Gomorrah, then (B) how much more certain it is that the same thing will happen to the ungodly who reject the gospel.
2:7-8 Fourth minor premise: if (A) God rescued righteous Lot, who was greatly distressed and even tormented by the conduct of the wicked in Sodom (v. 6), then (B) how much more will he "rescue the godly" (major premise, v. 9a). Some have questioned whether Lot was truly righteous, given the serious sins he committed (Genesis 19). But the righteous are never considered to be perfect. Moreover, Scripture distinguishes Lot from the citizens of Sodom in that he received the angelic visitors and attempted to protect them from harm--a crucial and courageous action in his lawless and morally depraved environment.
2:9-10a Having stated his minor premises, Peter moves now to his major premise (see note on vv. 4-10a): "If" vv. 4-8 are true, then how much more true are vv. 9-10a. God indeed knows how to rescue the godly from trials. In the case of Peter's audience, this would have evoked hope of divine deliverance from the false teachers and their influence. God also will certainly keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment. He will punish them in a partial, preliminary way before the final day of judgment (cf. Luke 16:23-24; Heb. 9:27). This applies especially to those who engage in defiling passion and who despise authority--probably a reference to false teachers (cf. 2 Pet. 2:12, 18; 3:3; Jude 8, 16, 18).
