What does 2 Peter 2:13 mean?

Explanation

2 Peter 2:13 deals with the behavior and the eventual punishment of false teachers and heretics.

The verse harshly criticizes those who indulge in pleasure-seeking behavior during the day, which traditionally was a time for work and responsibility, as opposed to the night when such revelries were more common and slightly more tolerated.

It suggests that these people are stains and blemishes, highlighting their moral imperfections. Their "sporting themselves with their own deceivings" may refer to the enjoyment they take in their deceitfulness and misleading of others.

The phrase "while they feast with you" can be interpreted to mean that these false prophets or teachers are participating in communal meals, possibly even the love feasts or the Agape meals of the early Christian community, while harboring and promoting sinful desires and behaviors.

Historical Context

This verse is part of the second epistle attributed to Peter, a prominent apostle in the early Christian church.

This letter is generally assumed to have been written between 60-160 AD.

There are debates about its authorship, with some scholars attributing it directly to Peter and others suggesting a later follower may have penned it in his name.

The epistle targets false teachings and heresies that were threats to the early Christian communities.

This verse, in particular, reflects the early Christian struggle to live a life of moral purity in a societal context that often celebrated more hedonistic and pagan lifestyles.

Theological Insights

This verse might be seen from various theological viewpoints.

Some may interpret it as a clear denouncement of antinomianism, the belief that under faith, one is exempt from moral and civil law.

The writings attribute to them an expectation of retribution or "the reward of unrighteousness," consistent with the Christian doctrine of God's judgment.

Others might focus on the communitarian aspect, emphasizing the betrayal and hypocrisy of participating in communal worship while leading immoral lives.

The language of "spots" and "blemishes" suggests a requirement of purity for the Christian collective body that these individuals are violating.

Practical Applications

In contemporary practice, this verse might remind individuals to align their public and private lives, especially within a spiritual community.

Christians are encouraged to self-reflect and avoid hypocrisy, ensuring that their actions during all hours reflect their professed beliefs.

It's a call for integrity and authenticity, warning against the seduction of false teachings and a hedonistic lifestyle that contradicts the gospel's call to holy living.

Cross-References

• Jude 1:12: "These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;"
• Romans 16:17-18: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them."
• Ephesians 5:11-12: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."
• 1 Corinthians 5:11: "But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."
• 1 John 2:19: "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."

Language Study

The key phrases in the original Greek that are worth studying in this verse include:

• "pleasure to riot in the day time" (Greek: ἐν ἡμέρᾳ τρυφῶντες): The word "truphao" refers to living in luxury or indulgence.
• "Spots" (Greek: σπῖλοι): Literally meaning spots or stains, carrying a connotation of moral blemish.
• "Blemishes" (Greek: μῶμοι): Defects or faults, used metaphorically for moral imperfection.
• "Sporting themselves" (Greek: ἐντρυφῶντες): To revel or take delight in; it could be taken as indulging or taking pleasure in.
• "Deceivings" (Greek: ἀπάταις): Deceptions or delusions.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Early Christianity developed amidst a variety of religious traditions, including Judaism from which it emerged, as well as Greco-Roman paganism, which often featured different moral and ethical norms.

The hedonistic lifestyles condemned in this verse might be contrasted with the ascetic ideals promoted by various philosophical traditions such as Stoicism, which were about self-control and moderation and in some ways were aligned more closely with Christian values of the time.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse itself offers limited opportunity for intersection with modern scientific understandings, as it addresses moral and ethical concerns rather than empirical claims.

However, contemporary psychological and biological research into human behavior and morality could provide insights into the nature of deception, indulgence, and community dynamics referred to in the verse.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have commented on this verse:

• Matthew Henry's Commentary emphasizes the deceptive nature of these individuals and their eventual punishment by God.
• The Pulpit Commentary notes their shameless behavior in contrast to the expectations of decency during daytime activities.
• John Gill's Exposition of the Bible discusses the brazen character of false teachers who are unashamed of sinning in broad daylight.
• The New International Commentary on the New Testament explores the social implications of these moral blemishes on the early Christian community.