2 Peter 2:4-11

4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; 7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord.

Commentary

The Apostle Peter here lays forth the Biblical and historical grounds for his strong condemnation of all false teachers. In this Peter cites three historic events, all recorded for us in the Book of Genesis (see Gen 6:1-4; 6:5-9:17; 19:1-29). He begins first with God's dealings with those angels who sinned against God, saying: "For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment" vs. 4  In Jude 6 the Scripture similarly states: "And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day."

In the Genesis account (if we take that as the reference) there the angels (i.e. sons of God) left the heavenly abode and dwelt amongst mankind as mortals and took to themselves woman as wives. The resulting offspring (not only produced a race of mortal giants) but seems to have hastened mankind's wickedness and rebellion on earth. And so immediately following that there is God's response, not just to their deed, but to the whole of humanity, who at that time had become utterly wicked and corrupt (see Genesis 6:5-8). Yet one man, Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. A preacher of righteousness. Who in the face of overwhelming opposition held fast to faith in God and refused to be conformed to the prevailing cultures wickedness and degradation all around him. And so it would be through Noah, one of eight people, whom the Lord would set aside in the Ark to preserve the human race, before bringing in the flood on the ungodly. And so from that, and with the reestablishment of mankind on the earth, we again read of mankind's propensity towards evil. This time in the days of Abraham, when God would visit His punishment on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Notorious for their homosexual and sexually immoral practices. These two principal cities of the ancient world would be consumed by fire and brimstone sent from God from heaven. Making them a clear example to all of mankind, of the end of all who practice such things. And so as the Scripture states God turned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemning them to destruction, making them an example of all who would live ungodly (vs. 6).

Now before doing so, God delivered Abraham's nephew Lot, who had early separated from Abraham because the land could not contain them both (see Genesis 13:5-13). And so Lot chose the plain of the Jordan near Sodom and Gomorrah, (thinking it would be a good place to dwell because the countryside look favorable for his herds). But in reality, he did not know what he was getting himself into. And so the Apostle Peter here recalls how God delivered the righteous Lot, before destroying Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness. For as Peter says in verse eight and nine, 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)— 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment".

Thus two great truths are presented before us here. First, God knows how to deliver the Godly out of temptations, not eliminate them completely, as we would often like, but deliver us out of them (consider 1 Cor 10:13). For though we live in a world that is filled with temptations, being led astray by the Tempter, we do not live as powerless people in this godless world. We who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have been given both the Holy Spirit, as well as the Word of God by which we can overcome both sin and Satan when we appropriate these God given resources to ourselves. That is appropriate by faith what the Lord Jesus Christ has not only done to save us, and all who believe in Him. But also, empower us by His Spirit to live Godly lives (Gal 5:16-24). For it is Jesus Christ Himself who now lives in us, and is the One who is not only upholding us by our union in life, death, and Resurrection with Him (Rom 6:6; Col 2:12; Jude 1). But Jesus Himself is by His Spirit within us transforming us. So that we all who are In Christ will more and more reflect His true image (2 Cor 3:17-18). For God does not expect, or want us to stand alone against the Tempter and His schemes. Rather we are to take our stand with the Lord Jesus Christ against him (Eph 6:11). Thus not in our own strength, resources, or abilities, but with Christ's. We are to stand. Putting on the whole armor of God (see Ephesians 6:10-17) so that we might stand in the day of temptation, by rejecting Satan's lies and the world's ways, by God's truth (2 Cor 10:5). For in believing and obeying God's Word the Tempter will always be thwarted. Therefore just as the Apostle Peter says here God knows how deliver the godly out of temptations (consider Psalm 37:28; 97:10; 145:20; Prov 2:8), and reserve (that is keep in a certain state or guard) the unjust/unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment (2 Peter 3:7). And so quoting from the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Abridged Edition: "The wicked will be under punishment between death and judgment, i.e., until their destiny is finally fixed." (see TDNT Abridged Edition, page 451 under κολάζω).

Vs. 10-11 In the first part of the Apostle Peters exhortation he looked to the Biblical history to demonstrate God's impartial dealing with both angels and mankind who willfully sin against Him. The reason for doing so was to demonstrate to us all that though false teachers may "prosper" for a season, their end and destruction, like those before them, is assured (consider Job 21:30; Prov 16:4; Rom 9:22-26). And so even though God's people will have to bear long with Him while such things are taking place. God knows how to keep the wicked under punishment for the day of judgment. Whether this is to affect their miseries in this life by taking away their peace (consider Isaiah 57:19-21), or simply letting them continue on in their current state of being, so as to fill up the measure of their sins, for the finial day of eternal punishment. God knows how to deal with each and every one, who in their fleshly pride rebels against Him. "and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord." vs. 10-11

Now the Apostle Peter identifies them here by two traits, both which directs their lives and defines their person. The first is that they walk according to the flesh, in the "lust of uncleanness." Whether as an action or a state of their being (TDNTA). Both the TDNT and it's abridged edition TDNTA says that this is "the licentious affirmation of sexual impulses" (TDNT) while the abridged edition gives it as: "licentious passion that defiles" (TDNTA). That is they live by, and for the sexual lusts of their flesh. And so that is how they see, assess, and approve of others. Not by the Spirit of God, but rather through their carnal eyes and fleshly mindedness, they make much of the corruptible flesh and little of the everlasting soul. Yet we who believe in Jesus, are commanded to judge no one according to the flesh (consider John 8:15; 2 Cor 5:16-17), much less live according to it (Rom 8:1, 4, 5, 12, 13). But for them that is default measure of everyone and everything. And so they are readily identified by what drives them, and that is the corruption that is in the world through lust (2 Peter 1:4).

The next thing that that identifies them is "a spirit of rebellion." As the Apostle Peter says here, they don't see God given authority as something for mankind's betterment, rather they despise it (vs. 10). The word here literally means "to think against" and in no uncertain terms is here indicating "to despise, to regard with contempt". And thus they do not honor, nor respect God given lawfully authority, as we are commanded to do (Prov 24:21; Rom 13:1-7; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13, 18 etc.).
Rather they in their hearts and minds are set against it, literally despising it. And thus their lives (and the lives and assemblies they influence) often bear the fruits of such an evil attitude. For as the Old Covenant Israelites who came out of Egypt neither feared God, nor the man Moses He commanded to lead them into the promised land. So these are a constant thorn in the side, as well as threat to peaceful cohabitation of all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. And so Peter says here: "They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord." vs. 10-11
The description the Apostle Peter gives here of them is fully congruent with what the Apostle Jude says of them, and their person, in his condemnation of them (see Jude 8). Now the word translated presumptuous here means "to dare", "to have courage", "to be bold". And it is indicating a godless fearlessness not only towards those in authority, but also of speaking against them. And so they neither heed, nor respect God given authority. Rather they are self-willed individuals; that is they are self satisfied, overbearing, arrogant individuals who neither fear God or those He has placed in authority to govern us all. Whether in the world or in the Church. Instead as Peter goes on to say, they are not even afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, "whereas angels, who are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord." vs. 11

And so one quickly sees how these godless individuals who make themselves out to be something in the church, but in reality they are nothing. For they know nothing of the glory of God, nor of Christ, yet they are fearless in speaking evil of dignitaries, whether angelic beings (as the context indicates) or God's own who bear Christ's glory in their person, by Jesus' Person and Spirit, indwelling and glorifying Himself through them (consider Rom 8:29-30; 1 Peter 4:14).  And so my point is not to altar the context (or it's meaning) rather to demonstrate the true nature of these godless and brazen individuals, who not only disdain godly authority, they also fearlessly speak against it, going so far as to even speak evil of God's dignitaries.

Scripture Citations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982 

Word Studies
hell (Str 5020; GK 5434; LN 1.25) 1x
uncleaness (Str 3394; GK 3622; TDNT 4.647; TDNTA 593; LN 88.259) 1x
despise (Str 2706; GK 2969; TDNT 3.631; TDNTA 421; LN 88.192) 9x
self-willed (Str 829; GK 881; TDNT 1.508; TDNTA 87; LN 88.206) 2x
dignitaries (Str 1391; GK 1518; TDNT 2.233; TDNTA 178; LN 1.15; 12.6; 12.49; 14.49; 25.205; 33.357; 33.468; 76.13; 79.13; 87.4; 87.23) 168x

Acroymns
Str: Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001.
GK: Goodrick-Kohlenberger (oringinal languages numbering system)
LN: Louw-Nida, Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. electronic ed. of the 2nd edition. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
TDNT: Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Edited by Gerhard Kittel, Geoffrey W. Bromiley and Gerhard Friedrich. electronic ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1964-.
TDNTA: Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Abridged Edition, Kittel, Gerhard, Gerhard Friedrich, and Geoffrey William Bromiley. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 1985.
 
The word translated hell in verse four (tartaroo) is the word the ancient Greeks used to describe the place where the wicked dead suffer punishment for their deeds (Strongs). Here Peter is using it to bring across to the Greek mind (i.e. Gentiles), the O.T. Hebrew word and concept for hell (Gehennna).

Note: this is a draft version