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Sunday, July 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Bible in Basic English

2 Peter 2:19

Saying that they will be free, while they themselves are the servants of destruction; because whatever gets the better of a man makes a servant of him.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Anarchy;   Corruption;   Doctrines;   Fellowship;   Hypocrisy;   Minister, Christian;   Servant;   Wicked (People);   Thompson Chain Reference - Bondage, Spiritual;   Liberty-Bondage;   Sin;   Spiritual;   The Topic Concordance - Corruption;   Folly;   Prophecy and Prophets;   Servants;   Straying;   Teaching;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God;   Bondage, Spiritual;   Liberty, Christian;   Servants;   Titles and Names of the Wicked;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Tempt;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Freedom;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Hell;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prophecy;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Nicolaitanes;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Nicolaitans;   Peter, the Epistles of;   Slave;   Timothy, the First Epistle to;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Concupiscence;   Freedom;   2 Peter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Canon of the New Testament;   Peter, Second Epistle of;   Promise;   Vanity;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Bondage;   False Prophets;   Liberty (2);   Peter Epistles of;   Promise;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Nicolaitans;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Jude, Epistle of;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Bondage;   Peter, Simon;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.
King James Version (1611)
While they promise them libertie, they themselues are the seruants of corruption: for of whom a man is ouercome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
King James Version
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
English Standard Version
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.
New American Standard Bible
promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what anyone is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
New Century Version
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are not free. They are slaves of things that will be destroyed. For people are slaves of anything that controls them.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
Berean Standard Bible
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves to depravity. For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
Contemporary English Version
They promise freedom to everyone. But they are merely slaves of filthy living, because people are slaves of whatever controls them.
Complete Jewish Bible
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for a person is slave to whatever has defeated him.
Darby Translation
promising them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a man is subdued, by him is he also brought into slavery.
Easy-to-Read Version
These false teachers promise those people freedom, but they themselves are not free. They are slaves to a mind that has been ruined by sin. Yes, people are slaves to anything that controls them.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Promising vnto them libertie, & are themselues the seruants of corruption: for of whomsoeuer a man is ouercome, euen vnto the same is he in bondage.
George Lamsa Translation
They, while they promise liberty, themselves are the slaves of corruption: for a man is overcome by whatever it is that enslaves him.
Good News Translation
They promise them freedom while they themselves are slaves of destructive habits—for we are slaves of anything that has conquered us.
Lexham English Bible
promising them freedom although they themselves are slaves of depravity. For to whatever someone succumbs, by this he is also enslaved.
Literal Translation
promising to them freedom, though themselves being slaves of corruption; for by whom anyone has been overcome, even to this one he has been enslaved.
Amplified Bible
They promise them liberty, when they themselves are the slaves of depravity—for by whatever anyone is defeated and overcome, to that [person, thing, philosophy, or concept] he is continually enslaved.
American Standard Version
promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.
Hebrew Names Version
promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for by whom a man is overcome, by the same is he also brought into bondage.
International Standard Version
Promising them freedom, they themselves are slaves to depravity, for a person is a slave to whatever conquers him.John 8:34; Romans 6:16; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
And liberty to them they promise, while they (themselves) are the servants of corruption; for the thing by which a man is overcome, to that he is subject.
Murdock Translation
And they promise them liberty, while they themselves are the slaves of corruption: for, by whatever thing a man is vanquished, to that is he enslaved.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Whyle they promise them libertie, where as they them selues are ye bonde seruauntes of corruption. For of whom a man is ouercome, vnto the same is he brought in bondage.
English Revised Version
promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage.
World English Bible
promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for by whom a man is overcome, by the same is he also brought into bondage.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
While they promise them liberty, themselves are the slaves of corruption; for by whom a man is overcome, by him he is also brought into slavery.
Weymouth's New Testament
And they promise them freedom, although they are themselves the slaves of what is corrupt. For a man is the slave of any one by whom he has been worsted in fight.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Whiche lyuen in errour, and biheten fredom to hem, whanne thei ben seruauntis of corrupcioun. For of whom ony man is ouercomun, of hym also he is seruaunt.
Update Bible Version
promising them liberty, while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for to whom a man is overcome, to this one he has been made a slave.
Webster's Bible Translation
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for by whom a man is overcome, by the same is he brought into bondage.
New English Translation
Although these false teachers promise such people freedom, they themselves are enslaved to immorality. For whatever a person succumbs to, to that he is enslaved.
New King James Version
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.
New Living Translation
They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.
New Life Bible
They promise that these men will be free. But they themselves are chained to sin. For a man is chained to anything that has power over him.
New Revised Standard
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for people are slaves to whatever masters them.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Promising, freedom to them, they themselves, being all the while, slaves of corruption, - for, by whom one hath been defeated, by the same, hath he become enslaved, -
Douay-Rheims Bible
Promising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the slaves of corruption. For by whom a man is overcome, of the same also he is the slave.
Revised Standard Version
They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption; for whatever overcomes a man, to that he is enslaved.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
They promys them libertye and are them selves ye bonde servauntes of corrupcion. For of whom soever a man is over come vnto ye same is he in bondage.
Young's Literal Translation
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,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and promyse them libertye, where as they them selues are seruauntes off corrupcion. For off whom so euer a man is ouercome, vnto the same is he in bondage.
Mace New Testament (1729)
whilst they promise others liberty, they themselves are slaves to their corrupt passions. for he that is vanquished, is a slave to the conqueror.
Simplified Cowboy Version
They promise freedom, but really offer slavery to sin and corruption. You are a slave to whatever controls you.

Contextual Overview

10 But specially those who go after the unclean desires of the flesh, and make sport of authority. Ready to take chances, uncontrolled, they have no fear of saying evil of those in high places: 11 Though the angels, who are greater in strength and power, do not make use of violent language against them before the Lord. 12 But these men, like beasts without reason, whose natural use is to be taken and put to death, crying out against things of which they have no knowledge, will undergo that same destruction which they are designing for others; 13 For the evil which overtakes them is the reward of their evil-doing: such men take their pleasure in the delights of the flesh even in the daytime; they are like the marks of a disease, like poisoned wounds among you, feasting together with you in joy; 14 Having eyes full of evil desire, never having enough of sin; turning feeble souls out of the true way; they are children of cursing, whose hearts are well used to bitter envy; 15 Turning out of the true way, they have gone wandering in error, after the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who was pleased to take payment for wrongdoing; 16 But his wrongdoing was pointed out to him: an ass, talking with a man's voice, put a stop to the error of the prophet. 17 These are fountains without water, and mists before a driving storm; for whom the eternal night is kept in store. 18 For with high-sounding false words, making use of the attraction of unclean desires of the flesh, they get into their power those newly made free from those who are living in error; 19 Saying that they will be free, while they themselves are the servants of destruction; because whatever gets the better of a man makes a servant of him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

they promise: Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13, 1 Peter 2:16

they themselves: John 8:34, Romans 6:12-14, Romans 6:16-22, Titus 3:3

overcome: 2 Peter 2:20, Isaiah 28:1, Jeremiah 23:9, 2 Timothy 2:26

Reciprocal: Leviticus 13:8 - General Leviticus 25:10 - proclaim 2 Samuel 15:4 - I would do 1 Kings 12:28 - It is too much 1 Kings 13:19 - General Psalms 119:45 - And I will Proverbs 13:7 - is that maketh himself rich Isaiah 5:20 - them Jeremiah 6:14 - Peace Ezekiel 13:22 - by promising him life Ezekiel 47:11 - shall be Daniel 11:34 - cleave Matthew 7:15 - which Luke 6:26 - when Luke 12:45 - to eat Luke 14:30 - General Acts 8:23 - the bond Romans 7:21 - a law 1 Corinthians 8:9 - take Galatians 2:4 - liberty Galatians 6:8 - reap Galatians 6:13 - keep Philippians 3:19 - whose glory 2 Timothy 3:3 - incontinent Hebrews 10:38 - but 2 Peter 2:12 - perish

Cross-References

Genesis 1:28
And God gave them his blessing and said to them, Be fertile and have increase, and make the earth full and be masters of it; be rulers over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing moving on the earth.
Genesis 2:4
These are the generations of the heaven and the earth when they were made.
Genesis 2:8
And the Lord God made a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had made.
Genesis 2:20
And the man gave names to all cattle and to the birds of the air and to every beast of the field; but Adam had no one like himself as a help.
Genesis 2:22
And the bone which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman, and took her to the man.
Genesis 2:23
And the man said, This is now bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh: let her name be Woman because she was taken out of Man.
Genesis 6:20
Two of every sort of bird and cattle and of every sort of living thing which goes on the earth will you take with you to keep them from destruction.
Genesis 9:2
And the fear of you will be strong in every beast of the earth and every bird of the air; everything which goes on the land, and all the fishes of the sea, are given into your hands.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

While they promise them liberty,.... Not Christian liberty, which lies in a freedom from sin, its dominion, guilt, and condemnation, and in serving God with liberty, cheerfulness, and without fear; but a sinful carnal liberty, a liberty from the law of God, from obedience to it as a rule of walk and conversation, and from the laws of men, from subjection to the civil magistrate, and from servitude to masters, and obedience to parents; a liberty to lay aside and neglect the ordinances of the Gospel at pleasure, and to live in all manner of sin and wickedness; a liberty which is contrary to the nature, will, and work of Christ, to his Spirit, and to the principle of grace in the heart, and to the Gospel, and to the conduct and conversation of real saints. Now this was the snare by which the false teachers beguiled unstable souls; liberty being what is greatly desirable to men, and is suited to their carnal lusts and interests: but a vain promise was this, when

they themselves are the servants of corruption; of sin, which has corrupted all mankind in soul and body; and particularly the lust of uncleanness, which these men walked in, and by which they not only corrupted themselves, but the good manners of others also; and which tended and led them both to ruin and destruction, signified by the pit of corruption: and yet these very preachers, that promised liberty to others, were the servants of sin; they were under the power and government of sin. They were not only born so, and were homeborn slaves to sin, but they sold themselves to work wickedness; voluntarily and with delight, they served divers lusts and pleasures, and were slaves and drudges thereunto; as likewise to Satan, whose lusts they would do, and by whom they were led captive; so that their condition was mean, base, and deplorable, and therefore could never make good their promise, or give that which they had not themselves: and which is confirmed by the following reasoning,

for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage: as this is a certain point in war, that when one man is conquered by another, he is no longer a free man, but the other's prisoner and captive, and is in a state of servitude and bondage; so it is when a man is overcome by sin, which must be understood not of a partial victory or conquest, for a good man may be surprised by sin, and overtaken in a fault, and be overcome and carried captive by it for a time, as was the apostle, see Romans 7:23; and yet not be a servant of corruption, or properly in a state of bondage to it; but this is to be understood of a total and complete victory, when a man is wholly under the dominion of sin, it reigns in his mortal body, and he obeys it in the lusts of it, and yields his members instruments of unrighteousness; such a man is neither a free man himself, nor can he much less promise and give liberty to others.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

While they promise them liberty - True religion always promises and produces liberty (see the notes at John 8:36), but the particular liberty which these persons seem to have promised, was freedom from what they regarded as needless restraint, or from strict and narrow views of religion.

They themselves are the servants of corruption - They are the slaves of gross and corrupt passions, themselves utter strangers to freedom, and bound in the chains of servitude. These passions and appetites have obtained the entire mastery over them, and brought them into the severest bondage. This is often the case with those who deride the restraints of serious piety. They are themselves the slaves of appetite, or of the rules of fashionable life, or of the laws of honor, or of vicious indulgences. “He is a freeman whom the truth makes free, and all are slaves besides.” Compare the notes at 2 Corinthians 3:17.

For of whom a man is overcome ... - Or rather “by what (ᾧ hō) anyone is overcome;” that is, “whatever” gets the mastery of him, whether it be avarice, or sensuality, or pride, or any form of error. See the notes at Romans 6:16, where this sentiment is explained.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 19. While they promise them liberty — Either to live in the highest degrees of spiritual good, or a freedom from the Roman yoke; or from the yoke of the law, or what they might term needless restraints. Their own conduct showed the falsity of their system; for they were slaves to every disgraceful lust.

For of whom a man is overcome — This is an allusion to the ancient custom of selling for slaves those whom they had conquered and captivated in war. The ancient law was, that a man might either kill him whom he overcame in battle, or keep him for a slave. These were called servi, slaves, from the verb servare, to keep or preserve. And they were also called mancipia, from manu capiuntur, they are taken captive by the hand of their enemy. Thus the person who is overcome by his lusts is represented as being the slave of those lusts. See Romans 6:16, and the note there.


 
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