1從前在百姓中有假先知起來，將來在你們中間，也必有假師傅，私自引進陷害人的異端，連買他們的主他們也不承認，自取速速地滅亡。

denying the Master who bought them. Peter is not saying Christians can lose their salvation (John 10:28, 29; Rom. 8:28–30) but is describing the false teachers in terms of their own profession of faith (vv. 20, 21). By teaching and practicing immorality, they despise the lordship of Christ and prove their profession to be false (1 John 2:3, 4, 19). They deny the one whom they have falsely claimed to serve as His precious possession.

Though some take the phrase “the Master who bought them” to mean that Christ’s substitutionary death applies to all rather than to the elect only (see theological note “Definite Atonement” on p. 1875), Peter’s concern here is to highlight the responsibility of the false teachers rather than to advance a theory of the atonement. It was the false teachers’ claim that Christ “bought them,” but such a claim is valid only for true believers. With their claim to be redeemed by Christ, their “sensuality” (v. 2) brings particular dishonor on Christ and His sacrifice for sin. It provides a false testimony to the world that lawlessness is the fruit of salvation.^[1]

20倘若他們因認識主救主耶穌基督，得以脫離世上的污穢，後來又在其中被纏住制伏，他們末後的景況，就比先前更不好了。

21他們曉得義路，竟背棄了傳給他們的聖命，倒不如不曉得為妙。

22俗語說得真不錯，狗所吐的，它轉過來又吃。豬洗淨了，又回到泥里去滾。這話在他們身上正合式。

2:20–22 The false teachers are probably in view, not those who “are barely escaping” (v. 18). These false teachers apparently professed to be Christians, but their return to their old sinful way of life showed that their knowledge of Christ and the way of righteousness was only superficial (v. 1 note), and their “escape” from “the defilements of the world” was only temporary. Thus, they demonstrated that they had never been genuine believers.

2:21 better … never to have known the way of righteousness. Deliberate rejection of the truth increases one’s responsibility before God and incurs a greater punishment than if one has less understanding and goes astray (Luke 12:47, 48). The phrase “to have known the way” refers to an intellectual knowledge of the ethical teachings and mode of life characteristic of Christians (note the phrase “holy commandment”). Perhaps the nature of their knowledge and faith are analogous to that of the demons who “believe and shudder你信神只有一位，你信的不錯。鬼魔也信，卻是戰驚。” (James 2:19). This verse indicates that the conversion of the false teachers was illusory (貌似真實的、虛幻的、虛無縹緲的). Scripture elsewhere teaches that those who are truly regenerate will persevere in the faith (John 10:26–30; cf. 1 John 2:19).

2:22 The dog … the sow. Ancient Jews despised dogs (Ex. 22:31; Prov. 26:11; Rev. 22:15) and swine were avoided as unclean (Lev. 11:7; Is. 65:4). Peter’s point is that mere religious profession or even outward change does not change a person’s heart. The apostasy of the false teachers has revealed their true unbelieving nature.^[2]

^[1] Sproul, R. C. (Ed.). (2015). The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (p. 2258). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.

^[2] Sproul, R. C. (Ed.). (2015). The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (p. 2259). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.