2 Peter 2:2
New International Version
Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.

New Living Translation
Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.

English Standard Version
And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.

Berean Standard Bible
Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.

Berean Literal Bible
And many will follow after their sensuality, through whom the way of the truth will be maligned.

King James Bible
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

New King James Version
And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

New American Standard Bible
Many will follow their indecent behavior, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;

NASB 1995
Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;

NASB 1977
And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned;

Legacy Standard Bible
And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned.

Amplified Bible
Many will follow their shameful ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned.

Christian Standard Bible
Many will follow their depraved ways, and the way of truth will be maligned because of them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Many will follow their unrestrained ways, and the way of truth will be blasphemed because of them.

American Standard Version
And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.

Contemporary English Version
Many people will follow their evil ways and cause others to tell lies about the true way.

English Revised Version
And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Many people will follow them in their sexual freedom and will cause others to dishonor the way of truth.

Good News Translation
Even so, many will follow their immoral ways; and because of what they do, others will speak evil of the Way of truth.

International Standard Version
Many people will follow their immoral ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned.

Majority Standard Bible
Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed.

NET Bible
And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.

New Heart English Bible
Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.

Webster's Bible Translation
And many will follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth will be evil spoken of.

Weymouth New Testament
And in their immoral ways they will have many eager disciples, through whom religion will be brought into disrepute.

World English Bible
Many will follow their immoral ways, and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and many will follow out their destructive ways, because of whom the way of the truth will be spoken of [as] evil,

Berean Literal Bible
And many will follow after their sensuality, through whom the way of the truth will be maligned.

Young's Literal Translation
and many shall follow out their destructive ways, because of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of,

Smith's Literal Translation
(And many shall follow their licentiousness; by whom the way of truth shall be defamed.)
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And many shall follow their riotousnesses, through whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And many persons will follow their indulgences; through such persons, the way of truth will be blasphemed.

New American Bible
Many will follow their licentious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled.

New Revised Standard Version
Even so, many will follow their licentious ways, and because of these teachers the way of truth will be maligned.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Many will follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And many will go after their abominations, because of which, the way of truth will be blasphemed.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and many will follow their dissolute ways, on account of whom the way of truth will be reviled;

Godbey New Testament
And many will follow their impurities; through whom the way of truth will be slandered:

Haweis New Testament
And many will go out of the way after their fatal errors; by means of whom the way of truth will be injuriously reviled.

Mace New Testament
many will follow their destructive maxims, and by their means christianity will be traduc'd.

Weymouth New Testament
And in their immoral ways they will have many eager disciples, through whom religion will be brought into disrepute.

Worrell New Testament
and many will follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth will be defamed;

Worsley New Testament
And many will follow their pernicious tenets, on whose account the way of truth will be reproached:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Deliverance from False Prophets
1Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be defamed. 3In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.…

Cross References
Matthew 24:11
and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.

Jude 1:4
For certain men have crept in among you unnoticed—ungodly ones who were designated long ago for condemnation. They turn the grace of our God into a license for immorality, and they deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Acts 20:30
Even from your own number, men will rise up and distort the truth to draw away disciples after them.

2 Timothy 4:3-4
For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. / So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Galatians 1:6-7
I am amazed how quickly you are deserting the One who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— / which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to or perform homosexual acts, / nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor verbal abusers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 16:17-18
Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who create divisions and obstacles that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Turn away from them. / For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.

Jeremiah 23:14
And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: They commit adultery and walk in lies. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns his back on wickedness. They are all like Sodom to Me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”

Ezekiel 13:22
Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,

Isaiah 9:16
For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.

Hosea 4:7
The more they multiplied, the more they sinned against Me; they exchanged their Glory for a thing of disgrace.

Micah 3:5
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:


Treasury of Scripture

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

many.

Matthew 24:10-13,24
And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another…

Mark 13:22
For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.

1 John 2:18,19
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time…

pernicious ways.

Romans 2:24
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

1 Timothy 5:14
I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.

Titus 2:5,8
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed…

way.

2 Peter 2:15,21
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; …

Psalm 18:21
For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God.

Isaiah 35:8
And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

evil.

2 Peter 2:12
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

Acts 14:2
But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

1 Peter 2:12
Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

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Bad Blasphemed Disciples Disrepute Doings Eager Evil Follow Great Immoral Licentiousness Maligned Pernicious Reason Religion Result Reviled Sensuality Shameful True. Truth Way Ways
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Bad Blasphemed Disciples Disrepute Doings Eager Evil Follow Great Immoral Licentiousness Maligned Pernicious Reason Religion Result Reviled Sensuality Shameful True. Truth Way Ways
2 Peter 2
1. Peter warns of false teachers, showing the impiety and punishment both of them and their followers;
7. from which the godly shall be delivered, as Lot was out of Sodom;
10. and more fully describes the manners of those profane and blasphemous seducers.














Many will follow
The phrase "many will follow" indicates a widespread influence and acceptance of false teachings. In the Greek, "πολλοί" (polloi) suggests a large number, emphasizing the significant impact these false teachers will have. Historically, this reflects the early church's struggle with heresies and the challenge of maintaining doctrinal purity. The warning is timeless, reminding believers to be vigilant and discerning in their faith journey.

in their depravity
The term "depravity" comes from the Greek word "ἀσέλγεια" (aselgeia), which denotes unbridled lust, excess, and shamelessness. This highlights the moral corruption that accompanies false teachings. In the context of the early church, such depravity was not just a personal failing but a communal threat, as it could lead others astray. The call here is for Christians to uphold holiness and resist the allure of moral compromise.

and because of them
This phrase points to the direct consequence of the actions of false teachers and their followers. The Greek "δι’ οὓς" (di’ hous) indicates causation, showing that the behavior of these individuals has a ripple effect. Historically, the church has faced periods where its reputation was tarnished by the actions of a few, underscoring the importance of individual and collective integrity.

the way of truth
"The way of truth" refers to the Christian faith and the gospel message. In Greek, "ἡ ὁδὸς τῆς ἀληθείας" (hē hodos tēs alētheias) conveys a path or journey characterized by truth. This phrase is deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus, who declared Himself as "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). The early Christians were known as followers of "the Way," emphasizing a lifestyle aligned with Christ's teachings.

will be defamed
The word "defamed" comes from the Greek "βλασφημηθήσεται" (blasphēmēthēsetai), meaning to speak evil of or to slander. This indicates that the actions of false teachers lead to the gospel being maligned or discredited. Historically, this has been a significant concern for the church, as the behavior of its members can either attract or repel others from the faith. The verse serves as a sobering reminder of the responsibility Christians bear in representing Christ to the world.

(2) Many shall follow their pernicious ways.--"Pernicious ways" is a translation of the plural of the word just rendered "destruction." (See fourth Note on 2Peter 2:1.) But here the reading is undoubtedly wrong. The margin has the right reading--lascivious ways (or better, wanton ways)--being the plural of the word translated "wantonness" in 2Peter 2:18. Wiclif has "lecheries;" Rheims "riotousnesses."

The connexion between false doctrine and licentiousness was often real, and is so still in some cases--e.g., Mormonism. But it was often asserted and believed without foundation. Impurity was the common charge to bring against those of a different creed, whether between heathen and Christian or between different divisions of Christians.

By reason of whom.--The many who are led astray are meant, rather than the original seducers. (Comp. Romans 2:24.)

The way of truth.--(See Note on Acts 9:2.) "The way of truth" occurs in Clement of Alexandria (Cohort. ad Gentes, x.), the only near approach to anything in 2 Peter in all the writings of his that have come down to us. This is strong evidence that he did not know the Epistle, especially as references are frequent to 1 Peter, which is sometimes quoted thus: "Peter in his Epistle says" (Strom. iv. 20). . . .

Verse 2. - And many shall follow their pernicious ways; rather, as in the Revised Version, their lascivious doings; the reading represented by the Authorized Version has very little support (comp. Jude 1:4, 8). (For "shall follow" (ἐξακολουθήσουσιν), see note on 2 Peter 1:16.) By reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. The heathen were accustomed to charge Christians with immorality; the conduct of these false teachers gave them occasion; they did not distinguish between these licentious heretics and true Christians. The expression, "way of truth," occurs in the 'Epistle of Barnabas,' chapter 5. Christianity is called "the way" several times in the Acts (Acts 9:2; Acts 19:9, 23, etc.). It is the way of truth, because Christ, who is the Center of his religion, is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; because it is the way of life which is founded on the truth.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Many
πολλοὶ (polloi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.

will follow in
ἐξακολουθήσουσιν (exakolouthēsousin)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1811: To follow after, imitate. From ek and akoloutheo; to follow out, i.e. to imitate, obey, yield to.

their
αὐτῶν (autōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

depravity,
ἀσελγείαις (aselgeiais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 766: From a compound of a and a presumed selges; licentiousness.

[and] because of
δι’ (di’)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

[them]
οὓς (hous)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

the
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

way
ὁδὸς (hodos)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3598: A way, road, journey, path. Apparently a primary word; a road; by implication, a progress; figuratively, a mode or means.

of
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

truth
ἀληθείας (alētheias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 225: From alethes; truth.

will be defamed.
βλασφημηθήσεται (blasphēmēthēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 987: From blasphemos; to vilify; specially, to speak impiously.


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NT Letters: 2 Peter 2:2 Many will follow their immoral ways (2 Pet. 2P iiP ii Pet)
2 Peter 2:1
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