2 Peter - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

LWB 2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knows when to deliver the godly [positive believers] out
of temptations, but also when to reserve the unrighteous [reversionistic believers]
for a day of evaluation [in His perfect timing] to be disciplined,
KW 2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knows how to be delivering the godly out of testing and
temptation but to be reserving the unrighteous for the day of judgment to be punished.
KJV 2 Peter 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the
unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
TRANSLATION HIGHLIGHTS
There are two ways this verse can interpreted: as a contrast between positive and negative
believers, or as a contrast between believers and unbelievers. After three examples of
divine judgment on unbelievers, support could be garnered for the latter. As a return to
the topic of false teachers in their midst who are backslidden believers, support could be
garnered for the former. I believe Peter has completed his historical proof that God is still
in the business of judging evil and He will do so whether the individuals are believers or
unbelievers. The Greek words could be translated either way, so how you perceive the
flow of context is important to the end result. Here’s the two options as I see them:
Option #1: The godly are positive believers who are facing trials and temptations; the
unrighteous are reversionistic believers who are being reserved for a day of evaluation to
be disciplined. God knows how and when to deal with both types of believer. The
contextual choice is linked to the backslidden false teachers in 2:1-3 which continues
after Peter’s three examples that God is not winking at sin.
Option #2: The godly includes positive believers who are facing tests and reversionistic
believers who are facing temptations; the unrighteous are unbelievers who are being
reserved for a day of judgment to be punished. God knows how and when to deal with
believers and unbelievers. The contextual choice is linked to the three examples just
given by Peter that God is not winking at sin.
The Lord knows with divine omniscience (Gnomic Perfect tense) when to deliver the
godly and when to judge or discipline the unrighteous (Temporal Infinitives). It is true
that we often see unbelievers getting away with sins and crimes and we wish they would
get caught and punished. It is also true that reversionistic believers seem to get away with
the same sins and crimes and we wish they would get caught and punished. The issue
Peter is warning about is related to false teachers who are Christians. Some of the
activities these false teachers are involved in are described in detail in the next few
verses. They are hardly recognizable from the unbelievers in Peter’s third example just
given.
It is important to notice that Peter’s first two examples involve fallen angels and their
illicit progeny. This makes the believer/unbeliever interpretation for this verse a bit
tenuous, since that contrast is not actually stated in one if not two of the three examples.