2 Peter - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

VUL 2 Peter 2:10 magis autem eos qui post carnem in concupiscentia inmunditiae ambulant
dominationemque contemnunt audaces sibi placentes sectas non metuunt blasphemantes
LWB 2 Peter 2:11 Whereas angels [in heaven], being greater in inherent might and
power [superior to mankind in creation], do not [arrogantly presume to] utter a
maligning condemnation against them [legitimate pastors & teachers] in the
presence of the Lord.
KW 2 Peter 2:11 Whereas angels, being greater in power and might, are not bringing
against them from the presence of the Lord reproachful judgment.
KJV
2 Peter 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing
accusation against them before the Lord.
TRANSLATION HIGHLIGHTS
Pastors and teachers are not perfect; they are human beings like all the rest of us. But that
gives no one the right to malign their reputation, especially those who are false teachers.
But these false teachers are so immersed in arrogant presumption, that they even place
themselves in positions of higher authority (Latin: fortitude) and power (Latin: virtue)
than the elect angels in heaven! Even the elect angels, who are greater in inherent might
and power than mankind in the order of creation, do not dare to pronounce a maligning
accusation against God’s chosen pastors and teachers (Gnomic Present tense). They
remain silent in the presence of the Lord as they watch events unfold in the lives of those
with the gift of pastor-teacher. These false teachers are the lowest of lowlifes, but they
aspire in their own self-deception to be higher than the elect angels. In other words,
“fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” There are three possibilities as to who the
“them” are: angels, false teachers, or legitimate teachers. I choose the later.
RELEVANT OPINIONS
The argument is a fortiori. The false teachers do not hesitate to bring vituperative
accusations against their superiors; whereas the angels do not even dare to impugn their
inferiors in such terms in the Lord’s presence ... Does he mean the doxai of the previous
verse, in which case they would either be church leaders or (inferior) angels? Unlike the
false teachers who are careless of the lordship of Christ and are free with their insults, the
angels so revere their Lord as they live all their lives in His presence, that no insulting
language is allowed to pass their lips, even though it would be richly deserved. (M.
Green) Peter’s remark seems to refer to the heavenly court where the good angels appear
before God with their reports concerning these blaspheming false teachers. In making
their report they refrain from bringing against them “a railing judgment,” that is, from
presumptuously hurling their slanders back upon their own heads. They perform their
duty with becoming reverence before the Lord and do not manifest the arrogant
presumption displayed by the false teachers. (D. Hiebert) This illustration reinforces the
principle of submission to authority by lifting it up into the supernatural sphere. (D.
Hiebert, Wand)