2 Peter 2:1 Meaning and Explanation
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Peter warns that lies will arise even inside the church, and they wound those who carry them.
The Context of 2 Peter 2:1
Having just affirmed that true prophecy comes from God (1:20 to 21), Peter turns to a hard but loving warning: as there were false prophets in Israel of old, so false teachers will come among the churches he is writing to.
What Does 2 Peter 2:1 Mean?
Peter looks back and forward at once. Among the ancient people of God there were false prophets, and the same will happen among the churches: false teachers who quietly, privately, bring in destructive errors. The danger is its secrecy. These teachings slip in unannounced, dressed as truth. Peter says the deepest error among them is to deny "the Lord that bought them," turning against the very Master who paid for them. And the saddest note is the last: they bring swift destruction "upon themselves." The harm circles back on the ones spreading it.
Even in this sober warning there is a thread of grace. Peter calls Christ the Lord "that bought them," the One who gave Himself to purchase a people at the cost of His own blood. The error is so grievous precisely because the love behind it was so great. The same Lord who warns us against the lie is the One who paid everything to make us His, and His ownership of us is exactly what keeps us safe.
2 Peter 2:1 in the Original Language
agorazo (ἀγοράζω), 'bought' -- to purchase in the marketplace, to buy and so make one's own.
How to Apply 2 Peter 2:1 Today
Error can sound persuasive and arrive quietly, even from inside the family of faith, so Peter teaches us to stay watchful and to test what we are taught. The surest anchor is the Lord who bought us at such cost; the more clearly we know Him, the less easily we are led astray.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Peter 2:1
What does 2 Peter 2:1 mean?
Peter warns that lies will arise even inside the church, and they wound those who carry them.
What is the context of 2 Peter 2:1?
Having just affirmed that true prophecy comes from God (1:20 to 21), Peter turns to a hard but loving warning: as there were false prophets in Israel of old, so false teachers will come among the churches he is writing to.
How can I apply 2 Peter 2:1 today?
Error can sound persuasive and arrive quietly, even from inside the family of faith, so Peter teaches us to stay watchful and to test what we are taught. The surest anchor is the Lord who bought us at such cost; the more clearly we know Him, the less easily we are led astray.