2 Peter 2:21

For if ... escaped. The clause reads literally, “for if having escaped.” To give the believers a solemn warning concerning the dangers and results of apostasy, the apostle uses the case of those who have been deluded into following the false teachers.

Pollutions. Gr. miasmata, “those things which defile,” “defilements” that come as a result of contact with the world (cf. on v. 10).

World. See on 1 John 2:15.

Knowledge. Gr. epignosis (see on ch. 1:2).

Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Here the apostle attributes to our Lord a multiple title that embodies most of His glorious attributes and represents His major offices (see on Matt. 1:1, 21, 23; Luke 2:29; John 13:13; John 20:28). He who has gained the full knowledge of Jesus will have a personal understanding of the Saviour’s powers, having experienced them in his own life. His experimental knowledge of Christ will have caused him to flee the world and its defilements, and the power of Christ will have enabled him completely to escape from them. Peter sees his own flock as having thus escaped and is anxious that they should not be inveigled into returning to the world by the enticements held out by the false teachers.

Entangled. Gr. empleko, “to interweave,” hence, “to be entangled.” As gladiators became enmeshed in each other’s net during combat, so the believer who yields to worldly allurements will become hopelessly entangled and easily destroyed. The word “therein” may be rendered “in these,” that is, in the defilements of the world, or “by these,” implying that it is by the defilements that the Christian is overcome.

Overcome. See on v. 19.

The latter. The clause reads literally, “the last things for them have become worse than the first.” He who has once been a Christian but has gone back to the world becomes spiritually hardened and less responsive to spiritual appeals. His salvation thus becomes more difficult (cf. Matt. 12:45; Luke 11:26; Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26).