2 Peter 2:22

It had been better. The position of the apostates would have been better had they never become Christians, for then they could have been approached as pagans. The beauty of Christian truth would have made a strong impression on their hearts, and they would have been more susceptible to the converting influences of the gospel.

Known. Gr. epignosko, the verb that corresponds to the noun epignosis (see on ch. 1:2). He who has once gained full knowledge of the Saviour can never be the same as before the knowledge came to him. Knowledge brings responsibility. One is accountable for what he has come to know. Although a backsliding Christian may return to worldly ways he cannot escape accountability for the saving knowledge of Christ that he once accepted and then rejected.

The way of righteousness. Rather, “the way of the righteousness,” stressing that it is the one and only way of salvation (see on vs. 2, 15).

Turn. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the reading “turn back,” emphasizing the complete rejection of the Christian way of life.

The holy commandment. Peter’s use of the definite article and the singular number indicates reference to a specific concept. In Rom. 7:12 Paul uses a similar construction to refer to a particular commandment, the tenth. Here Peter’s language seems to refer to the complete body of instruction given to Christians to guide them in “the way of righteousness.”

Delivered. Gr. paradidomi, “to hand over,” “to turn over,” “to hand down,” “to pass on.” The verb is related to the noun, paradosis, “a giving over,” that is, tradition (2 Thess. 3:6; see on Mark 7:3). Peter thus refers to instruction the believers had received from Christian teachers.