I read on another site a bad interpretation of 2 Peter 2:1

[civic]

2 Peter 2:1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

The argument was made/claimed/assumed that bought meant to buy or purchase but not " to redeem ". Lets see what the Greek Lexicons say and other passages that use the same word.

Lexicon
agorazó: To buy, purchase, redeem
Original Word: ἀγοράζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: agorazó
Pronunciation: ag-or-AD-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-or-ad'-zo)
Definition: To buy, purchase, redeem
Meaning: I buy.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
buy, redeem.
From agora; properly, to go to market, i.e. (by implication) to purchase; specially, to redeem -- buy, redeem.

Thayers
Christ is said to have purchased his disciples i. e. made them, as it were, his private property, 1 Corinthians 6:20 (this is commonly understood of God; but cf. John 17:9, 10); 1 Corinthians 7:23 (with the genitive of price added; see τιμή, 1); 2 Peter 2:1. He is also said to have bought them for God ἐν τῷ αἵματι αὐτοῦ, by shedding his blood, Revelation 5:9; they, too, are spoken of as purchased ἀπό τῆς γῆς, Revelation 14:3, and ἀπό τῶν ἀνθρώπων, Revelation 14:4, so that they are withdrawn from the earth (and its miseries) and from (wicked) men. But ἀγοράζω does not mean redeem (ἐξαγοράζω) — as is commonly said. (Compare: ἐξαγοράζω.)

Metaphorically, ἀγοράζω is employed to convey the concept of redemption. In 1 Corinthians 6:20, Paul reminds believers, "You were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body." Here, the term underscores the sacrificial act of Christ's atonement, emphasizing that believers have been redeemed from sin and are now owned by God, having been purchased through the blood of Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:20 V-AIP-2P
GRK: ἠγοράσθητε γὰρ τιμῆς
NAS: For you have been bought with a price:
KJV: For ye are bought with a price:
INT: you were bought indeed with a price

1 Corinthians 7:23 V-AIP-2P
GRK: τιμῆς ἠγοράσθητε μὴ γίνεσθε
NAS: You were bought with a price;
KJV: Ye are bought with a price; be
INT: With a price you were bought not become

2 Peter 2:1 V-APA-AMS
GRK: καὶ τὸν ἀγοράσαντα αὐτοὺς δεσπότην
NAS: the Master who bought them, bringing
KJV: the Lord that bought them,
INT: and the having bought them Master

conclusion: the Lord purchased/bought the same ones in 2 Peter 2:1 as He did elsewhere in the other passages.

 

[JoshebB]

The argument was made/claimed/assumed that bought meant to buy or purchase but not " to redeem ". Lets see what the Greek Lexicons say and other passages that use the same word.

Did that source describe or explain some other reason or purpose for the purchase? If it wasn't redemptive purchase, then what?

 

[civic]

Did that source describe or explain some other reason or purpose for the purchase? If it wasn't redemptive purchase, then what?

Here is the quote you might be familiar with below and imho a particular theology is being read into the passage and not the meaning of the word from a lexicon:


"Instead, the word used is ἀγοράσαντα (agorasanta)—an aorist active participle of the root ἀγοράζω (agorazō)—a more general term meaning to buy or purchase, which communicates the idea of ownership, not redemption. And this idea is reinforced by the fact that they are said to be denying the Master (δεσπότης, despotes), not redeeming Lord (κύριος, kyrios), and certainly not Savior (σωτήρ, soter). The term despotes emphasizes absolute authority and ownership, evoking the image of a sovereign ruler or household master, not necessarily a covenant redeemer.

They were bought, along with all mankind, not redemptively but judicially and covenantally through the intratrinitarian pactum salutis—the eternal covenant between the persons of the Godhead—whereby Christ secured cosmic dominion as mediator and judge. This dominion entails both gracious redemption for the elect and judicial authority over all mankind (Ps 2:6-9; cf. Acts 10:42; Matt. 28:18); for the regenerate elect to whom he gives eternal life, Christ is both Master and Lord (Jude 1:4). "

 

[JoshebB]

Here is the quote you might be familiar with below and imho a particular theology is being read into the passage and not the meaning of the word from a lexicon:


"Instead, the word used is ἀγοράσαντα (agorasanta)—an aorist active participle of the root ἀγοράζω (agorazō)—a more general term meaning to buy or purchase, which communicates the idea of ownership, not redemption. And this idea is reinforced by the fact that they are said to be denying the Master (δεσπότης, despotes), not redeeming Lord (κύριος, kyrios), and certainly not Savior (σωτήρ, soter). The term despotes emphasizes absolute authority and ownership, evoking the image of a sovereign ruler or household master, not necessarily a covenant redeemer.

They were bought, along with all mankind, not redemptively but judicially and covenantally through the intratrinitarian pactum salutis—the eternal covenant between the persons of the Godhead—whereby Christ secured cosmic dominion as mediator and judge. This dominion entails both gracious redemption for the elect and judicial authority over all mankind (Ps 2:6-9; cf. Acts 10:42; Matt. 28:18); for the regenerate elect to whom he gives eternal life, Christ is both Master and Lord (Jude 1:4). "

I asked one, single, solitary, lone question. I do not read an answer to the question asked. Should I expect an answer to the question asked, or not?

Did that source describe or explain some other reason or purpose for the purchase? If it wasn't redemptive purchase, then what?



.

 

[Presby02]

2 Peter 2:1. But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.

The argument was made/claimed/assumed that bought meant to buy or purchase but not " to redeem ". Lets see what the Greek Lexicons say and other passages that use the same word.

Lexicon
agorazó: To buy, purchase, redeem
Original Word: ἀγοράζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: agorazó
Pronunciation: ag-or-AD-zo
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-or-ad'-zo)
Definition: To buy, purchase, redeem
Meaning: I buy.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
buy, redeem.
From agora; properly, to go to market, i.e. (by implication) to purchase; specially, to redeem -- buy, redeem.

Thayers
Christ is said to have purchased his disciples i. e. made them, as it were, his private property, 1 Corinthians 6:20 (this is commonly understood of God; but cf. John 17:9, 10); 1 Corinthians 7:23 (with the genitive of price added; see τιμή, 1); 2 Peter 2:1. He is also said to have bought them for God ἐν τῷ αἵματι αὐτοῦ, by shedding his blood, Revelation 5:9; they, too, are spoken of as purchased ἀπό τῆς γῆς, Revelation 14:3, and ἀπό τῶν ἀνθρώπων, Revelation 14:4, so that they are withdrawn from the earth (and its miseries) and from (wicked) men. But ἀγοράζω does not mean redeem (ἐξαγοράζω) — as is commonly said. (Compare: ἐξαγοράζω.)

Metaphorically, ἀγοράζω is employed to convey the concept of redemption. In 1 Corinthians 6:20, Paul reminds believers, "You were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body." Here, the term underscores the sacrificial act of Christ's atonement, emphasizing that believers have been redeemed from sin and are now owned by God, having been purchased through the blood of Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:20 V-AIP-2P
GRK: ἠγοράσθητε γὰρ τιμῆς
NAS: For you have been bought with a price:
KJV: For ye are bought with a price:
INT: you were bought indeed with a price

1 Corinthians 7:23 V-AIP-2P
GRK: τιμῆς ἠγοράσθητε μὴ γίνεσθε
NAS: You were bought with a price;
KJV: Ye are bought with a price; be
INT: With a price you were bought not become

2 Peter 2:1 V-APA-AMS
GRK: καὶ τὸν ἀγοράσαντα αὐτοὺς δεσπότην
NAS: the Master who bought them, bringing
KJV: the Lord that bought them,
INT: and the having bought them Master

conclusion: the Lord purchased/bought the same ones in 2 Peter 2:1 as He did elsewhere in the other passages.

So why does He not take possession of what He has lawfully purchased??

 

[Johann]

Yup.

J.

 

[Dizerner]

2 Peter 2:1 is a legitimate and powerful witness to universal atonement.

But only if you are willing to accept a legal framework for the atonement that allows the transaction of an actual payment.

 

[Johann]

conclusion: the Lord purchased/bought the same ones in 2 Peter 2:1 as He did elsewhere in the other passages.

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS INTO 2 PETER 2:1-22

This section of 2 Peter parallels the book of Jude. There has been literary borrowing, but it is not obvious who borrowed from whom. It is possible Jude is alluding to Peter's prophecy because after his death, it has come true (NET Bible).

These false teachers seem to be antinomian, incipient Gnostics with a highly developed angelology (which may reflect a Persian influence; cf. 1 Tim. 6:3-5). All of the OT accounts mentioned involve angels in some way.
SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS AND DEMONS

Peter pulls from the common knowledge of his day (OT accounts; I Enoch; pagan sources) that his hearers/readers would be familiar with.

The Bible is very ambiguous as to the origin, the fall and the activities of the angelic world. Don't let your curiosity go beyond God-given information (i.e., modern novels).
SPECIAL TOPIC: WAR IN HEAVEN

There is an extended list of characteristics of the false teachers
secretly introducing destructive heresies (2 Pet. 2:1)
denying the Master (2 Pet. 2:1)
following sensuality (2 Pet. 2:2)
being greedy (2 Pet. 2:3)
despising authority (2 Pet. 2:10)
acting like animals (2 Pet. 2:12)
seeking pleasure (2 Pet. 2:13)
subverting the Christian love feasts (2 Pet. 2:13)
causing weak believers to sin (2 Pet. 2:14)
promising freedom, but they are slaves (2 Pet. 2:19).
 SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM



"secretly introduce" This compound of para and eisagō has the connotation of "to sneak in alongside" (cf. Gal. 2:4 and Jude verse 4).

"destructive heresies" The term "heresies" (divisions) is used in three ways in the NT.

as a religious sect or group (cf. Acts 24:14; 26:5)
as divisions within Christianity (cf. 1 Cor. 11:19)
as the teachings that are contrary to orthodoxy (i.e., Apostolic preaching/teaching)

They are usually a mixture of truth and error. Often, they magnify some truth to the exclusion of other biblical truths or a perversion related to Christology. Heresy always comes from within the Christian fellowship (cf. Matt. 7:15-23, 24:24; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; 1 John 2:18-25). A description of their actions can be seen in (1) Contextual Insights E. and (2) Gal. 5:19.

"even denying the Master" This is a PRESENT MIDDLE (deponent) PARTICIPLE, which speaks of ongoing personal rejection of Christ by the false teachers. This refers either to denial of Jesus (1) by theology or (2) lifestyle (cf. Jude 4). This is the first of four descriptive phrases (2 Pet. 2:1-3) about false teachers denying the Master by

their actions and beliefs
their immoral ways
their greed
their self-deception
The title "master" is the term despotēs, which means "lord" or "master." It is used of slave owners (cf. 1 Tim. 6:1,2; Titus 2:9; 1 Pet. 2:18).

It is interesting to note that the term "master" is normally used for God the Father (cf. Luke 2:29; Acts 4:24 [quoting the LXX of Exod. 20:11 or Ps. 146:6]). However, it is also used of Christ (cf. 2 Tim. 2:21; Jude 4; Rev. 6:10). Here is another title of the Father transferred to the Son to assert His Deity.

"who bought them" This is an AORIST ACTIVE PARTICIPLE. This seems, like 2 Pet. 2:20-22, to imply that they were once saved, but not now! This is a reference to (1) YHWH's saving His people in the OT or (2) Christ's redemptive work in the NT (cf. Mark 10:45; Acts 20:28; 1 Cor. 6:20; Eph. 1:7; 1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9; 1 Pet. 1:19; 1 John 2:2; Rev. 5:9). In the OT, to buy someone back from slavery (i.e., ransom or redeem) referred to physical deliverance. Usually in the NT it refers to salvation. In the OT to sell someone into the hands of their enemies referred to judgment.

The NJB has the interesting translation "who bought them freedom." Apparently they see the context (2 Pet. 2:2-3) as relating to believers who live godless lives and bring reproach on Christ and Christianity. This then would refer to believers who die early because of their godless living and destructive influence.

SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY

SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSOM/REDEEM

"bringing swift destruction upon themselves"

Can a believer become an unbeliever?

No first century believer would have asked this question, but modern believers think about it a lot, especially related to how their group views assurance! Some link the phrase to "YHWH" or "the people," which would then refer to Exodus (i.e., Wilderness Wanderings).

The real question is, "Were the heretics truly saved?" I believe that biblical doctrines are given in dialectical or paradoxical pairs, which is characteristic of Eastern literature. Modern western readers and interpreters tend to propositionalize and decontextualize verses.

I surely affirm the security of the believer, but am more and more uncomfortable with "once saved, always saved" because of passages like this. Security is evidenced by (not based on) godly living (cf. James and 1 John). Believers struggle and sin, but they continue to trust in Christ and respond (sometimes slowly) to the correcting of the Holy Spirit.

However, the Parable of the Soils (cf. Matthew 13; Mark 4) and the active, but lost, religionists of Matt. 7:15-27, assure me that there do exist false professions of faith (cf. 2 Pet. 2:20-22; 1 John 2:18-19).

False teachers have caused and still cause great turmoil in the church. In 1 John there are several tests for true believers.

willingness to confess sin (1 John 1:5; 2:22)
lifestyle obedience (1 John 2:3-6)
lifestyle love (1 John 2:7-11)
victory over evil (1 John 2:12-14)
forsaking the world (1 John 2:15-17)
perseverance (1 John 2:19)
doctrine (1 John 2:20-24)
Peter also lists the inappropriate actions of these false teachers (see Contextual Insights, E). If it is true that the gospel is

a person to personally welcome
a message about that person to believe
a lifestyle emulating that person
then these false teachers violated all three.

Can someone be "bought" by Jesus and deny Jesus? This is the problem. Salvation is free and for all who will respond in repentance, faith, obedience, and perseverance. But, maturity is a cost-everything discipleship. We must hold tightly to both of these biblical truths. Doctrine comes in tension-filled pairs because Christianity is not only a biblical theology (cf. Romans 6), but a daily struggle (cf. Romans 7) for godliness. Salvation is a relationship, not an isolated decision! One's initial decision to trust Christ is not the conclusion, but the beginning! Salvation is not a ticket to heaven or a life insurance policy, but a daily, growing relationship with God through Christ.

SPECIAL TOPIC: PARADOX IN SCRIPTURE

2 Peter 2

SPECIAL TOPIC: GNOSTICISM

Gnosticism -- Special Topic by Dr. Bob Utley, professor of hermeneutics (retired).

freebiblecommentary.org

J.