3 And out of covetousness they will catch you with flattering words; their judgment has long been ready, and their destruction does not slumber. (The «wrong» prophets and teachers will soon perish).
4 For if God did not spare the angels who had sinned, but, having bound them with the bonds of hellish darkness, he delivered them up to be judged for punishment; (And the angels behaved «wrongly», here is God, who «created» the world!).
5 and if he did not spare the first world, but in eight souls he preserved the family of Noah, the preacher of righteousness, when he brought the flood upon the world of the wicked; (References to the Old Testament history).
6 and if the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, having condemned to destruction, turned into ashes, showing an example to future wicked people, (References to the Old Testament history).
7 But he delivered the righteous Lot, weary of the conversion between violently depraved people (References to the Old Testament history).
8 (for this righteous man, living among them, was tormented daily in a righteous soul, seeing and hearing lawless deeds) – (References to the Old Testament history).
9 Then, of course, the Lord knows how to deliver the pious from temptation, and to keep the lawless for the day of judgment, for punishment, (Lord God, from a religious point of view, knows everything, including the future. And if he doesn’t know, then it’s not God, but manipulative priests!).
10 and especially those who follow the filthy lusts of the flesh, despise the authorities, are bold, self-willed and are not afraid to slander the higher ones (God will punish everyone, but everything in the world is done according to the will of the same god).
11 Whereas the angels, surpassing them in strength and strength, do not pronounce reproachful judgment on them before the LORD. (Condemnation of the wicked, sinners, it is claimed that the angels, who surpass the wicked in strength and strength, «do not pronounce reproachful judgment on them before the Lord»).
12 They are like dumb animals led by nature, born to catch and destroy, slandering what they do not understand, they will be destroyed in their corruption. (Analogies and comparisons).
13 They will receive the wages of iniquity, for they take pleasure in daily luxury; shamefacers and defilers, they enjoy their deceptions, feasting with you. (Condemnation of the wicked, sinners).
14 Their eyes are filled with lust and unceasing sin; they seduce unapproved souls; their heart is accustomed to covetousness: these are the sons of damnation. (Son – in Semitic languages, this word may have the meaning: «heir, descendant» (Mt 1:1), «follower» (Mt 12:27). In addition, the word «son» is found in many phraseological phrases: for example, the son of gehenna (Mt 23:15), the son of the devil (Acts 13:10), the son of the curse).
15 Forsaking the straight path, they lost their way, following in the footsteps of Balaam, the son of Vosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness (The condemnation of Balaam, from the Old Testament history).
16 but he was convicted of his iniquity: a dumb ass, speaking with a human voice, stopped the madness of the prophet. (The donkey is a totemic animal, but the priest actually spoke).
17 These are waterless springs, clouds and mists driven by a storm: the darkness of eternal darkness is prepared for them. (Analogies with natural phenomena).
18 For when they utter puffed-up nonsense, they catch in the carnal lusts and debauchery of those who have barely lagged behind those who are in error. (Condemnation of the wicked, sinners).
19 They promise them freedom, being themselves slaves of corruption; for whoever is defeated by whom is a slave to him. (Condemnation of the wicked, sinners).
20 For if, having escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome by them, then the latter is worse for them than the first. (Condemnation of the wicked, sinners).
21 It would be better for them not to know the way of righteousness, rather than, having known, to return back from the holy commandment committed to them. (Condemnation of the wicked, sinners).
22 But it happens to them according to the true proverb: the dog returns to his vomit, and: the washed pig [goes] to wallow in the mud. (Analogies with dogs and pigs).
Chapter 3
1 This is the second epistle I am writing to you, beloved; in them I excite your pure meaning with a reminder, (Mention of the 2nd epistle).
2 That you may remember the words spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior, given by your apostles. (Establishing the need to remember