For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world. — Applying the general statement of the preceding verse to the case of these false teachers. In the Shepherd of Hermas (I. Vis. IV. iii. 2.) “the black there is the world in which we dwell, and the fire-and-blood-colour (indicates) that this world must perish through blood and fire; but the golden part are ye who have escaped this world.” Another possible reminiscence of our Epistle. (See above on 2 Peter 2:1; 2 Peter 3:13; 2 Peter 3:15; and below, 2 Peter 3:5.)
Through the knowledge. — Better, in knowledge the preposition “in” pointing to that in which the escape consists. (See on 2 Peter 2:18, and comp. Luke 1:77.) The knowledge is of the same mature and complete kind as that spoken of in 2 Peter 1:2-3; 2 Peter 1:8 (where see Notes), showing that these men were well-instructed Christians.
Entangled therein, and overcome. — Or, entangled and overcome thereby, which, from the latter part of 2 Peter 2:19, seems to be the more probable construction.
The latter end is worse with them than the beginning. — Most certainly this should be made to correspond with Matthew 12:45, of which it is almost an exact reproduction — their last state is worse than the first. The only difference is that the word for “is” in Matthew 12:45 means literally “becomes,” and here “has become.” (Comp. the Shepherd, Sim. IX. xvii. 5.)