2 Peter 2:20 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For if after they have escaped, &c.— For inasmuch as having escaped. See on 2 Peter 2:4. The pollutions of the world, were idolatry, superstition, and vice. By the world we may understand here the unbelieving and wicked world; and more especiallythe idolatrous Gentiles. Μιασματα, pollutions, is not found elsewhere in the New Testament. It was used by the ancient physicians for the pestilential infection in the plague, which spreads secretly and insensibly, and affects many. Nothing pollutes or infects the minds of men like vice and wickedness: the world, or multitude, being generally infected, is apt to infect others. The knowledge of Jesus Christ, here implies not only knowledge in the Christian religion, in a general sense, but in Christian experience and practice. They who live in vice, do not know Christ; but by the true knowledge of Christ men are freed from vice. John 8:36. The Christian religion is, through divine grace, of a purifying nature: ch. 2 Peter 1:4. John 15:2-3. The word ευπλακεντες, rendered entangled, signifies taken in a toil, or snare; see Proverbs 28:18 in the LXX. and 2 Timothy 2:4. Through a pretence of Christian liberty, they were again entangled in the vices of the heathen world. In the word overcome, there is a reference to what is said, 2 Peter 2:19. St. Peter, in the last clause, is not speaking of the false teachers alone, but of those Christians also who were seduced by them; and in this verse, compared with 2 Peter 2:18; 2 Peter 2:21-22.Ezekiel 33:12; Ezekiel 33:33 and many other texts of scripture, it is plainly supposed to be a possible thing for true believers, or those who have been once regenerated and purified, totally and finally to fall away: so far is it from being true, "that God sees no sin in believers;" that, if they fall away, they will be involved in greater guilt, and exposed to a severer punishment than the ignorant or unbelieving.