2 Peter 2:3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

With feigned words, &c.— The phrase, πλαστοις λογοις, means, words formed to deceive; smooth and artful speeches, such as covetous merchants or unfair traders make use of, to put off bad goods. "They will make merchandize of you; use you like cattle or slaves brought to market to be sold." Judas sold his Master for what the Jews would give him: false teachers sell their doctrine for what they can get by it; so did the Gnostics, &c. in the first ages; so have all false teachers done in all ages. But, above all, the church of Rome, with the smooth and plausible words of unity, uniformity, a catholic church, universality, antiquity, and the like, has traded in all kinds of merchandise; and, among other things, in the souls ofmen: hence they are called the merchants of the earth: Revelation 18:11; Revelation 18:24. The character of the Bishops of Rome has answered much more exactly to this prediction of St. Peter, than to that character which they have assumed of the successor's of St. Peter, and the vicars of Christ upon earth. Whose judgment now of a long time, is rendered much better by Heylin; But their condemnation long since resolved or threatened. In Jude, 2 Peter 2:4 they are spoken of as persons who had been described of old as liable to, or deserving this condemnation: see Deuteronomy 32:35. Mr. Blackwall observes, that the latter part of this verse contains a most beautiful figure, representing the vengeance which shall destroy such incorrigible sinners, as an angel of judgment pursuing them upon the wing; continually approaching nearer and nearer, and, in the mean time, keeping a watchful eye upon them that he may at length discharge an unerring blow.