of that time acted together against the despotism of the corrupt Jerusalem hierocracy and their Roman masters).
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 the speeches of the prophets, the commandment «of the Lord and Savior, betrayed by your Apostles»).
3 First of all, know that in the last days, brazen scoffers will appear, acting according to their own lusts (Mention of the «last days»).
4 And they say, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers began to die, from the beginning of creation, everything remains the same. (Nothing in the world is changing, «brazen scolders who act according to their own lusts» claim. Fear of criticism).
5 Those who think this way do not know that in the beginning, by the word of God, the heavens and the earth are made up of water and water: (God created the heavens and the earth with his word, which are «made up of water and water»).
6 Therefore the world of that time perished, being drowned by water. (God has destroyed the world with water).
7 But the present heavens and the earth, which are contained by the same Word, are being preserved by fire for the day of judgment and destruction of wicked men. (The present heaven and earth, which are «contained by the same Word,» are being preserved for the judgment of the wicked.)
8 One thing should not be hidden from you, beloved, that the Lord has one day as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (With God, everything is possible).
9 The LORD does not delay in fulfilling the promise, as some consider it to be a delay; but he is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance. (Repentance is beneficial to the priesthood, since there is a suggestion of guilt).
10 But the day of the LORD will come like a thief in the night, and then the heavens will pass away with a noise, and the elements, having flared up, will be destroyed, the earth and all the works on it will burn up. (Tat (slav.) – a thief. Elements (Greek) – in Greek philosophy – the primary elements (usually earth, water, fire and air), which make up the material world).
11 If all this is destroyed in this way, then what should you be in holy life and piety, (the conversion of all kinds of troubles).
12 who are waiting and wishing for the coming of the day of God, in which the inflamed heavens will collapse and the inflamed elements will melt? (The conversion of all kinds of troubles on the day of the «coming of God»).
13 Nevertheless, according to his promise, we are waiting for a new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. (Believers hope
