2 Petrus 1:9

1:9 But ¹  concerning the one who lacks such things ²  – he is blind. That is to say, he is ³  nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.

2 Petrus 2:16

2:16 yet was rebuked ⁴  for his own transgression (a dumb donkey, ⁵  speaking with a human voice, ⁶  restrained the prophet’s madness). ⁷ 

[1:9]  ¹ tn Grk “for.” The connection, though causal, is also adversative.

[1:9]  ² tn Grk “to the one for whom these things are not present.”

[1:9]  ³ tn The words “that is to say, he is” are not in Greek. The word order is unusual. One might expect the author to have said “he is nearsighted and blind” (as the NIV has so construed it), but this is not the word order in Greek. Perhaps the author begins with a strong statement followed by a clarification, i.e., that being nearsighted in regard to these virtues is as good as being blind.

[2:16]  ⁴ tn Grk “but he had a rebuke.”

[2:16]  ⁵ tn The Greek word ἄφωνος (afwno") means “mute, silent” or “incapable of speech.” For reasons of English style the word “dumb” was used in the translation. Despite the potential for misunderstanding (since “dumb” can refer to a lack of intellectual capability) more dynamic glosses were judged to be inelegant.

[2:16]  ⁶ tn Grk “a voice of a (man/person).”

[2:16]  ⁷ sn Balaam’s activities are detailed in Num 22—24 (see also Num 31:8, 16).