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 2:10

2:10 especially those who indulge their fleshly desires ⁴  and who despise authority.

Brazen and insolent, ⁵  they are not afraid to insult ⁶  the glorious ones, ⁷ 

2 Petrus 2:16

2:16 yet was rebuked ⁸  for his own transgression (a dumb donkey, ⁹  speaking with a human voice, ¹⁰  restrained the prophet’s madness). ¹¹ 

[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.

[2:10]  ⁴ tn Grk “those who go after the flesh in [its] lust.”

[2:10]  ⁵ tn There is no “and” in Greek; it is supplied for the sake of English convention.

[2:10]  ⁶ tn The translation takes βλασφημοῦντες (blasfhmounte") as an adverbial participle of purpose, as most translations do. However, it is also possible to see this temporally (thus, “they do not tremble when they blaspheme”).

[2:10]  ⁷ tn Δόξας (doxas) almost certainly refers to angelic beings rather than mere human authorities, though it is difficult to tell whether good or bad angels are in view. Verse 11 seems to suggest that wicked angels is what the author intends.

[2:16]  ⁸ tn Grk “but he had a rebuke.”

[2:16]  ⁹ 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]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “a voice of a (man/person).”

[2:16]  ¹¹ sn Balaam’s activities are detailed in Num 22—24 (see also Num 31:8, 16).