2 Petrus 2:15

2:15 By forsaking the right path they have gone astray, because they followed the way of Balaam son of Bosor, ¹  who loved the wages of unrighteousness, ² 

2 Petrus 2:18

2:18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words ³  they are able to entice, ⁴  with fleshly desires and with debauchery, ⁵  people ⁶  who have just escaped ⁷  from those who reside in error. ⁸ 

[2:15]  ¹ tn Although many modern translations (e.g., NASB, TEV, NIV, CEV, NLT) read “Beor” here, this is due to harmonization with the OT rather than following a variant textual reading. The Greek text of NA²⁷ reads “Bosor,” an otherwise unattested form of the name of Balaam’s father.

[2:15]  ² tn “Wages of unrighteousness” in Greek is the same expression found in v. 13, “wages for harmful ways.” The repetition makes the link between the false teachers and Balaam more concrete.

[2:18]  ³ tn Grk “high-sounding words of futility.”

[2:18]  ⁴ tn Grk “they entice.”

[2:18]  ⁵ tn Grk “with the lusts of the flesh, with debauchery.”

[2:18]  ⁶ tn Grk “those.”

[2:18]  ⁷ tn Or “those who are barely escaping.”

[2:18]  ⁸ tn Or “deceit.”