Pernicious ways] taiv apwleiaiv? Their destructions; i.e. the heresies of destruction, or destructive opinions, mentioned above. But instead of apwleiaiv, destructions, aselgeiaiv, lasciviousnesses or uncleannesses, is the reading of ABC, and upwards of sixty others, most of which are among the most ancient, correct, and authentic. This is the reading also of both the Syriac, all the Arabic, the Coptic, AEthiopic, Armenian, Slavonic, Vulgate, Chrysostom, Theophylact, OEcumenius, and Jerome. A very few, and those of little repute, have the word in the text.
The word lasciviousnesses is undoubtedly the true reading, and this points out what the nature of the heresies was: it was a sort of Antinomianism; they pampered and indulged the lusts of the flesh; and, if the Nicolaitans are meant, it is very applicable to them, for they taught the community of wives
, &c. Griesbach has received this reading into the text.
By reason of whom] These were persons who professed Christianity; and because they were called Christians, and followed such abominable practices, the way of truth - the Christianreligion, blasfhmhqhsetai, was blasphemed. Had they called themselves by any name but that of Christ, his religion would not have suffered.
Ver. 2. And many shall follow their pernicious ways , etc.] Their principles and their practices, which lead to destruction, The Complutensian edition, the Alexandrian copy, and six copies of Beza's, and others, read “their lasciviousnesses”; and so the Vulgate Latin version renders it, “their luxuries”; and all the Oriental versions seem to have read in like manner.
The Syriac version renders it, “their impurity”; and the Arabic version, “their unchastities”; and the Ethiopic version, “their lust”; and which seems to have respect to the impure conversation of the followers of Simon Magus, the Nicolaitans, the Gnostics, Carpocratians, and others, who indulged themselves in all unnatural lusts and uncleanness; and generally, when men make shipwreck of faith, they also do of a good conscience, and become immoral in their conversations; and yet, as destructive as their principles, and as dishonourable and scandalous as their practices be, many were, and are their followers; so it was foretold by Christ, ( Matthew 24:11), and so it has been, ( Revelation 13:3). The road both of error and wickedness is a broad one, in which many walk; and a multitude is no proof of the truth of a church or of the principles of men, nor to be followed: by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of ; that is, either Christ, who is truth itself, and the true way to eternallife and happiness; or the Gospel, the word of truth, which holds forth Christ the truth, and points to him, and every other truth, and nothing but truth; or the Christianreligion, which is the true way, in opposition to all sects and heresies; and is what should be blasphemed and spoken against, either by these men or their followers; for the phrase may be rendered, “by whom”, as it is in the Vulgate Latin version, and the meaning be, that they should, in a blasphemous way, speak and write against Christ and his truths, reproach and revile them, and in a virulent manner oppose them, and trample them under foot: “or for the sake of them”, as other versions read; and as we do; “by reason of them”; they should be the occasion, by their impure lives, of the name of Christ, and his doctrines, being blasphemed by profane and irreligious men; (see Romans 2:24). The Alexandrian copy, and one of Stephens's, read “the glory of truth”; and so the Ethiopic version, “the glory of his truth”.
Pernicious ways (apwleiaiv). The true reading is ajselgeiaiv, lascivious doings. So Rev. See on 1 Pet. iv. 3. The use of the plural is rare. Compare Jude 4.
