2 Peter 2:15
Context2:15 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 Peter 3:17
Context3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, 3 be on your guard that you do not get led astray by the error of these unprincipled men 4 and fall from your firm grasp on the truth. 5
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 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.
3 tn Grk “knowing beforehand.”
4 tn Or “lawless ones.”
sn These unprincipled men. The same word is used in 2:7, suggesting further that the heretics in view in chapter 3 are the false teachers of chapter 2.
5 tn Grk “fall from your firmness.”