“And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
My Notes
What Does 2 Peter 2:3 Mean?
Peter warns about a specific kind of false teacher: those motivated by covetousness who use feigned (fabricated, artificial) words to make merchandise of believers. They treat people as products to exploit for profit.
The word "merchandise" (emporeuomai) is a commercial term — these teachers are in the religion business. They traffic in souls the way merchants traffic in goods. Their faith is an industry.
"Feigned words" (plastois logois — from which we get "plastic") means words that are molded, shaped, manufactured to produce a desired response. Not sincere communication but calculated marketing.
"Whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not" — Peter assures that God's judgment on these exploiters is not delayed. It may look like they are getting away with it. They are not. The judgment is awake and active.
Reflection Questions
- 1.How do you distinguish between genuine spiritual leadership and 'feigned words' used for profit?
- 2.Where have you seen people treated as 'merchandise' in religious contexts?
- 3.What makes covetousness particularly dangerous when combined with spiritual authority?
- 4.How does knowing God's judgment is 'not sleeping' on exploiters affect your patience?
Devotional
Through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you. Read that slowly. Someone is using religion to sell you something — and the product is you.
Feigned words. Plastic words. Shaped, molded, crafted not to convey truth but to extract value. When spiritual language is deployed to open wallets rather than open hearts, Peter says you are being made merchandise.
This is not a warning about all religious leaders. It is a warning about the ones whose motive is covetousness — greed dressed in spiritual clothing. And their tool is words that sound spiritual but are manufactured for profit.
How do you spot them? Peter says the motive is covetousness. The method is feigned words. The result is that people become products rather than people. When a ministry treats you as a revenue source rather than a soul, you have found what Peter is describing.
Their judgment lingereth not. It may look like they are prospering. It may seem like the exploitation has no consequences. Peter says: the judgment is not sleeping. It is coming. And it has been coming for a long time.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And through covetousness;.... Which is generally a prevailing vice among false teachers, they having no other end in…
And through covetousness - This shows what one of the things was by which they were influenced - a thing which, like…
And through covetousness - That they might get money to spend upon their lusts, with feigned words, πλαστοις λογοις,…
Men are apt to think that a reprieve is the forerunner of a pardon, and that if judgment be not speedily executed it is,…
through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you Better, in or with covetousness. The…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture