2 Peter 2:10,11

2 Peter 2:10-11 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities: whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord.

Expanded Translation

But the unrighteous ones I have particular reference to are those that pursue after and are devoted to the flesh, and indulge in passion (strong craving) which stains, pollutes, and defiles them, who disdain and slight constituted authority. Being bold (audacious, presumptuous) and self-pleasers (hence, willful, obstinate), they do not tremble (i.e., are not fearful) to revile, reproach, and blaspheme dignitaries (i.e., those in places of glory or preeminence): whereas angels, though greater in ability and power, do not bring a blasphemous, railing, or reproachful judgment against them (i.e., the revilers) before the Lord.

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but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement

The apostle is evidently still speaking of the false teachers. He again mentions here, as in 2 Peter 2:1, a phase of their lives that is shockingly true of many promoters of falsehood today, namely, immorality and the perversion of sexual appetites.

These men walk after the flesh, i.e., they pursue after or are devoted to their fleshly lusts as a way of life.[67] But more than this, we are told they are in the lust of defilement (en epithumia miasmou, in cravings which stain); i.e., in such lusts as defile, corrupt, and pollute the soul. In Jude 1:7 two immoral practices of Sodom and Gomorrah are specified: (1) They gave themselves over to fornication, and (2) they had gone after strange flesh, referring to their practice of sodomy. The sins these false teachers fell into are in the same basic category as those of the ancientsand their doom was just as certain!

[67] So poreuomai (walk) is frequently used, as, for example, in Ephesians 2:2.

and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities

(See also Jude 1:8.) Both the words dominion (kuriotes, literally, lordship) and dignities (doxia, literally, glory; hence, one who is in a place of glory, a dignitary), refer to whatever authorities might be binding upon a person, whether civil or religious. They had nothing but contempt for such authority.

Two reasons are given for this: (1) They were daring (tolmetes), literally, one who is bold. But this boldness has a bad sense, and describes one who is presumptuous and contemptuous. Where he should be sensitive, polite, and respectful, he is brazen and rude. He is the fool that rushes in where angels fear to tread! (2) They were self-willed (authedes). This is quite a word. It is composed of two parts: autos, self, and hedomai, which means to enjoy oneself. Putting the two together, we literally have, one who pleases himself. Thus it came to describe an obstinate, arrogant individual. One so far overvaluing any determination at which he has himself arrived, that he will not be removed from it (Trench). With such attitudes, they did not fear to rail at the powers that be.

It seems very probable that Peter, in the phrase under consideration, is pointing the finger of guilt toward that class of false teachers that preached that religious freedom and license to sin were synonymous. Taught along with this was freedom from civil authority. Their great cry was liberty, but they themselves were bondservants (2 Peter 2:19). That the repudiating of civil or human authority is meant here seems most likely, for there are many warnings concerning this sin in the first epistle (1 Peter 2:13-18, 1 Peter 4:15-16).

whereas angels, though greater in might and power

i.e., greater than the wicked men just spoken of. Might (ischus) and power (dunamis) are very similar in meaning. Thayer says, dunamis, power, natural ability, general and inherent. ischus, strength, power [especially physical] as an endowment.

bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord

That is, the angels do not treat these wicked men like they were treating the dignitaries.

The verse teaches us a significant lesson about our speech. Concerning the most vile persons it is not our place to bring railing judgments! The term railing (blasphemes) means abusive (report), false or malicious (accusation), reproachful, blasphemous. Though it may be necessary to tell others they are hypocrites and backsliders, liars and adulterers, it must never be done from a malicious motive on our part. The angels, though superior in every way than these men, did not speak of them abusively! Take a lesson from the angels! Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one (Colossians 4:6).