For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
Parallel translations
- WEB For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
- BSB It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.
- NKJV For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.
- NASB For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
- NLT It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
It would have been better never to have known the way of righteousness than to know it and then turn from the holy commandment. It matters because knowingly rejecting the truth deepens one's guilt.
Overview
Peter stresses the gravity of apostasy from known truth. To turn back after knowing 'the way of righteousness' is more culpable than never having known it. This solemn principle warns against treating the gospel lightly and underscores the danger the false teachers pose.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 17
- Ezek 18:24But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
- Heb 6:4–6For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
- Jas 4:17Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
- Ezek 3:20Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
- Luke 12:47And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
- John 15:22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
- 1 Th 4:2For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
- John 9:41Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
- Zeph 1:6And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
- Prov 16:31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
- Matt 21:32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
- Ps 36:3–4The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
- Rom 7:12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
- Ezek 23:13Then I saw that she was defiled, that they took both one way,
- Prov 12:28In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
- Ps 125:5As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.
- Matt 11:23–24And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
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Original language
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