“…and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly…”
condemned them to destruction
“Condemned” means appointed. When a nation rejects Bible doctrine, God appoints ingredients of destruction for that nation. A homosexual society is like a hand grenade with the pin pulled; it looms ready to explode society. When a military accepts homosexuals into its institutions, it incorporates “destruction” into its infrastructures. This will undermine social life as we know it.
We get our English word “catastrophe” from the Greek word for “destruction.” Metaphorically, “destruction” comes to mean a state of total ruin, a disaster. God brought disaster on cities of homosexuality.
making them an example
Sodom and Gomorrah are examples of God’s hatred toward homosexuality, a sin of perversion. These cities were filled with male and female perverts. God made their cities an example to those who might live as they did in the future.
An “example” signifies a sign, a representation of a thing (He 9:23). Here is an example we are to avoid. Homosexuality is something to avoid in God’s eyes.
When Lot went to Sodom and Gomorrah, he gradually learned to accept their sin and then live with them. Eventually, he came to believe that their lifestyle was acceptable. Lot could have separated himself from these people, but he chose to live there.
God sent two messengers into town. A mob tried to rape the messengers (a society devolves into its maximum depravity when depravity develops into mobs). Lot would not let the mob have these two men. He brought out his daughters to give them to the mob but they would have none of it. They wanted men.
to those who afterward would live ungodly
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah foreshadows the coming judgment of God (2 pe 3:7,10).
The idea of this phrase in Greek is “those who are about to live ungodly.” The “ungodly” here are unbelievers. People involved in homosexuality are non-God in their thinking.
PRINCIPLE:
Homosexuality is un-God in its orientation.
APPLICATION:
The Bible clearly views homosexuality as a sin, not a disease. It is more than unnatural; it is “ungodly.” God’s standards are altogether different than our society.
The sin of homosexuality is not only unnatural, it is also a sin. Not only is it a sin but it is also “ungodly.” The Lord Jesus can deliver thieves from their evil. He can make drunkards sober. He makes immoral people clean. He can deliver sex perverts from obsessions. That is why the gospel is good news.
Jude 7, “… as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh [homosexuality], are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
“He made those cities an example to ungodly people of what “is going to happen (μελλόντων) to them.”
Why can’t you give an explanation for this part of the verse? That is all that I am asking.
If I am wrong, then I would like to see this part of the verse explained.
James,
I commented on the phrase you indicated in this paragraph: “The idea of this phrase in Greek is “those who are about to live ungodly.” The “ungodly” here are unbelievers. People involved in homosexuality are non-God in their thinking.”
The Greek word μελλόντων is from the root: μελλω. It is present, active, participle, plural, genitive, masculine. The idea is “what is about to happen, those who afterward would live ungodly.” Usage of the term is “to take place at a future point of time and so to be subsequent to another event, be about to.” The participle is attributive functioning as a finite verb. In the participle usage it carries the idea of “those who were to be ungodly in the future.” The participle is used absolutely (in the future, to come) to be destined or likely to, indicating an estimated certainty or strong probability in the present, past, or future (cf. Aristonic.ap.Sch.Il.10.326, 11.817, 16.46, a.). The participle μέλλων is used quasi-adjectivally, ὁ μ. χρόνος the future time, Pi.O.10(11).7, A.Pr.839, Arist.Top.111b28: Gramm., ὁ μέλλων the future tense, D.T.638.23, A.D.Synt.69.28, etc.).
Instead of “an example for those who are going to be ungodly,” some manuscripts have “an example to those who were to be ungodly.” The difference between the two is slight, with the first focused more on the present and the second focused more on the future. This is a textual variant, scholars come out on both sides. Thus, no one can be dogmatic on this issue, it may deal with what may happen shortly or it might mean what will happen at the judgment, as the next verse (v7) and verse ten indicate. If ἀσεβέσιν (debated) is to be retained, the reference is to impending judgment for the impious).
μέλλω as a present participle is used absolutely to denote what is the coming future, to come, coming (HE 2:5); neuter participle as a substantive, for an unlimited extent of time to come the future (1T 6:19); (3) as extending time because of indecision τί μέλλεις; Why do you delay? What are you waiting for? (AC 22:16).
The reason I quote verses 2 Pe 2:7, 10 is that those passages in the immediate context refer to the future, giving specificity to 2:6.
I did some further checking and you are right. It would be possible to interpret the verse in another way.
Here is the word for word translation given by the Biblehub website. Of course, to English speakers, this looks like the most mixed up sentence ever! >>
and (the) cities of Sodom and Gomorrah having reduced to ashes to destruction He condemned (them) an example of what is coming on the ungodly having set
So here is the interpretation of 2 Peter 2:6 that you were talking about. >>
2 Peter 2:6
and condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes, having appointed them as an example for those who “are going to” be ungodly,…
And here is a perfect example of your point. So I’m helping you out here with a better verse! >>
1 Timothy 1:16
But this is why I was shown mercy so that Christ Jesus could show his endless patience to me first of all. So I’m an example for those who “are going to” (μελλόντων) believe in him for eternal life.
At Biblegateway, I can see this verse translated in two different ways. So apparently, this part of the verse is rather ambiguous. But still, the example of Sodom and Gomorrah is their “destruction” by being “reduced to ashes.” So, can you explain “that part?”
James, start reading my commentary at 2 Peter 2:1 to the end of the chapter.
What! Why would I need to read ALL of that? This is just a small part of the verse. >> Reduced to ashes and destruction.
Surely you could give a simple answer. I don’t understand. All of Second Peter chapter 2 certainly covers many different
things — things that are NOT AT ALL related to this verse. That doesn’t make sense.
James, context is the most important principle in interpretation; otherwise, one operates on a pretext (taking a passage out of its context). Pretext is the basis of all cultic interpretation.