Who bought what?

The meaning of the word “bought” in 2 Peter 2:1 is arguably quite ambiguous. When we look at the context of the verse, it seems likely that the word “bought” does not refer to Jesus purchasing salvation, but rather to a general deliverance from the idolatry of the world.

This is supported by Peter’s later statement in verse 20 that these people who were “bought” have “escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” It is certainly possible to escape “the defilements of the world” through the knowledge of the gospel without actually being saved.

Some professing Christians are baptized and serve in the church as if they were truly regenerate, but they eventually apostatize and demonstrate that they were in actuality never truly regenerated. It is entirely possible that these are the kinds of people Peter is referring to in 2 Peter 2:1.

There are other passages in Scripture that are very clear that Jesus actually saves those for whom He died. 2 Peter 2:1 does not speak directly about this topic, and, taken by itself, it is unclear exactly what the phrase, “even denying the Master who bought them,” really means. Because of this, it is important to interpret 2 Peter 2:1 in light of other, clearer, more foundational passages, rather than seeking to interpret it in isolation.

Calvinism and 2 Peter 2:1 – “denying the Master” ​

Sometimes when we study a verse or passage, the study notes or commentaries offer very different understandings of the text. Thus the need for our own individual study to discern, as best we can, what God intended we gleam from His word.

In the above quote, we see an agenda driven effort to make a verse mean something other than what it seems to mean. Could this still be a valid effort. Unlikely, but yes.

So let us see if we can unravel the effort to say Jesus did not purchase those heading for swift destruction.

Is the meaning of the Greek word "agorazo" (G59) quite ambiguous? The KJV translates the word as buy, bougtht or buyeth 28 times and as "redeemed" three times (Rev. 5:9, 14:3 and 14:4.) But "redeemed" is a
mistranslation, as the word means purchase without addressing the purpose. Thus the NASB translates "agoraze" as purchased in all three of these verses. Thus every time you see "redeemed" as a translation of G59, the translators are assuming His purchase resulted in redemption in every case, but that view ignores 2 Peter 2:1.

Is the meaning Christ purchased salvation? Nope. He purchased the means of reconciliation in that He became the means of reconciliation for the whole of humanity, those to be saved and those, as in 2 Peter 2:1, never to be saved. See 1 John 2:2.

Does 2 Peter 2:20 indicate the means of purchase was knowledge of the gospel, rather than the shedding of His blood? Nope Let us take a close look at Revelation 5:9:

And they sang a new song... They refers to the four beasts and 24 Elders present around God's throne.
worthy you are to have taken the scroll and and opened its seals... referring to the Lamb's action
because you were slain and bought us for God... here the means of purchase was Christ's death
with your blood out of every tribe and language and people and nation. Here we must be careful not to assume that Christ's death only purchased those redeemed just because the purchase with His blood included those actually redeemed.

Clearly and thus not ambiguously, Christ purchase was by means of shedding His blood.

Is Paul referring to professing Christians who are tares (not actually saved)? The fact those heading for swift destruction are not saved is not in dispute. What is being disputed is the fact Christ bought those heading for swift destruction. And again, the key is to recognize His purchase did not equate with automatic redemption, but rather with providing (by His purchase) the means of reconciliation.

 

Christ bought, with His blood, the damned never to be saved. The issue is not who He bought, humanity, but what He bought, those heading for destruction. Calvinists deny this biblical truth.

 

I was trying to focus discussion on the issue at hand, for what kinds of people did Christ die?