Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Peter 2:10

"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:" — 2 Peter 2:10 (ASV)

But chiefly. This means it may be presumed that the principles just laid down would be especially applicable to such persons as he proceeds to designate.

That walk after the flesh. This refers to those who live for the indulgence of their carnal appetites (see notes on Romans 8:1).

In the lust of uncleanness. In polluted pleasures (compare to notes on 2 Peter 2:2).

And despise government. The marginal note says, dominion. This means they regard all government—in the state, the church, and the family—as an evil. They are advocates for unbridled freedom of all sorts, declaimers on liberty and the evils of oppression, and defenders of what they regard as the rights of injured man; yet they secretly lust for the exercise of the very power they would deny to others. As a result, they make no just distinctions about what constitutes true freedom and, in their zeal, array themselves against government in all forms.

No topic of declamation would be more popular than this, and from no other topic would they hope to secure more followers. For if they could succeed in removing all respect for the just restraints of law, the way would be open for the accomplishment of their own purposes in setting up a dominion over the minds of others. It is a common result of such views that men of this description become impatient even of the government of God Himself and seek to throw off all authority and live in the unrestrained indulgence of their vicious propensities.

Presumptuous are they. Greek: tolmhtai—daring, bold, audacious, presumptuous men.

Self-willed. Greek: auyadeiv (see notes on Titus 1:7).

They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. The word translated as "dignities" here (Greek: doxav) properly means honor, glory, splendor. It then refers to that which is fitted to inspire respect, that which is dignified or exalted.

It is applied here to men of exalted rank. The meaning is that they did not regard rank, station, or office, thus violating the plainest rules of propriety and religion (see notes on Acts 23:4-5).

Jude, between whose language and that of Peter in this chapter there is a remarkable resemblance, has expressed this more fully. He says (Jude 1:8), These filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

It is one of the effects of religion to produce respect for superiors; however, when men are self-willed and purpose to give indulgence to corrupt propensities, it is natural for them to dislike all government.

Accordingly, it is by no means an infrequent effect of certain forms of error to lead men to speak disrespectfully of those in authority and to attempt to throw off all the restraints of law.

It is a very certain indication that men hold wrong opinions when they show disrespect to those in authority and despise the restraints of law.