ἐλευθερίαν αὐτοῖς ἐπαγγελλόμενοι, αὐτοὶ δοῦλοι ὑπάρχοντες τῆς φθορᾶς· ᾧ γάρ τις ἥττηται, τούτῳ καὶ δεδούλωται. (2 Peter 2:19)
Deception in Voice and Form
This verse from 2 Peter delivers a scathing rebuke against false teachers who promise liberty, yet are themselves enslaved to corruption. The Greek construction powerfully reinforces this moral irony, through its layered participles, passives, and causal logic.
We will examine the verse’s core grammar using a structured table, highlighting:
– Present participles that describe deceptive activity and true condition
– A genitive of subjection that defines the master
– A dative of subjection that follows a perfect passive verb
– A causal clause structured around identity and subjugation
Grammatical Analysis Table
| Greek Phrase | Form & Morphology | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| ἐλευθερίαν αὐτοῖς ἐπαγγελλόμενοι | Present middle participle, nominative plural masculine from ἐπαγγέλλομαι |
Adjectival participle modifying the false teachers | “promising them freedom” — deceptive appearance of liberty |
| αὐτοὶ δοῦλοι ὑπάρχοντες τῆς φθορᾶς | Present active participle (ὑπάρχοντες) + genitive of subjection | Predicate description | “they themselves are slaves of corruption” — contrasting reality to their message |
| ᾧ γάρ τις ἥττηται | Relative pronoun in dative + perfect passive indicative, 3rd sg. from ἡττάομαι |
Causal clause: reason for enslavement | “For by what a person is overcome…” — indicating the conqueror |
| τούτῳ καὶ δεδούλωται | Dative of agent + perfect passive indicative, 3rd sg. from δουλόω |
Result clause / poetic justice | “to this one he is also enslaved” — full reversal of freedom |
Syntax of Irony: Freedom That Enslaves
– ἐπαγγελλόμενοι: This present participle creates a false front — liberty offered with a smile.
– ὑπάρχοντες + δοῦλοι: The present participle “being” combined with “slaves” names their actual identity.
– The genitive τῆς φθορᾶς (“of corruption”) reveals their true master.
– The phrase ᾧ… τούτῳ (dative-relative and demonstrative) forms a causal-result pair:
– What you are overcome by, that is what owns you.
This is not just theological accusation; it is grammatical irony at its sharpest: they offer freedom, but their verbs betray their slavery.
When the Participles Preach
2 Peter 2:19 delivers its condemnation not only through words, but through grammar:
– Participles show pretense vs. reality
– The perfect passive verbs show ongoing subjugation
– Genitives and datives show who is in control
The verse teaches that spiritual slavery is often disguised by spiritual-sounding promises. The Greek makes clear: if you are conquered by sin, you are not free — no matter what you promise others.
Here, the voice of the verb exposes the state of the soul.
