The subject of this verse (they) can be either the recent converts mentioned in verse 18 or the false teachers. An argument in favor of the former position (recent converts) is the fact that the verb “escape” is used in both verses, and since it is clear that in verse 18 this verb refers to the escape of recent converts, it is likely that it is used here in the same way. On the other hand the proverbs in verse 22 are rather harsh if applied to recent converts but are appropriate for the false teachers. This is probably the reason why some translations interpret they as referring to people in general; for example, Good News Translation “If people….” Considering the three verses together (verses 20-22) makes it appear more likely that these refer to the false teachers rather than to recent converts who have gone back to their former heathen ways. In many languages it will be helpful to make this clear and say, for example, “If these false teachers…” or “If these new converts….” It is also possible to render this in a general way, referring to everyone: “If people…” (Good News Translation) or “If anyone…” (similarly Phillips, Jerusalem Bible).

For connects this verse with the previous verses, probably going back to the whole idea of their being under corruption, or perhaps to the idea of “escape” in verse 18. If this connection is already clear in the translation, then For doesn’t have to be translated, as can be seen in many translations (for instance, Good News Translation, New International Version, New English Bible, Phillips). The word if is used here not to mark a condition that is contrary to fact, but rather to mark a conditional statement that is true. In other words Peter is not questioning or doubting the initial faith of the false teachers (or recent converts) but is asserting the fact that they had at one time left their heathen loyalties and become members of the Christian community. It will be helpful in certain languages to place the word if before the second sentence rather than the first and say “These false teachers (or, recent converts) have escaped … So, if they are caught….”

As in 1.4, conversion to Christianity is defined as escaping the defilements of the world. The word for defilements is a word similar in meaning to that used in 1.4, “corruption,” and it is used figuratively here to mean moral corruption through evil acts. The world can be understood generally here as all of creation, but perhaps as referring in particular to society which is viewed as evil because it is corrupted by pagan practices. The whole expression the defilements of the world is similar in meaning to “licentious passions of the flesh” in verse 18. The way of escaping the pollutions of the world, that is, of becoming a Christian, is through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For Lord see comments on 1.2; for Savior and Jesus Christ see comments on 1.1. Our is of course inclusive, referring to all Christians. Knowledge is a key term in this letter, having been used in 1.2, 3, and 8; see comments there for further discussion. This clause may also be rendered as “by coming to know our Lord…,” “through coming to know our Lord…,” or “through believing in our Lord….”

Leaving the Christian faith and returning to heathen practices is described as being again entangled and overpowered by these forces. In them goes back to the defilements of the world. Entangled is “to be mixed up with,” “to be implicated,” or “to be involved in.” This pictures people who have renounced their pagan religion, but who now again involve themselves in pagan practices. However, these people do not only get entangled in these practices; they are overpowered as well, that is, they are defeated and become slaves to these evil forces from which they have been delivered in the past. The clause they are again entangled in them and overpowered may also be expressed as “So if they are trapped again by the powers of these worldly lusts…” or “So if they are trapped again by the power of this evil worldly system….” And since this is the case, then the last state has become worse for them than the first. The last state refers to their state of having been mixed up with and defeated by immoral pagan practices. The first refers to their state before they became Christians, that is, before they came to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Alternative translation models for this verse are:
• If people (or, these false teachers, or, recent converts), through their coming to know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, have escaped from the forces of the world that cause peoples’ hearts to become dirty, and if they are again trapped by the power of this evil worldly system, they are in a worse condition at the end than before they came to know Jesus Christ (or, believed in Jesus Christ).

Or:
• People (or, These false teachers, or, Recent converts) have escaped from the evil and licentious forces of the world through their knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But if they are again caught and conquered by these forces, they are in a worse condition …

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The Second Letter from Peter. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .