2:21

This verse further explains why the final result is worse for them than if they had never been Christians at all. The Greek text shows this relationship by using the link word “for,” which is left implicit in Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011 Revision), Good News Translation and Contemporary English Version. The Display line shows one way to translate the link.

This verse is one long and complex sentence in Greek. You may need to divide it into shorter sentences. The Display shows one way to do this.

2:21a

It would have been better: Peter wrote that it would have been better for these people never to have known Christ than to turn away after knowing him. The reason is that God punishes those who sin even though they know that they are sinning more severely than he punishes those who sin but who do not know that they are sinning. It may be necessary for you to state this explicitly in your translation or to explain the reason in a footnote to enable your readers to understand this verse clearly.

way of righteousness: This refers to the way a person should behave in order to do what is right, to behave in the way God wants them to.

2:21c

holy commandment: The holy commandment refers to God’s law which tells people how to behave.

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