Ver. 11. Knowing that such an one is perverted, and sinneth, being self-condemned. The language throughout is very strong: first he is perverted the rendering of Tyndale, Cranmer, and Gen., and upon the whole better than the Authorized Version, subverted: the compound verb ἐκτρέπω) signifying to turn out of, namely, the proper way or course; and when used, as here, in the passive of one who, notwithstanding even a second admonition, persists in following his self-willed line of action, “denotes a complete inward corruption and perverseness of character” (Ellicott). Then, he sinneth ἁμαρτάνει, lives in sin, or errs knowingly and deliberately, because he cleaves to his own way, after having been expostulated with about its erroneousness by an authorized messenger of God. And so, finally, he is said to be self-condemned: not as if he formally pronounced judgment against himself, or was conscious of acting a part which he consciously knew to be wrong, but because his conduct was such as of itself to betray a desert of condemnation. The meaning is much the same as that expressed of similar characters at 1 Timothy 4:2 both alike spoken of persons whose inward sense or conscience has got into a state which is palpably at variance with the mind of God, as made known through His authorized representatives.

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Old Testament

New Testament