Here again Peter addresses his readers directly, spelling out for them the consequences of what he has just said regarding the distortion and misinterpretation of scripture. Once again he addresses his readers with the intimate term beloved. Revised Standard Version retains the Greek form here and begins the verse with You therefore. It is clear from the context, however, that Peter is contrasting the attitude of the people he mentions in verse 16 with that of his own readers; therefore beginning the verse as Good News Translation does (“But you”) is much more appropriate.

Knowing this beforehand may also be expressed as “know in advance,” hence Good News Translation “you … already know this.” It is possible that what is meant by this is the content of the present letter; it is more likely, however, this this refers to what has been mentioned in the last part of verse 16, namely, that people destroy themselves by misinterpreting scripture.

Beware is literally “to guard” and is a term that has its origin in the military. It includes a sense of being on guard, watching out, being very careful, taking extra precaution. Carried away is literally “led away” in a negative sense; in this context it can be rendered as “to be overwhelmed,” “to be seduced,” “to succumb,” “to be lured.” Lest is no longer used very much in contemporary English; it is an expression that introduces a negative purpose. So lest you is equivalent to “so that you will not” (Good News Translation). Lest you be carried away may also be expressed as “so that lawless people do not lead you astray.”

Error recalls the previous verse, particularly the misinterpretation of the meaning of Paul’s ideas and the consequences of such distortions. Lawless was used to describe the people of Sodom in 2.7; here it gives a picture of the false teachers and their followers going beyond the restraints and limits of Christian moral and ethical teaching, hence “unprincipled” (Phillips).

Lose is literally “fall” (Good News Translation) with the idea of losing or being separated from something. Stability is the opposite of the term “unstable” in the previous verse. The Greek word describes not an abstract state or quality (“steadfastness”) but a firm, stable position, as that of a mountain or a large rock, for example. So Jerusalem Bible has “the firm ground that you are standing on,” and Phillips “your proper foothold.”

An alternative translation model for this verse is:
• But you, friends, are already aware of this. Be very careful then, that lawless people will not lead you astray with their false teachings and you fall from your present stable 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 .