The word blind
is often used in the New Testament for those not seeing the truth (Matthew 15:14; Matthew 23:16; Luke 6:39; John 9:39–41; Romans 2:19; 2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 John 2:11; Revelation 3:17) whereas nearsighted (short-sighted) probably has in view a focus on the present at the expense of the past and the future.1 This seems to be a description of the heretics. They have had their eyes opened to the truth of the gospel only to return to darkness and embrace sin once again (2 Peter 2:1, 2 Peter 2:17–22; 2 Peter 3:4–5). Because they ignore and question the second coming of Christ, their focus is on this life only and thus they have no concern for virtue or obedience to Christ.2
9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.