Condemnation is a judicial verdict (Romans 5:16) and here it denotes not only a negative verdict but also the punishment that follows from that legal decision (see Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47; Romans 2:2–3; Romans 3:8; Romans 13:2; Galatians 5:10; 1 Timothy 5:12; James 3:1).1 Destruction is the final judgment. With this sentence Peter is affirming that judgment will come and rejecting the heretics’ claim that delay means no judgment. Final judgment is not asleep; it is on its way.
3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.