Ironically, even as the false teachers promise freedom, they are actually enslaved. They claim to be free from judgment, but they have put themselves once again into a position where they will face God’s judgment.1 The corruption to which they are enslaved most likely relates to their sexual desires. Instead of fighting against sinful desires, they have yielded to them and as a result they were defeated—slaves once again.2 There is thus a contrast between the promises of Christ by which Christians escape corruption (2 Peter 1:3–4) and the promises of the false teachers which result in slavery to corruption.3
19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.