Springs flowing with water promise refreshment for thirsty people, but "springs without water" will leave the thirsty disappointed. In the same way, false teachers, although they promise many things, are unable to do what they promise. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
When people see storm clouds, they expect rain to fall. When the winds from the storm blow the clouds away before the rain can fall, the people are disappointed. In the same way, false teachers, although they promise many things, are unable to do what they promise. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
The word "them" refers to the false teachers. This can be stated in active form. AT: "God has reserved the gloom of thick darkness for them" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-activepassive]])
# people who try to escape ... promise freedom ... slaves of corruption
Peter speaks of people who live sinfully as if they are slaves to sin who need to be released from their captivity. (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
# people who try to escape from those who live in error
This phrase refers to people who recently became believers. The phrase "those who live in error" refers to unbelievers who still live in sin. AT: "people who try to live rightly, instead of living sinfully as they used to and as other people do" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-explicit]])
"The false teachers promise freedom to these people, but the false teachers themselves are slaves of corruption." The false teachers promise people that they can help them to stop sinning, but the false teachers themselves cannot stop sinning.
Peter speaks of a person as a slave when anything has control over that person, and that thing as the master of that person. AT: "For if something has control over a person, that person becomes like a slave to that thing" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/translate/figs-metaphor]])
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