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2 Peter 2:22
22 But [de] it is happened [sumbaino] unto them [autos] according to [ho] the true [alethes] proverb [paroimia], The dog [kuon] is turned [epistrepho] to [epi] his own [idios] vomit [exerama] again [epistrepho]; and [kai] the sow [hus] that was washed [louo] to [eis] her wallowing [kulisma] in the mire [borboros]. KJV-Interlinear
22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, ‘A dog returns to its own vomit,’ and, ‘A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.’ NASB
Animals have their disgusting habits, and people, when they ignore doctrine, imitate animals in their pursuit of disgusting habits as well, Prov. 26:11.
So, Peter sums it all up pretty well.
People are no more significant that the dust on the ground. People have intelligence that makes them better than animals, but people in their rejection of truth, don’t seem to use their intelligence any better than animals use their instincts. Certainly, they do not recognize their flaws or the significance of their disgusting patterns of life.
Angels have been around far longer than humanity, and even the angels who have been saved in accordance with their history, show no disrespect toward those who have been sentenced to the Lake of Fire.
People on the other hand, are vessels of dust. They are tied to limited life spans, tied to this single planet in this single solar system, tied to the many weaknesses of our biological make-up, and yet people think pretty highly of themselves, compete with deadly hate with one another, for things that have limitations in their value – namely values of zero.
People refuse to see truth, refuse to believe the Bible, and yet will believe things they read in publications.
People refuse to believe the words from God, but will believe almost anyone who invents a religion.
The sin nature is described as the filth of humanity. Salvation and confession are the two mechanisms of cleansing oneself from that filth, and yet people will return to the filth of life and unilaterally destroy themselves, boasting and celebrating themselves all the way into their burial pit.
People are surrounded by truth and examples of truth, and yet they will demand proofs, and evidence, and even if provided, will reject them in favor of their own invented beliefs. Wasn’t the earth flat once?
History is filled with the repercussions of arrogance and rejection of truth. None of those repercussions are good.
Is there any reason to expect that a spiritually negative world will escape hard times? Is there any reason to believe that you, if you are negative, will escape the same or similar hard times of history?
Peter wrote this letter as a reminder that rejection of doctrine, resistance of an open mind toward truth, clinging to beliefs of convenience or habit, and so forth, will only lead you to your own loss and destruction. In so doing you are no better and act no different, than the disgusting habits of animals.