Tartarus (2 Peter 2:4)

 In 2 Peter 2:4, the Greek term "Tartarus" (ταρταρόω - tartaroō, used as a verb meaning "to cast into Tartarus") is employed to describe the specific place of confinement for certain sinning angels. This is the only instance of this word in the New Testament.

To understand its significance, it's helpful to consider its background in ancient Greek literature and mythology, as well as its use in Jewish thought and the context of 2 Peter.

1. Tartarus in Ancient Greek Mythology:

• In classical Greek mythology, Tartarus was conceived as a deep abyss, a gloomy region far below Hades (the general realm of the dead).

• It was primarily known as a dungeon of torment and suffering, especially for those who committed egregious crimes against the gods.

• Hesiod's Theogony describes Tartarus as one of the primordial deities and a place where the Titans, after their defeat by Zeus and the Olympian gods, were imprisoned in chains and darkness. Homer's Iliad also mentions it as a place "as far beneath Hades as heaven is above earth."

• Later Greek writers and philosophers, like Plato, expanded on Tartarus as a place where the wicked received divine punishment after death, with each punishment often unique to the condemned.

2. Tartarus in Jewish and Intertestamental Literature:

• While "Tartarus" is not a Hebrew word, the concept of a special prison for rebellious spiritual beings found its way into Jewish literature, particularly in texts like 1 Enoch.

• The Book of 1 Enoch, which was influential in the Second Temple period, describes the "Watchers" (angels who sinned by descending to earth and intermarrying with human women, as referenced in Genesis 6:1-4) being imprisoned in a dark, fiery abyss. Some Jewish texts even used "Tartarus" to refer to this place of angelic punishment, demonstrating that the term was known and adapted by Jewish writers to describe aspects of divine judgment.

3. Use in 2 Peter 2:4:

• Context: Peter uses the example of these sinning angels (along with the judgment on the ancient world in Noah's time and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah) to emphasize God's certainty in punishing the wicked, especially the false teachers he is condemning in his letter. The argument is: if God didn't spare even angels who sinned so grievously, he certainly won't spare these false teachers who are leading people astray.

• Specific Meaning: By using "Tartarus," Peter is likely drawing on the familiar imagery of a profound, dark, and secure prison for exceptionally wicked beings. It signifies a place of severe and inescapable confinement, distinct from the general abode of the dead (Hades).

• Targeted Inhabitants: Importantly, 2 Peter 2:4 specifies that angels were cast into Tartarus. This differentiates it from the fate of unrighteous humans, who typically go to Hades (and ultimately Gehenna/the lake of fire for final judgment). The angels in Tartarus are described as being held "in chains of darkness" and "reserved for judgment," indicating a temporary holding place until a future, more final judgment.

• Not Necessarily Affirming Greek Mythology: Peter's use of the term doesn't imply an endorsement of the entire Greek mythological narrative. Rather, he employs a word that his Greek-speaking audience would understand to convey the idea of a particularly severe and inescapable confinement for rebellious supernatural beings, a concept that had already been integrated into certain Jewish traditions. It's a culturally accessible term for a concept rooted in biblical truth.

In summary, "Tartarus" in 2 Peter 2:4 is a powerful Greek term used to describe a specialized, dark prison for fallen angels, emphasizing the severity of their sin and the certainty of God's coming judgment upon all who rebel against Him.