Verse 20 immediately describes those who were overcome again—illustrating the consequence of being enslaved to corruption after escaping defilement.

In 2 Peter 2:12, the same false teachers are described as unreasoning animals — both verses stress their instinct-driven, enslaved nature.

Romans 6:16 states that whoever you obey is your master—directly paralleling Peter's principle that what overcomes a person enslaves them.

1 Peter 2:16 urges living as free people not covering evil—contrasting the false teachers' slavery to corruption masked as freedom here.

Galatians 5:1 proclaims Christ set us free from slavery—contrasting the false freedom promised here that leads to corruption.

Romans 6:12-14 teaches that sin no longer has dominion over believers under grace—contrasting with the false teachers who remain slaves to corruption.

John 8:34 states everyone who sins is a slave to sin—quoting the same principle of enslavement that underlies the false teachers' condition here.

In Acts 8:23, Simon is 'captive to sin' — the same condition of being mastered by depravity that Peter warns about in false teachers.

Matthew 7:15 warns about false prophets as wolves in sheep's clothing — parallel to false teachers who appear free but are slaves.

In Galatians 2:4, false believers spy on Christian freedom to enslave others — a direct parallel to false teachers promising freedom while enslaved.

In Philippians 3:19, enemies of the cross have 'their god is their stomach' — the same enslavement to fleshly appetites that masters false teachers.

Jeremiah 6:14 describes false prophets crying 'peace' when there is none — similar to promising freedom while being slaves.

Isaiah 5:20 condemns calling evil good — exactly what false teachers do by promising freedom while themselves enslaved.

Psalm 119:45 describes true freedom through seeking God's precepts — contrasting with the false freedom promised by enslaved teachers.

Leviticus 25:10 proclaims liberty in the Jubilee—the same Greek word for 'freedom' but in a legal-economic context, contrasting with false spiritual promises.

Galatians 5:13 warns against using freedom for the flesh—parallel to the false teachers' promise of freedom that actually indulges the flesh.

2 Timothy 2:26 speaks of being captured by the devil to do his will—a parallel picture of captivity that false teachers are in.

Ezekiel 13:22 shows false prophets strengthening the wicked so they don't repent — parallel to false teachers' freedom promise encouraging sin.

Titus 3:3 describes believers' former state as slaves to passions—showing that such bondage was the common condition before salvation.