2:19 They promise them freedom. The false teachers may have used Paul’s declaration that the Christian is not under law as the basis for their mistaken teaching that the Christian is free from the restraint of God’s moral law (cf. Rom. 6:15; 1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 5:18).

slaves of corruption. A profound irony of sin is evident here: the quest for freedom from God leads only to slavery to sin and self. True freedom from sin involves joyful “slavery” to God (cf. Rom. 6:18).