2:1 But there also arose false prophets among the
people,
as among you also there will be false teachers,
Their Effect
who will secretly bring in destructive heresies,
denying even the Master who bought them,
bringing on themselves swift destruction.
2:2 Many will follow their immoral ways, {TR reads "destructive" instead of "immoral"}
and as a result, the way of the truth will be maligned.
2:3 In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words:
Their Condemnation
whose sentence now from of old doesn't linger,
and their destruction will not slumber.
2:4 For
if God didn't spare angels when they sinned,
but cast them down to Tartarus {Tartarus is another name for
Hell},
and committed them to pits of darkness, to be reserved to
judgment;
2:5 and didn't spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with
seven
others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on
the
world
of the ungodly;
2:6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes,
condemned
them to destruction, having made them an example to those who
would
live
ungodly;
2:7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was very distressed by the
lustful
life of the wicked
2:8 (for that righteous man dwelling among them, was tormented
in his
righteous soul from day to day with seeing and hearing lawless
deeds):
2:9 the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation
and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of
judgment;
Their Description
2:10 but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement,and
despise
authority.
A. They Despise Authority
Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of
dignitaries;
2:11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power,
don't bring a railing judgment against them before the Lord.
2:12 But these, as unreasoning creatures,
born natural animals to be taken and destroyed, speaking evil in matters about which they are ignorant,
will in their destroying surely be destroyed,
2:13 receiving the wages of unrighteousness;
B. They Follow Corrupt Desires
people who count it pleasure to revel in the day-time,
spots
and
blemishes,
reveling in their deceit while they feast with you;
2:14 having eyes full of adultery, and who can't
cease from
sin; enticing unsettled souls; having a heart trained in
greed;
children
of
cursing;
2:15 forsaking the right way, they went astray,
having followed the way of Balaam the son of Beor,
who loved the wages of wrong-doing;
2:16 but he was rebuked for his own disobedience.
A mute donkey spoke with man's voice
and stopped the madness of the prophet.
2:17 These are wells without water, clouds driven by a storm;
for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.
2:18 For, uttering great swelling words of emptiness,
they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by
licentiousness,
those who are indeed escaping from those who live in error;
2:19 promising them liberty,
while they themselves are bondservants of corruption;
for by whom a man is overcome,
by the same is he also brought into bondage.
2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world
through the knowledge of {epignosis = "knowledge about"}
the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
they are again entangled therein and overcome,
the last state has become worse with them than the first.
2:21 For it would be better for them not to have known
{about}
the way of righteousness, than, after knowing {about}
it,
to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.
2:22 But it has happened to them according to the true
proverb, "The dog turns to his own vomit again," (Prov
26:11)
and "the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire."
Discussion Questions
What are ways in which you might identify a false teacher?
Have you met any false teachers from cults - or even within the
"Christian"
community?
What is destructive about the heresy they spread?
How has their teaching brought the way of truth into disrepute?
vs 15 Does Peter treat these people like sheep gone astray?
vs 17 Do you find sermons to be foggy and vague? Do they provoke the
passions of your flesh, or motivate you to walk in the Spirit by
faith?
Do they feed your flesh or your spirit?
Comments
False
Teachers
Deny
Christ
as
Lord
2Peter 2:1-2 But there were also false prophets
among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.
They
will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the
sovereign Lord who bought them— bringing swift destruction on
themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring
the way
of truth into disrepute.
This chapter is paralleled with the epistle of Jude thought for
thought. "For certain men
whose
condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in
among
you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a
license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign
and
Lord." Jude 1:4
Paul warned the Ephesian elders, "I
know
that
after
I
leave,
savage
wolves
will
come
in
among you and will
not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and
distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them." Acts 20:29-30 This was even the
case within the church at Jerusalem of where Peter served. For out
of
that church came judaizers of whom Paul said, "This matter arose because
some
false
brothers had infiltrated
our
ranks to spy on the freedom we have in
Christ Jesus and to make us slaves."Gal 2:4
The word "Lord" here is not the commonly used word "kurios", but
"dispotes" which relates only to a slave and denotes absolute
ownership
and uncontrolled power. That is, in particular they rejected Christ
being their master, which is part of the gospel. For "he died for all, that those who
live
should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them
and
was raised again." 2Cor
5:15 Likewise
today
there
are
those
who
view
as
merely
optional
acceptance
of Christ
as Lord in the sense of he being our Master and we his servants. For
inherent in saving faith is the intention to do what Jesus says
seeing
as He is Lord.
But there are many who treat freedom in Christ as freedom to live a
sinful lifestyle, defending such a lifestyle based upon those who
teach
falsely, and consequently give Christianity a bad name.
Greedy
Exploitation
2Peter 2:3In their greed these teachers will
exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has
long
been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been
sleeping.
This is to be contrasted with the previous chapter where Peter
states, "We did not follow
cleverly invented
stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord
Jesus
Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty." 2Peter 1:16 For the gospel was
well
affirmed by eyewitness testimony. (Luke
1:1-2)
Contrary to Paul's advice given in Acts
20:33-35, the many demand payment for their preaching. And
Paul
says, "Unlike so many, we do
not
peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we
speak
before God with sincerity, like men sent from God."2Cor 2:17 Consequently if a
person
is financially dependent upon others, issues of greed arise. And if
greed is involved, one's profit margins would increase if one could
increase the size of one's constituents. Consequently false teachers
characteristically make up stories to attract more people to listen
to
them. Fund raising missionaries must also beware of exaggerating or
outright fabricating stories of their fruitfulness. For that will be
a
temptation if your ministry is dependent upon financial support from
others.
Jude warns of false teachers, "they
boast
about
themselves
and
flatter
others
for
their
own
advantage."Jude
1:16c In contrast Paul said,
"You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to
cover up
greed" 1Th 2:5 And
Jude
also characterized them saying, "they
have
rushed
for
profit
into
Balaam’s
error"
Jude
1:11b For despite knowing God's
will, Balaam accepted payment to prophecy contrary to God's will.
Yet
how many a teacher has neglected to teach God's word concerning
those
things which are unpopular as such would threaten their own
popularity.
In contrast Jesus had not such concerns as he openly taught things
which made him unpopular to the point of being murdered.
God
Condemns
the Wicked
2Peter 2:4,5For if God did not spare angels
when
they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy
dungeons
to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world
when he
brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a
preacher
of righteousness, and seven others
Apparently angels have the potential to sin. These we call devils.
They
are led by Satan. Jesus speaks of the judgement day in which the
unrighteous will be told,
"Depart
from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for
the
devil and his angels."Mt
25:41
Hell is not a prison but a jail for those awaiting the judgement day
in
which they will be cast into the lake of fire. This verse leads up
to
verse 9 which says, "if this is
so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials
and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while
continuing
their punishment." The internment into hell, being
subject to torment till the judgement day is the same experience
both
for fallen angels and unrighteous people.
For now some fallen angels have been allowed to roam the earth, like
Satan himself. Upon the Lord's return he will be bound for 1000
years
in the Abyss (Rev 20:1-3)
but
will be released for a short time before being thrown in the lake of
fire (Rev 20:7,10) Evil
spirits
are terrified at the thought of being thrown into the Abyss. When an
evil spirit saw Jesus, he
cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice,
"What
do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you,
don’t
torture me!" ... And they begged him repeatedly not to order them
to go
into the Abyss.Luke
8:28,31 (Useful
to
know
if
you're
having
trouble
casting
out demons)
The flood is mentioned in Genesis chapters 6-9. The seven others
were
his wife, his three sons and their wives. Notice that Noah is not
simply characterized as a righteous man, but as a preacher. Those
who
are righteous should also be involved in taking a public stand on
their
convictions. And especially considering Jesus said, "As it was in the days of Noah, so
it
will be at the coming of the Son of Man." Mt 24:37
Sodom
and
Gomorrah
2Peter 2:6-8 if he condemned the cities of
Sodom
and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of
what
is going to happen to the ungodly; and if he rescued Lot, a
righteous
man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men (for
that
righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in
his
righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—
Alot of people today will be taken by surprise at God's wrath. For
though they use the word "God", they have in mind something quite
different than the Lord God as portrayed in the Bible, rather
viewing
their "God" as a sort of Santa Claus figure.
Why did he turn Sodom and Gomorrah to ash? "Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding
towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They
serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal
fire." Jude 1:7 Naturally
the
righteous
should
not
be
involved
in
sexual immorality.
"Among you there must not be even a
hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of
greed,
because these are improper for God’s holy people ... For of this
you
can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person— such a man is an
idolater— has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of
God."Eph 5:3,5 In fact the
righteous
should feel distressed, even tormented, by the filthy lives of the
lawless.
How does it make you feel if your neighbor is involved in sexual
immorality, having sex outside of marriage, or committing acts of
homosexuality, or promoting such things. Do you feel proud of your
toleration of such people? Which do you feel? Tormented or proud?
God
Rescues
the Godly
2Peter 2:9 if this is so, then the Lord knows
how
to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for
the day
of judgment, while continuing their punishment.
While, "through many
tribulations
we must enter the kingdom of God."Acts 14:22b,
the righteous are not
subject to God's wrath. The tribulations we suffer now are from the
world, the flesh and the devil. But ungodly suffer the eternal
punishment of God's wrath. Abraham was concerned about the righteous
living in Sodom and Gommorrah, asking God, "Will you sweep away the righteous
with the wicked?"Gen
18:23
Contrary to the prejudice God does not believe in guilt by
association.
Though surrounded by the wicked, God will distinguish the righteous
as
wheat among the tares and deliver them.
In Matthew 13 Jesus speaks of the Wheat and the Tares in which the
righteous and wicked live among one another, but on the day of
judgement, "The Son of Man
will
send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all
things
that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast
them
into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of
teeth."Mt 13:40,41
By "continuing their punishment" it is referring to hell. Hell is
not a
prison but a jail for the unrighteous awaiting the judgement day in
which they will be thrown into the lake of fire. In the story of the
rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 it says of the rich man, "In hell, where he was in torment,
he
looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So
he
called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus
to dip
the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in
agony in this fire.’" Luke
16:23,24
Why
the
Ungodly Despise Authority
2Peter 2:10,11This is especially true of those
who
follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise
authority.
Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander
dignitaries; yet
even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful,
do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the
presence
of the Lord.
Jude follows suit. For right after commenting on Sodom and Gomorrah
he
continues, "In the very same
way,
these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and
slander
dignitaries. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing
with
the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a
slanderous
accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" Jude 1:8,9
Those who characteristically despise authority do so because they
refuse to view themselves as subordinates, being obligated to obey
someone other than their own desires. Those who despise
authority despise the concept of submission and obedience. (For
example
wives who reject their Biblical role of subordination to their
husband,
or more generally women who reject the Biblical principle of male
headship (1Cor 11:3), do so
because they despise the role of a subordinate.) Those who
reject
the concept of authority reject Jesus as LORD, following rather the
desires of their own corrupt sinful nature. "For certain men whose condemnation
was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.
They are
godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for
immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord." Jude 1:4
The rebellious will alway find excuses for not obeying authority,
even
if they have to make up false accusations.
The Wicked - Creatures of
Instinct
2Peter 2:12,13But these men blaspheme in
matters they
do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of
instinct,
born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too
will
perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have
done.
Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are
blots
and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with
you.
Being ignorant of the truth, these people "do not know what they are talking
about or what they so confidently affirm."1Tim 1:7b And "a man who has riches without
understanding is like the beasts that perish."Ps 49:20 It is the
understanding
that puts us above beasts. But to be driven simply by the passions
of
the flesh is to be an animal.
Taking pleasure in carousing in the day time implies that
carousing is a shameful thing that the more conscientious would at
most
limit to the darkness. "Carousing" here is "truphe" in Greek,
which
interestingly enough has a couple of different connotations. One
is to
riot. The other refers to softness, effeminate, luxurious living.
(Sort
of a "Liberace" type - shades of gay pride parades)
However in particular he is referring to such people as
participate
in church activities ("while
they
feast with you"), not only identifying themselves as
Christians
but also viewing themselves as its spokesmen.
Likewise Jude writes of them,
"Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not
understand;
and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning
animals— these are the very things that destroy them. Woe to
them! They
have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into
Balaam’s
error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. These men
are
blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the
slightest
qualm— shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds
without
rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and
uprooted— twice dead."Jude
1:10-12
The Way of Balaam
2Peter 2:14-16 "With
eyes
full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the
unstable;
they are experts in greed— an accursed brood! They have left the straight way
and
wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved
the
wages of wickedness. But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a
donkey—
a beast without speech— who spoke with a man’s voice and
restrained the
prophet’s madness.
In contrast to those born of God of whom it is said, "No one who is born of God will
continue to sin"1John 3:9a,
these
continue in a lifestyle of sin. In church these lust after other's
spouse. These lead the immature away, as Paul writes, "I am afraid that just as Eve
was
deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led
astray
from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ."2Cor 11:3 These are like the
teachers of the Law of whom Jesus said, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and
dish,
but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence"Mt 23:25
As Jude likewise mentioned, "they
have
rushed
for
profit
into
Balaam’s error... shepherds who feed only
themselves." Jude
1:11b,12b The
situation
with
Balaam
was
basically that of a prophet who had sold out,
taking money do prophecy contrary to God's will. But his own ass
rebuked him. Likewise it says in Revelation 2:14 "Nevertheless,
I
have
a
few
things
against
you:
You have people there who hold to the
teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to
sin by
eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual
immorality."For failing to curse Israel, he opted to corrupt them by
introducing
licentious
practices of foreign religions.
There are those who teach heresy for financial gain. For whatever
is
popular is seldom Biblical. Thus to optimize one's profits these
teach
that which the populace want to hear. In fact Paul advises
teachers
avoid getting paid, which among other things, would avoid calling
into
questions one's motives.
Slaves
of
Depravity
2Peter 2:17-19 These men are springs without water
and
mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.
For
they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful
desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just
escaping from those who live in error. They promise them freedom,
while
they themselves are slaves of depravity— for a man is a slave to
whatever has mastered him.
Jude writes, "They are clouds
without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit
and
uprooted— twice dead." Jude
1:12c For just like a cloud without rain, a spring without
water, they appear to promise freedom, but nothing comes of it.
There
is no life in them. For Jesus said, "the water I give him will become in
him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14b
Just like the devil they influence people by appealing to the
desires
of the sinful nature. "Just escaping" are not mature Christians. For
the mature can smell out a wolf a mile away. For "solid food is for the mature, who
by
constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from
evil."Heb 5:14
One type of false teacher are those
"who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality"Jude 1:4b These are those
who view
acceptance of the Lordship of Christ as optional. Freedom in Christ
is
not freedom to sin, but freedom from sin. "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin." John 8:34b
Overcome
by
the World
2Peter 2:20,21If they have escaped the corruption
of
the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are
again
entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than
they
were at the beginning. It would have been better for them not to
have
known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to
turn
their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
There are those who come to Christ simply to reform their behavior.
Those he is speaking of here are not those who know the Lord
personally, but rather those who know about the Lord. The word
"know"
here (or "knowledge") is "epignosis" in the greek. While
the more general and more commonly used term for knowledge is
"gnosis",
"epignosis" is a more specific type of gnosis. "epi" is a
greek
preposition which means "around". And thus the "epidermis" is the
skin
which goes around the body. Thus it means to know about something
rather than knowing someone personally.
They do have personal experience in trying to live the Christian
life,
compliance to the Lord's command. (For in that respect the
word
"gnosis" is used in verse 21). But they fail to live up to it, as
they
have not come to know Jesus personally and thus have not been born
of
God and so the Christian life is unnatural to them. They fall back
into
sinful addictions, being overcome. But of those born of God it is
written, "everyone born of God
overcomes the world." 1John
5:4a
How can they be worse off, having fallen away? Before they were
going
to hell, and having known and fallen away they end up with the same
fate. So what is different? The more you know, the more you will be
held accountable for. Jesus said, "That
servant
who
knows
his master’s will and does not get ready or does not
do what his master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and
does
things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From
everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from
the
one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:47,48
Unregenerate
2Peter 2:22 Of them the proverbs are true: "A
dog
returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her
wallowing in the mud."
The first is found in Pr 26:11"As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a
fool repeats his folly." The reason why a dog returns to
his
vomit because that's its nature. The reason a pig goes back to
wallowing in the mud is because that's its nature. Christians who do
so
indicate by such behavior that they had not been born again. For "if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new
creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have
come."2Cor 5:17 But rather as John
said, "They went out from us,
but
they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us,
they
would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of
them
belonged to us."1John
2:19
For "we know that anyone born
of
God does not continue to sin." 1John
5:18a
Identifying False Teachers
By Their Speech
Do they deny Christ as Lord and that Christ has bought
us?
Do they make up stories?
Do they secretly introduce destructive heresies?
Do they mouth empty, boastful words and, appeal to
lustful desires?
(They may promise freedom from guilt and focus on
feelings)
Do they slander Biblical authorities?
By Their Motivations
Greed. The passions of the flesh.
By Their Behavior
Personal holiness
Do they follow the passions of their sinful nature, or
the Spirit of
God?
Do they live a lifestyle of sin?
Do they overindulge in luxury?
After having repented, do they later go back
and practice old sin habits accepting them as part of
their lifestyle?
The Effect of False Teachers
Bring the way of truth into disrepute
Seduce the unstable & entice people
Many will be misled
The Judgment of False Teachers
Peter's attitude towards them:
Peter speaks no words of compassion for these people
He likens them to devils and Sodomites
Their Present Judgment: Slaves of Depravity
Their Future Judgment: Hell
2Peter 2
RAP
2:1 Now there used to be false prophets among the
people too
Just as there will be false teachers yes even among you
They teach destructive heresies in secret do they offend
even denying the Lord who bought them - destruction is
their end. 2 To their shameful ways many will follow suite
And bring the way of truth into disrepute 3 In their greed these teachers exploit you with
stories
they
made up
Their condemnation awaits them and destruction when they
wake up 4 For if God did not spare the angels when they
fell
And put them in dungeons for judgment down in hell 5 And if He didn't spare the ungodly from the flood
But protected Noah and seven others from getting covered
with mud 6 If He destroy Sodom and Gomorrah after the angels
had
their
dinner
And made them an example of what's to become of the sinner
7 And if He rescued righteous Lot distressed all
his days 8 By the lives of these lawless men bisexuals and
gays 9 If this is so, God can rescue godly men
And hold the lawless for that day, Praise God, Amen! 10 And especially those who follow their corrupt
desires
And despise authorities they are such liars 11 For they are not afraid to slander dignitaries
Bold and arrogant they are as if God's emissaries
Although stronger even angels do not bring
Such accusations in the presence of the King 12 These men blaspheme in matters they do not
understand
But like beasts they will be taken from the land 13 They will be paid for the harm they have done
For to them to carouse in the daytime is fun
They are blots and blemishes reveling in their pleasure
As they feast with you at their own leisure 14 With eyes full of adultery they never stop
sinning
They seduce the unstable and in greed they always try
winning 15 They left the way and followed after Baal
Who loved the wages of sin along the trail 16 But was rebuked for doing wrong by a mule
Who spoke with a man's voice and restrained the fool 17 These men are springs without water and mists
driven by
storms
Black darkness is reserved for them in hell where it's
quite warm! 18 For they mouth empty boastful words by appealing
to the
flesh
Enticing those just escaping a life in which sin they mesh
19 They promise them freedom, while they are but
slaves
For a man is not free if to his flesh he obeys 20 If from such corruption they find their way free
By the knowledge of the Lord, yet they don't flee
But are once again entangled and are overcome
They're worst of at the end than where they started from 21 It may have been better for them not to have
known the
way
of truth
Than to have turned their backs on the sacred command
which they knew
even in their youth 22 Of them the proverb is true "To its vomit
returns the
dog"
So also to them it is true "to the mud returns the clean
hog".