Second Epistle of Peter
FALSE TEACHERS
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 2:1 (KJV)
In chapter 1 verses 19-21, Peter brings in the true prophets of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). In this first verse of chapter 2, he brings in false prophets of the Old Testament, using them as a starting point to speak about false teachers who would appear in the church of our Lord and cause trouble. This second chapter is dark and appalling. From verses 1-22, there is no letup in his scathing condemnation of these deceived deceivers. The only other chapter in the Bible which compares with it in the fierceness of its storm is the little chapter in the book of Jude. As we see the lightning flash and hear the awful rumbling of thunder we almost wonder, "Is this the same Peter who wrote the first chapter and also the first epistle?" How tenderly he speaks elsewhere, but here he minces no words. Almost every verse has a scathing rebuke or pronouncement of some awful judgment. He starts with "damnable heresies" and ends in verse 22 with a dog "turned to his own vomit again." The first verse starts with doctrinal error, but these false teachers are soon entangled in moral filth.
"false prophets"
While there were many true prophets among the Old Testament people of God, there were also some who were false. In verse 15, Peter especially mentions Balaam. In 1 Kings 22, we read of Micaiah the true prophet, but to his own destruction Ahab believes the nice things said by the false prophets. In 1 Kings 18, we read of the false prophets of Baal and in Nehemiah 6:12-14, the false prophet hired by Tobiah and Sanballet. Moses mentions these false prophets (Deut. 13:1-3), also Isaiah (Is. 9:15; 56:10, 11). Jeremiah speaks of them often. "I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied" (Jer. 23:21). "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so" (Jer. 5:31). How sadly true that even today there are those who profess to be teachers come from God, respected and honored by many, but He never sent them.
"false teachers among you"
The false prophets were from among the people and so the false teachers were to come from among the Christians. There always seems to be tares among the wheat. It seems that wherever God erects a house of prayer, the devil always builds a chapel within. False teachers usually arise from among faithful children of God. Perhaps someone hears the truth, but is not genuinely saved. He then has ambitions to become a religious leader and begins to propagate his error. Followers then rise up to carry on the falsehood and so we have a false cult of some kind. The number of these today is legion and they parade their falsehoods as the greatest truths.
Actually, it should not surprise us at the multitude of false teachers today. Our Lord Jesus, as well as Peter, prophesied of them. Three times our Lord did so in Matthew 24 (read vv. 5, 11, 24). "There shall arise false Christ's and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect" (v. 24). These things are literally so today.
Many other places in the New Testament we have prophecies concerning false teachers. In Acts 20:29, 30, Paul says to the Ephesian elders, "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your ownselves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" (also 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 1 Tim. 4:1-3). In 1 John 4:1, John says, "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world" (also 1 John 2:18, 19; Jude 1:8). As we look around and see these prophecies literally fulfilled today, we should not be surprised, nor cast about because the Lord knew years ago they would come.
"who privily shall bring in"
False teachers seldom bring in their heresies openly or quickly. Like Satan himself, they are cunning, stealthy, and underhanded. They first bring in a lot of truth and a small amount of error. Then they slowly bring in more and more error and less and less truth. Many false cults get their start in this way – just as false doctrines creep into the church of our Lord. "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matt. 7:15). In Galatians 2:4, in connection with some who were seeking to have Christians circumcised, Paul says, "False brethren unawares brought in, who came privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus that they might bring us into bondage."
"damnable heresies"
The word "damnable" would be better translated "destructive" as in the Revised Version. "Heresies" is an untranslated Greek word coming from a word signifying "choice." As here, it is usually to be taken in the bad sense, so speaking of willful insubordination. It is translated "sect" in Acts 24:5. It is a willful choice to go on in one's own way, irrespective of the authority of the Lord Jesus. It indicates wrong action as well as wrong belief. It is unsound doctrine coupled with evil practice. As we go on in the chapter we will notice that Peter lays as much stress on their evil actions as he does on their evil teachings. These destructive heresies oppose and would seek to destroy the truth.
Present day heresies are legion and take on a variety of forms. Some of them err at the most important place – they belittle the person and the cross work of Christ. They either deny that He is the divine Son of God or they deem His work on the cross of little value and insufficient for salvation. A few separate Christ's work almost entirely from the seriousness of sin. It is certainly heresy to teach that one can be saved apart from conviction of sin and also to teach that one can be saved while still living a life of sin and corruption. One born again is cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ and given the power to live for Christ. It is the solemn duty of every true Christian to constantly guard against attacks of error and evil.
Several false cults have started out with the heresy that God will not punish sin. They do not accept that God is holy and righteous and that this very nature of His makes it essential for Him to punish evil doers. We must begin with the absolute purity and holiness of Christ. False cults forget the scene in Isaiah 6 where the seraphim covered their faces and their feet in His presence and cried, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts." Until we see this truth of God's holiness and that He must punish sin, we will not feel the need for forgiveness and the necessity of Calvary. One only sees the blackness of sin in the light of the absolute purity of God and Christ. A lessening of the sense of sin is one of the first steps in a downward course toward evil.
The special heresy in Peter's mind seems apparent from verse 19. These false teachers were promising their followers liberty: not liberty from the thraldom of sin and Satan as
Paul preached, but liberty to sin as some professed that Paul taught. "Why" they said, "Paul teaches that Christians have liberty, so go and sin in any kind of way you please."
Naturally, this would bring widespread corruption. These wrong teachings would result in depraved lives and cause the Christian faith to be evil spoken of. Sad to say, there are many today who teach and act much like these heretics. They claim that a mental assent is sufficient for salvation, but never mention to the unsaved or to those who profess to be Christians that sin as a serious thing.
"denying the Lord"
It is heresy to deny the person and work of Christ; it is also heresy to deny His claims. In the light of Peter's denial of Christ, it must have hurt him to use the words of these heretics. In a moment of weakness and fear Peter denied Him, but these were denying Him openly and blatantly in the worst sense. It is sad to slight Christ, bad to forget Him, worse to forsake Him, fearful to deny Him. How fearful to deny, not a man or parent or even an angel, but the Lord of heaven and earth. "But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 10:33). "If we deny him, he also will deny us" (2 Tim. 2:12). Let us not forget that all sin is, in a sense, a denial of Christ and His authority. If He sits on the throne of our hearts as He should then sin will not rule over us.
"the Lord that bought them"
The word translated "Lord" is a strong one, from which comes our English word "despot." The thought is of one who is absolute ruler or master. The picture is of a great man buying slaves at a slave market, who then mutiny against their master and refuse to obey him. These false teachers apparently were not true Christians at all, but yet Peter claims that they were bought by Christ. The payment that Christ made on the cross was sufficient to buy everyone in the world. In the parable of the treasure in the field (Matt. 13:44), Christ buys the whole field, but it is in order to obtain the treasure in the field.
"The field is the world" (v. 38) but the treasure is the church. In other words, not only do true Christians owe Christ abject obedience, but so does every person in the whole world. Of course, the unsaved, like these false teachers, disown Christ's rights and authority over them. "He is Lord of all" (Acts 10:36).
A Christian has been bought and redeemed by Christ and he should own this in word and by deed. We should not only call Him Lord, but let Him be the Lord of our lives. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, we have, "Ye are not your own, for ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." The apostles all acknowledged that they were the property of the Lord Jesus. Peter, Paul, James and Jude all called themselves servants of Jesus Christ and the word "servant" is "bondsman" or "slave" in the original. If we are Christ's servants we should not live to serve man, but Him (1 Cor. 7:23). We should seek to do His will and live clean lives which will bring glory to His name.
"bring upon themselves swift destruction"
These false teachers, who brought in these destructive heresies, were to bring upon themselves swift destruction. They were the cause of their own downfall. Sin brings its own reward. Those who seek to destroy others will themselves be destroyed. In the book of Ester, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, especially Mordecai for whom he built a special gallows. The Jews were not destroyed and Haman himself died on the gallows made for Mordecai. "His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins" (Prov. 5:22).
"swift destruction"
God may delay judgment, but when it does come it will be quick and unexpected. It will come swiftly even as the ground opened up suddenly and swallowed up rebellious Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Num. 16). It will come swiftly and unexpectedly, like the coming of the Lord. "He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy" (Prov. 29:1). How sad when the Lord Jesus says, "And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matt. 15:14). Let us be careful not to follow Satan's pernicious ways, but seek to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ and to be led by the Spirit.
