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2 Peter 2:1-22 False Teachers

2 Peter 2:1-22 False Teachers

Last updated on: December 31, 2014 at 4:04 pm by Jim Erwin

2 Peter 2:1-22 False Teachers 2014-12-31T16:04:54-05:00 Jim Erwin

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2 Peter 2:1-22 False Teachers

John Norstad, a Northwestern University systems engineer and computer guru who invented “Disinfect,” a software program that protects computers from viruses, once discovered the source of many of the computer viruses. In an interview with writer Peter Gorner, Norstad said “I went to a conference in Europe in 1992 and met most of my counterparts in the PC anti-viral community. One fellow was a Bulgarian who told us about the Bulgarian virus-writing factory.

Evidently, during the Communist heyday, the KGB trained and paid PC programmers to break Western copy-protection schemes. It was an official piracy program. Then, when the government fell in Bulgaria, all these people were out of work and bitter. So they formed virus-writing clubs and set about infecting the PC community worldwide. A significant percentage of the PC viruses came out of a group of disaffected hackers who had formerly worked for the Communists.

Computer viruses are a lot like false teachings about God and morality: they destroy what is valuable. Where do all the false teachings come from? According to the apostle Paul, many come from a group of malicious spirits called demons. They intentionally pump error into the world to deceive and destroy people. [1]

As we get closer to the return of Jesus Christ, we will see an abundance of false teachers. In the previous chapter, Peter instructed the church to listen to and follow God’s Word. Now, he warns them against to whom they should not listen. These false teachers go against God’s Word.

The Danger of False Teachers (2:1)

Just as a false prophet can lead people astray, false teachers can drift people away from God. False prophets were to be punished when their prophecy was not fulfilled.

Deuteronomy 13:1

Matthew 7:15

1 Timothy 4:1

False teachers are worse than false prophets. A false prophet will be found out because their prediction did not come true. However, false teachers can make just a slightest change in theology and teaching to corrupt an entire church. Sects and cults come out of false teaching, not false prophecy.

The Deeds of False Teachers (2:2-3)

Unrestrained – false teachers will be uncontrollable and unaccountable. They typically will state that they need no accountability.
Blasphemy – false teachers will also blaspheme. This means that they will deny God in some fashion. They will most likely make the good news a Gospel without the need for God. On the other extreme, they will teach that they are God.
Exploitation – false teachers use people for money. Instead of letting other people be used for God’s glory, they are used for their own glory. They manipulate people to get what the false teacher wants.
Deception – false teachers exploit and they deceive. They lie to people to get their way.

These four primary misdeeds are characteristic of every false teacher. As a result, they will be destroyed in God’s judgment.

The Destruction of False Teachers (2:3-9)

PICTURES OF JUDGMENT

Cosmic Angels 2 Peter 2:4 Genesis 6

Worldwide The Flood 2 Peter 2:5 Genesis 6

Localized Sodom and Gomorrah 2 Peter 2:6 Genesis 18-19

Individual Lot 2 Peter 2:7-8 Genesis 18-19

The Greek word for hell is Tartarus. Tartarus is a section of Sheol or Hades, which is a permanent place of confinement for certain fallen angels. Another part of Sheol or Hades is known as the Abyss, which is a temporary place of confinement for fallen angels or demons. Sometimes when a demon is cast out of a man, the demon spends some time in the Abyss, but he is eventually released. It is similar to a temporary jail sentence. However, Tartarus is more like a life sentence; it is a permanent place of confinement.

Josephus refers to Tartarus as a place where pagan gods are chained. The fallen angels who intermarried with human women in Genesis 6 are now confined in Tartarus. They will never be free to roam again. Eventually, they will move from Tartarus to the Lake of Fire. These demons in Tartarus are committed … to pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. The judgment is the Great White Throne Judgment after which they are cast into the Lake of Fire. The fallen angels of Genesis 6 are an example of how God is able to deliver to judgment. [2]

God was clear that He would judge those who are disobedient. Yet there are comforting words in this verse: ‘The Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials.’ He does not take believers away from trouble, but he sustains them in their troubles.

God protected Noah and the other seven during the worldwide Flood. He then protected Lot when fire and brimstone rained down. If he is powerful enough to save when the whole world is under water, and when the skies are raining fire, then he can save his people through and from trials, and bring them at last to glory. [3]

The Description of False Teachers (2:10-22)

It must be made clear that these false teachers are unsaved. They are compared to dogs and pigs, not to sheep (2 Peter 2:22). Jude describes these same people, and in Jude 19 he clearly states, “having not the Spirit.” If a person does not have the Spirit of God within, he is not a child of God (Rom. 8:9). He may pretend to be saved and even become a member or an officer in a fundamental church, but eventually he will deny the Lord. [4]

EIGHT CHARACTERISTICS OF FALSE TEACHERS

Lawlessness (2:10a)
Arrogance (2:10b-11)
Ignorance (2:12)
Deception (2:13)
Immorality (2:14)
Leaving the Right Way (2:15-16)
Empty of Content (2:17-19)

—- Transition from Teachers to Students —-

Subject to Greater Judgments (2:20-22)

Why do people become legalistic? I believe it’s because they themselves are miserable. They’ve given up certain things and therefore say, “If I’m in pain, you should be, too. If I’m under the law, you should be as well. If I can’t go there, I’m going to make sure you can’t either.”

But if you watch a legalistic preacher, a legalistic parent, a legalistic person, you’ll see the truth of Peter’s analogy, for, although they bark and yap at others, they eventually return to those tendencies or activities against which they preach most vehemently. [5]

Notice also the three names of people listed in this chapter: Noah, Lot, and Balaam. In using these three names, Peter is illustration digression that can occur when we listen to false teachers.

Noah kept himself completely separated from the apostasy of the world of his day. He boldly preached God’s righteousness and was faithful in his walk and witness, even though no one but his family followed the Lord.

Lot knew the truth and kept himself pure, but he did not keep himself separated; he lost his family as a result. Lot hated the wickedness of Sodom, yet he lived in the midst of it and, by doing so, exposed his daughters and wife to godless influences.

Balaam not only followed the ways of sin, but he encouraged other people to sin! He told Balak how to seduce the nation Israel and his plan almost succeeded. Lot lost his family, but Balaam lost his life. [6]

These eight characteristics are not an exhaustive list. Paul shares a different list in 1 Timothy 4. The reason Peter writes about these characteristics is to help guide the church to the right path.

Larson, Craig Brian. “False Teaching 202.” In 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers, 163-164. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books, 2002.
Fruchtenbaum, Arnold G. The Messianic Jewish Epistles: Hebrews, James, I & II Peter, Jude. 1.st ed. Tustin, CA: Ariel Ministries, 2005. 406. Accessed on December 20, 2014 at 3:26 PM
Anderson, Clive. Opening Up 2 Peter. Leominster: Day One, 2007. 65. Accessed on December 20, 2014 at 3:13 PM
Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 2. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1989. 2448. Logos Edition. Accessed on December 20, 2014 at 4:50 PM
Courson, Jon. Jon Courson’s Application Commentary: New Testament. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2003. 1596. December 21, 2014 at 5:15 PM
Wiersbe, Warren W. The Bible Exposition Commentary. Vol. 2. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1989. 2459. Logos Edition. Accessed on December 20, 2014 at 4:50 PM

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