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2 Peter Chapter Two
The Destructiveness Of False Teachers (2:1-3)
INTRODUCTION
1. I suggested in the first lesson of this series that the theme of 2nd Peter could be "Beware, But Grow", based upon Peter's concluding remarks in 2 Pe 3:17-18 2. As we enter the second chapter, we find Peter's attention turned to "false teachers", and the need to beware of them... a. Just as there were "false prophets" in Old Testament times, we can expect "false teachers" in our day - 2 Pe 2:1 b. The term for "false teacher" is pseudodidaskalos {psyoo-dod-id-as'-kal-os} and is defined as "a spurious teacher, i.e. propagator of erroneous Christian doctrine:--false teacher" 1) In the Bible, the term is found only in this passage 2) Peter's use of it and his description of these "false teachers" throughout this chapter strongly suggests that: a) It means more than simply someone who happens to teach error out of ignorance of the truth (such as someone sincerely mistaken) b) He has in mind those who know full well what they are doing and are purposely trying to mislead others! 3. While it may be true that there are "blind leaders of the blind" (Mt 15:13-14), Peter is not describing "blind leaders" per se, but individuals much more sinister! [In this lesson we shall consider the first three verses of this chapter, in which we learn about "The Destructiveness Of False Teachers". Beginning with...] I. THEIR DESTRUCTIVE HERESIES (1,2)
A. DEFINING "HERESY"... 1. The word in Greek is hairesis {hah'-ee-res-is} which means: a. Choosing, choice b. That which is chosen c. A body of men following their own tenets (sect or party), used of: 1) The Sadducees - Ac 5:17 2) The Pharisees - Ac 15:5 3) The Christians - Ac 24:5 d. Dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims (e.g., denominational division as it exists today) 2. It not only refers to a "sect" or "party", but sometimes to the doctrine(s) that produce the division 3. That seems to be the way Peter uses it here: referring to the doctrines the false teachers would "bring in" that would cause division B. "EVEN DENYING THE LORD WHO BOUGHT THEM" (1) 1. This may refer to either: a. What their doctrine promoted b. What their doctrine produced in those who followed it 2. We know that soon after Peter wrote there were those (precursors of the "Gnostics") who literally denied some things about the Lord - cf. 2 Jn 7 3. Were these "false teachers" at one time true Christians? a. The phrase "who bought them" certainly suggests so! - cf. Ac 20:28; 1 Co 6:20; 1 Pe 1:18-19 b. They are later described as those who had "escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior..." - 2 Pe 2:20 C. WHY THEIR DOCTRINES ARE "DESTRUCTIVE" (2) 1. Because "many will follow their destructive ways"... a. Instead of following the Lord as they should b. Who is the only way of salvation c. Thus separating themselves from the true source of salvation 2. Because of them "the way of truth will be blasphemed" a. Those in the world will speak evil of who profess to follow Christ, thinking that the false teachers are a fair representation of Christianity ("If that is what it means to be Christian...") a. Or they will speak evil of the divisions that will occur ("Hey, if you Christians have the truth, why can't you agree on what it is?") [Knowing that such "false teachers" will come, and that their doctrineswill be destructive, what indications can we look for to be able to identify them? Peter describes for us...] II. THEIR DESTRUCTIVE METHODS (1,3)
A. THEY WILL WORK "SECRETLY" (1) 1. "...who will secretly bring in destructive heresies" 2. Knowing that error cannot stand the light of the truth, they will resort to working "behind the scenes" 3. Truth has nothing to fear from investigation, so if one believes they have the truth they will not object to open and fair evaluation 4. If a teacher is not willing to let his doctrine be examined openly by others, let that be a warning sign! B. THEY WILL APPEAL TO "COVETOUSNESS" (3) 1. "By covetousness they will exploit you..." 2. Trained in covetousness themselves, they will allure through this "lust of the flesh" - cf. 2 Pe 2:14,18 3. They will offer things that the flesh often desires: wealth, health, power, influence 4. Sounds a lot like the "gospel of health and wealth", doesn't it? C. THEY WILL USE "DECEPTIVE WORDS" (3) 1. "...they will exploit you with deceptive words" 2. Peter later adds "...they speak great swelling words of emptiness" - cf. 2 Pe 2:18 3. They will be smooth talkers, who know exactly what they are doing: deceiving those follow them! 4. If a person cannot give you "book, chapter, and verse", but must appeal to "theological mumble-jumble", watch out! [With this awareness of the false teachers' "modus operandi", we are less likely to be deceived by them. Of course, being well-grounded in the truth of the gospel is the best protection against being misled! Finally, we notice that Peter describes...] III. THEIR DESTRUCTIVE END (1,3)
A. THEY WILL "BRING ON THEMSELVES SWIFT DESTRUCTION" (1) 1. Not only will their doctrines destroy others, but themselves as well 2. When the destruction comes, it will be "swift" a. How often have we seen the world of the "false teacher" fall apart so quickly! b. E.g., as in the case of Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart 3. While their destruction will be swift when it is "executed", the execution itself may not come as quickly as we might like, which may explain why Peter goes on to reassure that... B. "THEIR JUDGMENT HAS NOT BEEN IDLE, AND THEIR DESTRUCTION DOES NOT SLUMBER" (3)
1. When there are "false teachers", God is not idle, nor does He slumber when it comes to their judgment and destruction 2. As Peter goes on to describe in 2 Pe 2:4-9, God did not spare those who were guilty 3. But He may choose to delay the execution of judgment upon the ungodly, if He feels that by doing so some may repent - cf. 2 Pe 3:7-9 4. But when the time is right, judgment and destruction will be swift! - e.g., 2 Pe 3:10 CONCLUSION
1. This is not the end of Peter's discourse concerning "false teachers", for he will have more to say concerning: a. The Doom Of False Teachers - 2 Pe 2:4-9 b. The Depravity Of False Teachers - 2 Pe 2:10-17 c. The Deceptions Of False Teachers - 2 Pe 2:18-22 -- The Lord willing, we shall consider each of these things in future lessons 2. But in considering "The Destructiveness Of False Teachers", we have been warned such teachers exist and that if we are not careful, we will "follow their destructive ways"! The only sure prevention is to follow Him who is "the way, the truth, and the life", and to "continue steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine" - cf. Jn 14:16; Ac 2:42
The Doom Of False Teachers (2:4-9)
INTRODUCTION
1. In warning that "false teachers" will arise, leading many to follow their destructive ways, Peter also spoke of their coming judgment... a. "...bring on themselves swift destruction" - 2 Pe 2:1 b. "for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber." - 2 Pe 2:3 2. To illustrate that the "false teachers" face certain condemnation, Peter gives three examples of the righteous judgment of God in the past... a. The angels who sinned - 2 Pe 2:4 b. The ancient world - 2 Pe 2:5 c. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah 3. In this lesson... a. We will briefly review what is known about these three "case histories" of divine judgment b. And offer hope by noticing Peter's observations concerning the righteous who found themselves in the midst of these judgments [Let's begin, then, by reviewing the first "case history"...] I. THE ANGELS WHO SINNED (4)
A. VERY LITTLE IS ACTUALLY SAID ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THEANGELS' SIN...
1. Jude makes reference to it in his epistle - Ju 6 a. Somehow, some angels "did not keep their proper domain" b. They "left their own habitation" 2. A common interpretation is that this refers to what is found in Gen 6:1-4 a. Where "sons of God" is taken to refer to angels (as used in Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7) b. In support of this interpretation (cf. Expositor's Bible Commentary)... 1) It was common in Jewish literature (Enoch 6:2; 1 QapGen col. 2) 2) The three examples (angels, Flood, and cities of the plain) all come one after another in the early chapters of Genesis c. In rebuttal (cf. New Testament Commentary, Kistemaker)... 1) The angels are spiritual beings without physical bodies and are incapable of procreation 2) Jesus taught that at the resurrection, people, like the angels in heaven "neither marry nor be given in marriage" - Mt 22:30 d. But then again, it might be asked... 1) If angels could take on bodies to eat, why not to procreate? - cf. Gen 18:1-8 2) These are angels who "left their proper domain", could not what Jesus said be true only of angels who are not rebellious? 3. Another view is that the sin of angels is something that took place before The Fall... a. As vividly portrayed in John Milton's "Paradise Lost" b. The scriptural evidence is very vague, dependent upon passages that may be taken out of context B. WHAT IS VERY CLEAR ARE THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ANGELS' JUDGMENT! 1. God did not spare them, "but cast them down to hell" a. The word for "hell" is tartaroo {tar-tar-o'-o} b. "Tartarus, thought of by the Greeks as a subterranean place lower than Hades where divine punishment was meted out, was so regarded in Jewish apocalyptic as well" (BAG, p. 813) c. Peter may have simply chosen to use this well-known concept to convey the point that the angels are in a place of torment 2. God "delivered them to chains of darkness" a. The NIV says "gloomy dungeons", which is a possible translation b. Jude describes it as "everlasting chains under darkness" - Ju 6 3. There they remain, "reserved for judgment" a. As Jude puts it: "for the judgment of the great Day" - Ju 6 b. Similar to the description of Jesus in Lk 16:19-31, where the wicked rich man was in torment awaiting the judgment at the Last Day [Peter's argument here is "from the greater to the lesser": If God didnot spare angels who beheld His glory when they sinned, He will certainly punish false teachers who purposely lead His people astray! And now, our next "case history"...] II. THE ANCIENT WORLD (5)
A. GOD USED THE FLOOD TO JUDGE THE UNGODLY... 1. The "ancient world" is that antediluvian world described in Gen 6:5-7, 11-12 a. In which "the wickedness of man was great in the earth" b. Where "every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" c. And where the earth was "corrupt before God" and "filled with violence" d. Which so grieved God that He found it necessary to destroy both man and beast 2. Again, Peter's argument is "from the greater to the lesser" a. If God destroyed the whole world because of their ungodliness... b. ...will he not destroy these false teachers who "deny the Lord who bought them"? B. BUT GOD SPARED NOAH... 1. The same flood that was used to destroy the world was used to spare Noah! - cf. 1 Pe 3:20 2. Here is where we begin to find comfort for those who find themselves surrounded by the ungodly... a. God took notice of Noah - cf. Gen 6:8; 7:1 b. Noah was one who walked with God, even in the midst of a perverse generation c. He was a "preacher of righteousness", both in deed and word 3. So while God was bringing judgment upon the ungodly... a. He did not lose sight of the godly! b. He provided for their deliverance from the judgment that came! [In this way we are encouraged to remain faithful in two ways: not only will God bring doom upon the "false teachers", but He will preserve those who remain faithful. This two-fold assurance is continued as we consider the final "case history"...]