LAST DAYS - 2 PETER 2
Summary of V1-3
This passage describes false teachers with particular reference to the last days. These apostates, of that day, are also specifically described in 2 Tim.3, 2 Peter 2 & 3, and Jude. Jude in particular warns the assemblies of God's people that these are the ones that have crept in unawares in v.4 .
Whilst studying this passage in Peter's second epistle one must firmly keep in mind the fact that the same people who have been described in detail in 2 Tim.3, now have further light shed on their personality, and their non-scriptural activities. We must expect these false teachers today because we are now certainly in the "last days". We should also remember the exhortation of Rom.16:15.17 to "mark them that cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them".
With this in mind we find that this passage in 2 Peter 2:1 attributes to them two terrible characteristics:
1. They bring in destructive heresies, and
2. they DENY the Lord that BOUGHT them.
The first characteristic describing these false teachers is that they bring in damnable (apoleia) = loss of well-being; not the loss of the being but its ruin. Heresy (hairesis) = a self willed opinion, which is substituted for the submission to the power of the truth. This self will leads to division, and the formation of a party as distinct from the uniting power of the truth, (W.E.Vine). They bring in self willed opinions which divide and may destroy an assembly of God's people. This word is sometimes translated as sect.
The second characteristic is that they deny (arneomai) = to deny by way of disowning a person; in this case they disown the Lord as master. That is the Lord (despotes), one who possesses supreme authority, is disowned.
2 Tim. 3 says they are "lovers of their own selves". When you put these two factors together; they love themselves, and they deny the Lord that bought them. It is very easy to see, that being self
centred, they promote themselves. Their objective is to control the people of God, and divorce them from the authority of His Word.
Their teaching refutes the right of the Lord to direct His own people for their eternal good, and control them through His precious Word. This is obviously akin to theft. They would steal the very ones whom He bought with His own precious blood. What a theft, robbing the Lord Himself!
Is the false teacher's doctrine obvious? Not at all! It is usually a process of the false teacher's will being substituted for the Word of God by clever argument. By reason of which many shall follow their pernicious ways.
Now the Lord has placed, in His assembly, elders, those who have the spiritual power to stop the mouths of the gainsayers. Titus 1:11.
Paul warns the elders of Ephesus with tears, "from your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse thing, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch...".Acts 20:30, These men exhibit the very opposite to that which the Holy Spirit directs "neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock". 1 Peter 5:3.
Note "for there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest". 1 Cor.11:19. The objective of Satan, in using the false teacher, is to destroy the testimony of the local N.T. assembly which should glorify God above all else in the world. The destruction of the individuals' testimony is only, in a sense, a secondary damage.
The real issue here is the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Let us note another factor in verse 2,
"by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of". The way is evil spoken of because the false teacher leads them in pernicious ways. Pernicious (aselgeia) = excess, absence of restraint, indecency, etc.; one of the works of the flesh. The false teacher may pretend, or even be deceived, to believe they are furthering the plan of God.
Verse 3
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
This proves the observation that the false teacher is substituting the Lord's authority for his own. He is building up a power base for himself (filty lucre). Above all he is simply fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. Note that it is through covetousness (pleonexia) = a desire to have more, greedy for gain, that they make merchandise (emporeuomai) = to traffic in, to make a gain; of you. Of course the gain may be financial, but more often it is simply an increase their power base of devoted followers.
Now how do they do this? It is by feigned (plastos) = formed, moulded, fabricated; words. The whole and sole purpose of the false teacher is to have people believe their fabricated arguments and follow them. The false teacher has no thought for the follower other than as a means to an end, his own self satisfaction.
V4 - 9
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment I to be punished:
In this passage we are reintroduced to the prophecies of the Lord in Mathew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 17, where we notice the references to both Noah and Lot in Sodom. The particular point of reference is the coming of the Son of Man, when the judgement of the false teacher will be similar, in swiftness and severity, to that of Noah's and Sodom's society. That in itself should make all teachers in the assemblies in our day diligently examine their inner motives. In particular, is self and self gain the motive? Am I out to make a name for myslf? Am I substituting my doctrine for the claim of the Lord Jesus Christ and obedience to His Word? Is my teaching causing division between believers? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then the teaching may be false, and I should seek fellowship and guidance from fellow spiritual teachers.. Let us be very careful about what is real division as described in the New Testament. You see when the false teacher is rebuked or similarly disciplined he cries, "see you are causing division". For those who are untaught, unstable, and lean to their own understanding the uncompromising Word of God seems to be the trouble. They say, look how you are putting us in a straight jacket, we don't have any latitude whatsoever. In effect they are saying, no Lord over us!
Unfortunately, as previously mentioned, false teaching breeds the refuting of the Lord's authority and replacing it with their own or their organization's. Therefore, it is not likely that the false teacher will repent. They will never submit themselves to the scrutiny of the Word of God. Remember "to the law and the testimony if any man speak not according to this word there is no light in him." Rather they will persist and fight to the finish, because of their pride and self will, to keep their power base. God's Word on the matter of the false teacher's judgement is final. It is absolutely certain for him. It behoves us to cling to the more sure Word of prophecy.
V10
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
The two sentences of verse 10 describe some more traits of the false teacher namely:
1. They walk after the flesh, carnal, not spiritual at all,
2. despise government, they totally reject the claims of the Lord and his Word. They can NOT be controlled,
3. self willed, no thought for others, complete egotists,
4. Evil speakers, particularly against authority. In an assembly it is against those who are spiritual and teach faithfully.
V11-22
This section is an excellent amplification of 2 Tim.3: where 19 traits are attributed to men of christendom. All equate with the works of the flesh Gal.5:19 etc. Here we have their activities described. How terrible they are.
V11
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
Even the very angels of God will not speak evil against any as false teachers do, but commit everything into the Lord's hands.
V12
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
The scriptures describe the false teacher in a way we never could. It plainly describes them as animals who are totally ignorant, and have a hatred for all authority, especially the Lord, whose end is to perish.
V13
And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
Always remember that they may have a form of godliness, but this verse highlights their propensity to be a lover of parties. It is their pleasure. They see no evil in rioting in the day time.
Verse 14
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
They are the basest of the base with the special capacity to destroy the unestablished persons. They are practised adulterers.
V15
Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
In this verse they are compared to Balaam whose objective was the reward of unrighteousness. That is self gain; filthy lucre which is nothing more than self gratification. In this context it is usually to achieve a power base from which they can control their followers.
The warning here is that we do not have to look at the "way out" sects but look very carefully at the same spirit in assemblies of God's people. There always has been, and always will be those whose whole and sole purpose is to destroy the power of the Word of God in the life. They, directly or indirectly, substitute or refute the right of the Lord to control His own people through obedience to His Word. False teachers are they, "Whose mouths must be stopped". Titus 3:11.
V16
But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
Even though Balaam was rebuked by way of a miracle he still did not change his mind. He continued on in his greedy way even though reproved for "his own wickedness".
V17
These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.
These are they who are absolutely barren, they can provide no spiritual thing, and are driven like clouds before a storm straight to their doom.
V18
For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
Here they are great persuaders, catering to the flesh, with clever words of pride giving the appearance of logical argument. They allure the newly converted who are their special prey.
P[
V19
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
They promise liberty, freedom from legalists, but in fact they themselves are slaves to the corrupt works of the flesh.
V20-22
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
These false teachers had a knowledge, (epiginosko) = a knowledge and participation in; of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and have rejected it. They are really worse now than when they were saved if they ever were.
Conclusion
The unsaved may creep or be brought into an assembly of God's people
and wreck havoc. It is indeed sad when saved ones follow their
pernicious ways and take up their fight against truth.
2267/jeg