|
|
|
But there occurred also false prophets among the people,1 so also among you will be false teachers,2 who will privately bring in heresies of destruction.3 And denying their Sovereign LORD who bought them,4 they will bring sudden destruction upon themselves;5
| 1 | There occurred also false prophets among the people: The history of Israel becomes a type or example of what will happen to the Christian Church. Compare 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 4:3; 1 John 4:1. Verses 1-3 may be paraphrase, “Now just as there were false prophets among the people of Israel, just so there will also appear among you false teachers confidentially introducing destructive heresies. They will dispute the very teachings of the Master who purchased them. Thus, they will bring a quick and unexpected annihilation on themselves. Now many will join them and leave your number to follow their impure and destructive teachings. Because of this the real way of Truth will be spoken against with abuse. These false teachers will take advantage of you with words molded by greed. However, that ancient judgment is not without purpose and their destruction is not slumbering.” [NCMM Paraphrase] |
| 2 | So also among you will be false teachers: The Greek is PSEUDO-DIDASKALOI. Or, WEY: teachers of falsehood. Jesus and the majority of inspired writers foretell an apostasy and general fermentation of the Christian Church. See notes on Matthew 13:37ff. Research the word apostasy or falling away. See Biblical Articles, What Are “The Teachings of Demons”? and Command Them Not to Teach Different Doctrine. |
| 3 | Who will privately bring in heresies of destruction: Or, KJV: privily… damnable heresies; WEY: cunningly introduce fatal heresies; NEB: import disastrous; TCN: secretly introduce ruinous divisions; BAR: introduce pernicious heresies by underhand methods. The Greek suggests something done in privacy, secretly, quietly, or presented in a confidential way. First one talks to another, and then they talk to others – one on one – and so on the heresy spreads. The Greek word for “heresies” [HAIRESEIS, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #139] originally meant merely an opinion or choice but came to have darker tones. |
| 4 | Denying their Sovereign LORD who bought them: The Greek is DESPOTEN from which comes the English “despot.” Here it means more than just a master, a ruling lord. Or, KJV: denying the Lord that bought them. It does not seem likely that this is meant to state that they deny Jesus outright but rather disown his teachings. DESPOTES is used of God Almighty as the Absolute Sovereign at Acts 4:24f in Peter’s prayer. See notes in 1 John regarding antichrists and 1 John 4:1. The wording of these two phrases echoes Paul at Acts 20:28, 29, for after mention how the congregation was bought by The God with the blood of Christ, he goes on to mention savage wolves who will speak perversions to draw away the disciples. Noting 2 Peter 3:16 and the allusion to Paul’s writings we wonder if Peter is aware of what Paul also taught on this matter. |
| 5 | Will bring sudden destruction upon themselves: Or, KJV: swift destruction; MOF: rapid; NEB: swift disaster; TCN: speedy ruin. Their ruin or destruction will occur in the Judgment before Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:10; Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:46) |
Dear Friends of the Nazarene,
We choose 2 Peter 2:1 as the theme verse of chapter two – False Prophets. Peter begins to devote a large portion of his second epistle to the apostasy his Master had foretold in the parable of the wheat and tares. [Matthew 13:36-43] False teachers will introduce “ruinous divisions.” [1-3] Peter identifies such false Christian prophets with loose conduct, blaspheming the Truth, greedy, cunning and shifty. There are only two futures ahead for the Church- condemnation upon sinners and the godly. [4-10] Peter uses some Biblical analogies to illustrate this infiltration of false teachers. Christians will be something like righteous Lot who had to live among such “lawless people.” Christians characterized by unrighteousness and fleshly lifestyles belong to those false teachers.
Peter continues to characterize these false teachers. [10-13] They are “arrogant and presumptuous” and speak disrespectful slander and abuse against those who possess spiritual honor. He writes that such false teachers are unreasonable and judgmental. They “scoff at things outside their own experience.” Peter continues to describe false teachers and those they mislead. [13-16] They are immoral, loose and greedy, forsaking the “straight Way.” He compares them to Balaam.
Peter adds more to his description of those who are involved in the coming apostasy. [17-22] Though the lifestyles may be compared to waterless fountains they promise their followers “freedom.” Christians who have escaped the world, and come to know the Master, but “become entangled again” in worldly lifestyles, are in great danger.
Abba our Father bless those who avoid false teachers.
[5 September 2002]
