In 2 Peter 2:1, Peter states; “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.”
Peter affirms that it is not a question of if false teachers will come in among you but the certainty that they will be among you. But Peter furnishes their modus operandi: they “will secretly introduce destructive heresies.” It should also be obvious that their goal is to introduce destructive heresies.” The church seems to recognize these false teachers as teachers even though their message was not in accordance with God’s revealed Word. This then illuminates two central issues the church must guard against.
First, the church, the body of Christ, must be careful in whom they recognize to be teachers-they must know their character and their doctrine.
And second, the church, the body of Christ, must know and view God’s Word as absolutely authoritative.
Paul in reference to these same false teachers provides a vivid and accurate characterization: savage wolves not sparing the flock” (Acts 20:29). It is important not to fixate upon the false teachers’ motivation. It really doesn’t matter whether they are merely deluded or are seeking to delude; what does matter, as Peter warns, is that they introduce destructive heresies.” The word introduce” (pareisaxousin) means to bring in along side of, or to bring in something new.” Heibert stresses: “the context suggests the picture of introducing in an underhanded way” (D. Edmond Hiebert, “Second Peter and Jude: an Expositional Commentary, p. 88) Lenski maintains that the full force of the verb means to bring in sneakingly, covertly, so that the unwary will not discern what these false teachers are really doing. The bottom line is that they “introduce destructive heresies.” These false teachings cause destruction. Their self-chosen views alter the foundational moorings of Christianity; and hence, threaten the church, which Jesus Christ purchased with His blood (Acts 20:28). They continually deny the Person and work of Christ; they deny His absolute authority over the lives of men. In this reference please remember that true Christians gladly proclaim that they “have been bought with a price” and that they “are not their own” (1 Cor 6:20,19).
We must note the result of this false teaching: “Many will follow” (2 Pet 2:2). The word “will follow” (exakolouthesousin) denotes that they will follow out, or obey these false teachers. However, many will not recognize, according to Luke 6:26, that they are dealing with false teachers or if they do they will speak well of them anyway. But it is the word, “many” which denotes the farreaching result of their teaching. They will amass many followers.
While the destruction of the false teachers is not in doubt (2 Pet 2:17-22), their ultimate error was that they “turned away from the holy commandment handed down to them” (2 Pet 2:21). But, in addition to building an increasing number of adherents leading them astray, they also accomplish that “because of them the way of the truth will be maligned” (2 Pet 2:2). The “way of the truth” designates the Christian life long goal of living in complete harmony with the truth as embodied in the Incarnate Word of God who’s way is truth and results in life (John 14:6). And yet, it is this pure way, which results in it being “maligned.” This word denotes “being reviled and defamed.”
If we turn our attention to several of the churches of Revelation, we will ascertain the resultant judgments that will fall upon churches that allow false teachers to go unimpeded. The Book of Revelation was written a mere twenty-five or thirty years after that of Second Peter. To the church at Pergamum, He writes: But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality. So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. ‘Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword ofMy mouth” (Rev 2:14-16).
To the church of Thyatira, He writes:
“But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. ‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds” (Rev 2:20-23).
To the church at Sardis, He writes:
“Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight ofMy God. ‘So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you” (Rev 3:2-3).
It should become obvious that Jesus wants His church to keep His Word and to remain pure from false teachers and their heresy. The Bible gives extensive warnings. Jesus, through Paul, provides to both Timothy and Titus, who were to prepare and appoint Elders in many churches, the following exhortations: 1 Tim 4:1-2 “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron.” 1 Tim 4:6 “In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.” 1 Tim 4:16 “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”
1 Tim 6:3 “If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness.”
2 Tim 3:13-16 “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”
Titus 1:9 “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”
Titus 2:1 “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”
Titus 2:15 “These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” Copyright 2012 by Watchmen of Grace. (Permission provided to BibleAnswersToQuestion.com to display article in its entirety.)
