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2 Peter 2

“False Teachers”

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False Teachers Will Come

Verses: 1-3��What are some examples of Heresies that have risen over time?��How will we know when something is heresy?�

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Qualities of a False Teacher

Verses: 1, 3, 10, 12-19

How does Peter describe False Teachers? What are their qualities

Covetous (motivated by desire for money or power)

Presumptuous (audacious, showing an impudent lack of respect)

Self Willed (obstinately doing what one wants in spite of the wishes or orders of others)

Not afraid to speak evil of dignities (sacred or good things)

Sport themselves with their own deceivings while they feast (proud, careless, wanton)

A heart that has exercised with covetous practice

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Wells without water (their teachings are ultimately empty)

Clouds carried by a tempest (dangerous)

Speak great swelling words of vanity (proud, arrogant, self involved)

Appeal though the lusts of the flesh (all sugar and no substance, appealing to the worst parts of man)

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They deny the Lord that bought them

Many heresies attempt to deny some aspect of who Jesus was, to take away some part of the Truth about Him.
By teaching counter to the truth, they work against Jesus, who died to pay the price needed to redeem them.

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Consequence of False Teaching

Verses: 1, 3-9

What will happen to the Heretical teachers?��What are the two examples he uses, and why are they helpful in illustrating his point?��

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The Consequence of Returning To Sin

Verses: 20-21

What does Peter mean when he says, “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.”?

https://faithalone.org/magazine/y1988/88may2.html

https://biblehub.com/commentaries/2_peter/2-21.htm

We know that Peter can’t mean that a Christian would lose their salvation. We know this because of the extensive evidence in scripture to the contrary. That means there must be something else Peter is trying to communicate.

One way of looking at this is that, for a Christian, once they have known Christ (and understood and experienced the joy and peace of forgiveness), to turn back to their sin will cause more grief and psychological tension and pain than if they had never known of Christianity. A Christian has been robbed of their ignorance. And a Christian would know better the consequences, not just for themselves, but for the people around them. And thus bear a greater burned when they sin.

Another way of looking at this is from the perspective of an unsaved individual. To be someone who knows about Christ, but refuses to enter into the New Covenant, to be given many chances and opportunities, and to refuse wilfully. Judgement for that will be worse than to have been given little opportunity. (Mt 11:21-22)

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Conclusions

Beware false teachers
Know the truth and hold fast to it