The Second Letter of St. Peter

To the Christians

Who Are the “False Teachers”?2 Peter 2 1…there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2Many will follow their licentious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled.

What Do False Teachers Teach?αιρεσις hairesis hah'ee-res-is properly a choice, that is, (specifically) a party or (abstractly) disunion:—heresy [which is the Greek word itself], sect.

Who Are the “False Teachers”?Matthew 24:11-12 11Many false prophets will arise and deceive many; 12and because of the increase of evildoing, the love of many will grow cold.

Who Are the “False Teachers”?Matthew 7:21-23 21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven….22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’  

Who Are the “False Teachers”?Matthew 7:21-23

 23Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.’

Who Are the “False Teachers”?

These, then, were Christians who were outwardly devout but lived sinful [to say the least!] lives.

Who Are the “False Teachers”?The attack on the false prophets includes those disciples who perform works of healing and exorcism in the name of Jesus but live evil lives. Entrance into the kingdom is only for those who do the will of the Father. On the day of judgment the morally corrupt prophets and miracle workers will be rejected by Jesus.

(footnote Mt 7:21 NABre)

Who Are the “False Teachers”?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught about the marks of a false prophet and the consequences of being one (Matt. 7:15-23). He also cautioned His followers to beware of false prophets who would arise during times of tribulation and in the end times (Matt. 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22).

Who Are the “False Teachers”?He said to be careful when the world loves a prophet’s words, because a prophet who is false is apt to be popular (Luke 6:26). The apostles instructed believers to be diligent in faith and understanding of Christian teachings, in order to discern false prophets when they arise (2 Pet. 1:10; 1:19-2:1; 1 John 4:1).

Who Are the “False Teachers”?The tests of a prophet are: •1) Do their predictions come true? •2) Does the prophet have a divine commission? •3) Are the prophecies consistent with Scripture •4) Do the people benefit spiritually from the prophet’s ministry

What Will Happen to the “False Teachers”?

Punishments for false prophets were as severe in the New Testament as they were in the Old. Paul caused a false prophet to be stricken with blindness (Acts 13:6-12), but most other punishments were more permanent in nature.

What Will Happen to the“False Teachers”?

Jesus said the false prophets would be cut down and burned like a bad tree (Matt. 7:19). Second Peter 2:4 describes being cast into pits of darkness. The ultimate punishment appears in Revelation 19:20; 20:10—the false prophet, the beast, and the devil will be thrown into a lake of fire and brimstone and be tormented forever.

What Will Happen to the “False Teachers”?

21For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment handed down to them. (2 Peter 2:21)

Scoffers!

2Peter 3:3-4

…in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts 4and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming?

Scoffers!

The false teachers tried to justify their immorality by pointing out that the promised coming of the Lord has not yet occurred, even though early Christians expected it in their day. They thus insinuate that God is not guiding the world’s history anymore, since nothing has changed and the first generation of Christians, our ancestors, has all died by this time.

Scoffers!

The Bible should be taught, but emphatically not as reality. It is fiction, myth, poetry, anything but reality. As such it needs to be taught because it underlies so much of our literature and our culture. –(Richard Dawkins)

Scoffers!

The author replies that, just as God destroyed the earth by water in the flood, so he will destroy it along with the false teachers on judgment day. The word of God, which called the world into being and destroyed it by the waters of a flood, will destroy it again by fire on the day of judgment.

But just you wait!

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. (2 Peter 3:8)

And Remain Obedient

You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.(2 Peter 3:17

Questions• What is the “way of Balaam”? (2:15)• What is a heresy? What does Peter say about

sexual impurity? Are the False Teachers free?• Who are the “scoffers”? What do they claim?• What is the problem with St. Paul’s writings?• Are there false teachers today? What are they

saying? What would Peter say to them?