2 Peter 2...Part 2 “Feigned words” in 2:3, means, “counterfeit words” or “manufactured, fabricated words.” The Gk. word is plastos, from which we get the English word “plastic.” These false teachers depart from the Spirit-given words of the Bible (1 Cor. 2:9–16) and manufacture their own words to fit their own doctrines. They take familiar Bible words and manufacture new meanings for them. They use our vocabulary but empty these words of spiritual meaning. It is not what a teacher says, but what he or she means, that counts. These false teachers will be destroyed, and Peter cites three OT examples to prove it: the angels that sinned and are now imprisoned in Tartarus (which in the meaning of the word translated “hell”); the world before the flood; and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In each of these cases, the persons involved had a form of religion but not the true faith that empowers the life (2 Tim. 3:5). Before Christ comes back, there will be a great deal of “religion” in the world, but it will not be true faith in Him. These false teachers may seem to be successful and protected, but one of these days God will destroy them. Their Character (2:10–16) Lets look at what drives them. A. Pride (vv. 10–11). They despise any kind of dominion or authority. God has established the “dominions” in this world—human government, headship in the home, leadership in the church, and so on. But false teachers want to run things their own way and reject God’s order. Even the angels do not despise God-given authorities; see Jude 8–9. B. Ignorance (v. 12). The false teachers are willfully blind to what the Bible teaches (see 2 Peter 3:5). They call evangelical Christians “uneducated” and biblical theology “old-fashioned”! C. Lust (vv. 13–14). Wrong doctrine and wrong living go together. False teachers live in luxury and “beguile” (catch with bait) unstable people who are enticed into their teachings. It is tragic the way the name of Christ has been disgraced (v. 2) by “religious leaders” who live in sin while attempting to help others find the Lord. D. Covetousness (vv. 15–16). Verse 3 points out that false teachers use counterfeit words to exploit the people; and v. 18 say they use “great swelling words.” Unfortunately, there are many unstable people who delight in following these religious “windbags,” not realizing that these teachers are picking their pockets while they poison their lives. Peter cites Balaam as an example (Num. 22–25). He was a prophet who used his gifts to make money and lead Israel into sin.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 03:52:41 +0000
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