Characteristics of False Teachers

Text: II Peter 2:10-22

The Depravity of False Teachers - II Peter 2:10

Peter lists the sins false teachers commonly commit. Typically, when men go off to establish their own religion, the first rules to be changed are those placing limits on sexual behavior (Romans 1:24-25). Peter literally states that they walk after the flesh in lust for defilement; thus, Peter is referring to the more sordid behaviors in society (Romans 1:26-27). When people refuse to acknowledge that God limits behavior, people chase after anything that gratifies their desires.

Rebellious - II Peter 2:10-13

Related to this is a rejection of governmental authority. These are people who want no restraints of any sort on their behavior (Romans 1:28-31). It is a natural result of rejecting God’s authority since governmental authority derives from God (Romans 13:1-2). But it goes a step further than rejection, they despise authority.

The false teachers are also described as daring, brazen, bold, or audacious. They have lost any fear of acting against authority.

Albert Barnes describes “self-willed” as “being self-complacent; a trait of character which, of necessity, makes a man imperious, dogmatical, impatient of contradiction, and unyielding.” Matthew Poole defines it as “stubborn, refractory, addicted to their own ways, and therefore will not be ruled by others.” In other words, false teachers believe they are right and no one is going to tell them differently (Psalms 73:8).

It is sad that people don’t see danger in false teachers’ behaviors. Instead, they are drawn to them, much as teenage girls are drawn to the “bad boys” in their circle.

False teachers have no fear of blaspheming “glories” or dignities. Some believe this is a reference to angels as spoken of II Peter 2:11. Others believe it is a reference to anyone whom God has glorified with a high position. However, the Greek word doxa is frequently used in reference to the glory of God and the things connected with God. The other times it is used in the plural form are I Peter 1:11 and Jude 8. False teachers will lie about the glories of God’s work resulting from Christ’s suffering.

In contrast, angels, who are greater and mightier than any man, refuse to slander false teachers before God. They do not even slander Satan before God (Jude 9). It is God’s place to render final judgment (Zechariah 3:2). [There is a debate as to what “them” refers to in II Peter 2:11. Possibilities are the “glories,” fallen angels, or false teachers. I lean to the latter because the form of “them” in Greek is plural, genitive, and has consistently been used in reference to the false teachers in II Peter 2.]

However, false teachers are more closely related to animals who operate from instinct instead of reason. Animals don’t consider the morality of their actions. Savage animals are captured and killed and like Paul (Acts 20:29), Peter sees these false teachers as beasts with no control over their appetites. Their desires control them and not their reason. Instead, they blaspheme things that they do not understand (Jude 10). With their destructive efforts, they will end up destroying themselves (Galatians 6:8).

Sensual - II Peter 2:13-14

Peter now returns to his first point: false teachers indulge the flesh. They enjoy reveling throughout the day. The Greek word for “reveling” is truphen. It means self-indulgence, luxury, reveling, enjoyment, delight, softness, or delicateness. It is used for people who enjoy soft living in the lap of luxury (Luke 7:24-25). Peter uses this same idea and applies it to false teachers. They are not the type who are willing to face hardships as did the apostles. They sin openly in the daytime as opposed to others who try to hide their sins under the cover of darkness (Ecclesiastes 10:16; I Thessalonians 5:7; Romans 13:12-13).

Instead of being a benefit to others (Ephesians 5:27), they are a source of pollution. They revel in their deceptions. Again, this carries the idea of luxuriating in their lies as they feast with you. The feasting could refer to social parties or it could refer to the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 5:8). Either way, they appear to be an intimate part of the church while in action destroying the church (Matthew 7:15-20).

As expected, people who pursue sensual, luxuriant lifestyles will be involved in sexual sins. Peter compares them to an adulteress who does not restrain herself from sin because she looks at the world around her through lenses of lust (Matthew 5:28). Like the adulteress (Proverbs 6:26), the false teacher preys upon the spiritually weak (II Timothy 3:6-7; Revelation 2:20). The Greek word deleazontes is translated as “entice.” It means to entrap or catch with bait, as with bait on a hook.

These are people trained in greed or covetousness. The Greek word gegumnasmenen refers to exercising in a gymnasium. Covetousness is frequently connected with sexual sins (I Corinthians 5:11; Ephesians 5:3,5). Peter declares that they are children of those devoted to the curse (Ephesians 2:2-3; John 17:12).

Greedy - II Peter 2:15-16

Like Balaam, false teachers are more interested in money than righteousness. Balaam was willing to oppose the God of heaven for money. He opposed the very one who gave him his job in the first place! It was Balaam who suggested how the Moabites could defeat Israel (Numbers 31:16). He told the Moabites to offer Israelites sex, wine, and entertainment (Numbers 25:1-3). He was even warned by his own donkey, but he persisted in his sin. Peter literally states that Balaam’s madness was at least temporarily checked by the miracle of his donkey speaking. Sadly, it didn’t last. Balaam’s behavior illustrates the behavior of the false teachers. He appeared to be a religious man in many ways; yet, he led people into sin because he was greedy (Isaiah 56:11). Ultimately, he lost his life because of his greed. Peter states that the false teachers follow Balaam to the same end.

Without Substance - II Peter 2:17

False teachers are then compared to springs or wells without water. They seem to offer something that is needed but they have nothing to give. In a dry region, such would be aggravating. They are also called mists driven by storms. The increased humidity seems to promise rain, but the winds take it away. False teachers appear to teach useful truths, but there is no real substance in what they teach (Jeremiah 2:13). Contrast this to John 4:14. It is common to hear lessons full of platitudes and meaningless catchphrases. You learn much about the teacher’s life and opinions but God’s teachings are not studied in depth.

Just as they shed no light of truth, false teachers have darkness waiting for them – an allusion to hell (Matthew 8:12).

Unable to Save - II Peter 2:18-22

Again Peter emphasizes that these false teachers use pompous, empty words as they use sensuality to entice the weakest members – the ones who have not been Christians long enough to grow strong. There is a pretense of wisdom but none actually exists. The Greek word huperonka refers to excessive, bombastic, or verbose speech (I Corinthians 8:1). They give people what they want to hear (II Timothy 4:3-4). They promise freedom, but the false teachers are themselves slaves of sin (Romans 6:16-22; 8:15; Galatians 5:13). It sounds great to be free from moral laws but the shackles of sin are worse.

Anyone who escapes the corruption in the world through knowing Jesus and then returns to the world he left and is overcome by the world is now in a worse state (Matthew 12:43-45). He left the truth to return to the world and there is nothing else by which to save him (Romans 10:17). Someone who has never heard the gospel has a better chance of being saved than a person who had accepted the truth and then later rejected it (Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-39).

Sadly, there are people who return to the world. “Dogs” are often used to represent people who have no restraint on their behavior, especially their sexual behavior (Deuteronomy 23:17-18; Revelation 22:14-15). Peter, here is quoting Proverbs 26:11. “Pigs” are the classic example of an unclean animal and are willing to greedily eat just about anything. Both animals aptly represent false teachers and their students become like them. The point is that if there is no real change in a person, they will return to what they naturally do.

Notice that each section ends with the assurance of the destruction of false teachers. The last section assures that those who follow the false teachers will also be destroyed.

For Discussion:

  1. Sometimes is it argued that those who return to the world were never truly converted. II Peter 2:22 is cited by saying the dog and sow remain what they originally were. Is this Peter’s point?
Print Friendly, PDF & Email