The corruption and condemnation of false teachers: (chap.2)
This chapter serves as a warning for believers that false prophets and teachers will try to secretly introduce destructive heresies. Peter clarifies that God rescues the righteous while the unrighteous are reserved for the day of judgement. The false teachers have a form and pretend to preach about freedom but are themselves slaves are in depravity.
The contents of this chapter are found again in the letter of Jude. Perhaps Jude and Peter both must have felt the teaching of the false prophets as the greatest danger prevailing at that time. This problem is rampant even in the present churches also.
The condition of the false prophets: (2:1-3)
- False teaching: (2:1): In the days of Peter also there were false prophets. These false prophets were distorting the Christian teaching. They secretly approach with logical discussions and finally denying the very redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Both Peter and Paul presumed that such false prophets would continue to exist in every generation (1 Tim.4:1-3).
- Destructive ways: 2:2): The false teachers deliberately resort to immoral ways and treat the Christian doctrines with indifference. They blaspheme the way of the Truth and Christian redemption is hel in contempt by their immoral behaviour. Ex: Jehovah witness
- Covetousness: (2:3a): They are covetous and take advantage of their followers exploiting by deceit. Their teaching is flattery and their ambitions were financial and their aim is deception.
The consequences for the false teachers: (2:4-6)
Though it may seem that the false teachers are flourishing, their judgement will surely come and it will not delay. The Judgement of God had taken place on the following people.
3-images:
- Angels who sinned (2:4): These are the fallen angels who sinned by engaging in lustful practices with the daughters of men. This presumptuous action met with immediate judgement: they were cast down to hell (Gen.6:1-4, Jude 6). They are kept in ‘tartarus’ a prison holding them until their final judgement (Rev.20:14). Some evil angels, demons are still free and doing Satan’s will. The important thing here is that if God punishes the angels, He will not spare the false teachers.
- God did not spare the ancient world: (2:5):Theimage is the flood which came upon in Noah’s days, again mentions in (3:5-6). Noah was a preacher of righteousness but his neighbours never believed his preaching even though he started building the Ark explaining about the impending God’s judgement for 80-years. But when the Ark was complete, the destruction fell upon them suddenly and unsparingly. In the same way God’s judgement will fall upon any one who in his age and in his time does not turn to the saving grace of God.
- Destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (2:6): The third image or the example is the best incident of the ancient world. Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed by the volcanic action (Gen.19) due to the wickedness of the people. This was intended to be a fearful example of the terrible seriousness of not observing the sexual distinctions which God has determined. From time to time these distinctions have been cast aside and widespread breakdowns in social structures have inevitably followed.