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Peter said, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who secretly shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” (2 Pt. 2: 1).
Indeed, these believers were known of the Lord, but they were still rejected in the end. Whatever they did, they brought swift destruction upon themselves.
To understand this verse, consider the truths in its parts:
(1) There were false prophets among ancient Israel. (2) There will be false teachers among believers. (3) False teachers secretly bring in damnable heresies. (4) These false teachers will have been bought by the Lord, but they still would deny Him. (5) In denying the Lord who bought them, they will bring upon themselves swift destruction.
If they had been bought by the Lord, then it is true that they once knew Him and He once knew them. Later, they rejected Him when they started teaching lies. AND, He rejected them when they started teaching lies. With this rejection came a loss of souls and salvation.
It is not always easy to identify false teachers. Their teachings can be subtle and sound true. They can have pleasant and attractive personalities and have the appeal of rock stars. These had been bought by the Lord, so they were Christians, people we might not expect or even believe could become a false teacher. These Christians made one fatal mistake - after their salvation, they began mixing the truth with lies and teaching false doctrine.
False teachers today can teach from the Bible and some of what they say will be true. But, when truth is mixed with lies it becomes powerless. Their doctrine may have the power to persuade millions but will not save anyone and none of them will know the difference.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s ask, “What did they teach that was false?” Was it that they denied the Lord or that their false doctrines in other subjects would have the same net effect of denying the Lord? Or was it both? The simple word “even” says it was both. It means, “and, also, even, indeed, but.” They did both. False teaching denies the Lord, even if that is not its intent. How may think they believe the truth, but deny the Lord because what they believe is NOT what the Lord taught?
We become have comfortable the things we believe, even referring to them as “my truth” or “your truth.” Many earnestly believe that one religion is as good as another. Given what we read in this passage, could that possible be true?
The outcome of all false teaching is denial and destruction. This is illustrated in the ways different translations render the words “...destructive heresies....”.
Easy to Read Version, “...will teach things that are wrong--teachings that will make people be lost....”
Comtemporary English Version, “...harmful lies....”
New American Standard, “...destructive heresies....”
The Bible in Basic English, “...wrong teachings for your destruction....”
Douay-Rheims Bible, “...lying teachers who shall bring in sects of perdition....”
False teaching condemns souls. Not everything taught in the name of the Lord is accepted by the Lord. If He rejects a teaching as “lie; false; heresy,” then we cannot believe it. It does not matter the content of the lie, the lie will condemn the soul that teaches it and the soul that believes it. The Lord does not save all sinners. The Lord does not save all believers. It does make a difference what you believe.
How sure are you?
return to part 1/return to part 2/return to “In Depth”
Larry K. Henry
Deacon/Webmaster
Smithville church of Christ
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