July 20th 2025 2 PETER CH 2 v 1 - 12
Peter's Warning Against the Perils of False Teachers.
There will always be False Teachers.
1·3 a. There shall be false teachers among you.
Having just mentioned the prophets who spoke for God, Peter refers to the fact that these faced the opposition of false prophets.
He warns the believers against false teachers who were perhaps even then known by the apostle to be at work in certain areas of the church. (after the manner of Acts 20 v 29,30; though the error here seems to have been in the way of life rather than of doctrine - I John 2 v 18·20; and Jude 3.) These would deny the Lord that bought them; they would gain a following and cast a shadow on the way of truth.
Their purpose would be mercenary; they would be motivated through covetousness.
But there will be Judgment of the False Teachers.
3 b. Whose judgment . . . lingereth not. Here seems to be an intimation that these hardened and deliberate heretics had passed the provisional season of possible repentance. Their doom was now inevitable.
4. if God spared not the angels that sinned. Peter, at the very outset of his consideration of the false teachers sets up a picture of the God of judgment.
This is both encouragement to the faithful and warning to any inclined toward apostasy (vv. 7-9 below).
Chains of darkness. Although Peter seems here to refer to the apocryphal Book of Enoch, with its elaborate discussion of the sin of the fallen angels, their reservation unto judgment, and finally their judgment (the verse seems to reflect Enoch 21),
yet there is an absence of that rather wild and questionable theorizing and intrusion of non-spiritual concept which is evident even to the casual reader of Enoch.
5. And spared not the old world, but saved Noah. Another reference to the severity, as well as to the goodness, of God.
6-8. Turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorra into ashes . …..delivered just Lot. Still another illustration of God's judgement of his creation.
This reference to Lot's unhappiness with the developments connected with his choice of Sodom as a residence, because of his basic loyalty to God, whether considered as reflecting ancient tradition or as apocalyptical, is an interesting supplement to the OT picture of that patriarch.
9. The Lord knoweth how to deliver . . . and to reserve . . . to be punished. While in the supporting instances, Peter shows more interest in God's condemnation of wickedness than in his justification of righteousness (this because of his preoccupation with the false teachers), in this final summary he presents first God's mercy to his own, a comfort to the readers.
The epistle of Jude parallels very closely the present discussion of false teachers and their punishment. Peter speaks of their activities as being shortly at hand ("there shall be false teachers v1); Jude treats these as present (there are certain men crept in unawares, Jude 4).
What are the Features of the False Teachers.
10-12. Them that walk after the flesh ... and despise government.
The picture is one of fleshly self-indulgence and carnal insolence. Not afraid to speak evil of dignities. . . .
V 11 Whereas angels . . . bring not railing accusation. Peter warns against rash and self-confident speech, even as pertaining to evil powers. His reference to the angels is parallel to that of Jude 9, which seems to reflect a contest between Michael and the devil, related in the Assumption of Moses, an apocryphal writing known among the Jews. Peter’s reference is discreet, causing some critical scholars to think that Peter followed here the more specific reference in Jude.
Speak evil of the things that they understand not.
Their self-assurance was matched by their ignorance.
This recalls the reference in Col 2 v 18.
The characteristic of modern 'liberal' critical teachers which amazes usmost is their absolute confidence in their own conclusions, based upon evidence however trivial, and involving tremendously important departures from doctrines maintained for centuries by the historic church.
News from the Church New dates
6th August..…..Friendship Group, (this covers all ages and the lonely people)
13th August…. Lullaby Lane soft play Coffee Morning
20th August…. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills
if you just want to talk well that’s OK too
27th August….. Church Coffee Morning
ANSWERS TO 13th July QUESTIONS
1) Demetrius 2) Barnabas 3) Ananias 4) Peter 5) Stephen 6) Peter 7) Paul 8) Cornelius 9) Silas
10) Peter 11) Luke 12) King Agrippa 13) Ananias 14) James 15) Timothy 16) Apollos
Bible Quiz this week’s Quiz is MEN in the NEW TESTAMENT
1 Who started a missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas but left them at Perga?
2 What is another name for Elymas, a sorcerer from Paphos?
3 Which Roman Governor did Paul appear before?
4 Who was imprisoned with Peter for talking about Jesus?
RELATIONSHIPS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
What relationship have these with each other
5 James and Zebedee?
6 Timothy and Eunice?
7 Lazarus and Martha ?
8 John the Baptist and Elisabeth?
9 Joseph and Mary?
10 Zebedee and John?
11 Peter and Andrew?
12 Zechariah and Elisabeth?
13 Lazarus and Mary?
14 Aquila and Priscilla?
15 James and John?
16 Ananias and Sapphira?
2 PETER 3 V 10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night
In the which the heavens shall pass away with great noise
And the elements shall melt with fervent heat
The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up
God Bless