Destructive doctrines and the doom of false teachers

False prophets, unlike the Holy Spirit inspired prophets, led people astray (Deuteronomy 13:1-5; Isaiah 28:16-17; Jeremiah 6:13-15; 14:14; 23:14, 32; Ezekiel 13:1-9; Micah 3:8-12). Peter warned that there will be false teachers who try to lead the church astray (Acts 20:28-31; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 4:1-5). He said they would quietly bring in false teachings that would divide the church (Jude 4). False teaching is often brought in subtly beside truth. Their end was going to be unexpected, yet brought on by their own misdeeds (2 Peter 2:1).

The apostle warned that these false teachers would lead many to engage in unbridled lust. People who were not yet Christians would not be able to distinguish between true Christians and those following false teachers, so the way of truth would be spoken against, or blasphemed, as if it were evil. False teachers would lead people astray out of a desire for personal gain. They used words made up for the occasion, which indicates they knew what they were saying was not true (2 Corinthians 2:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:5; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; Titus 1:9-11; Jude 11, 16). God has always held such false teachers in contempt. Their lives are headed down a path of destruction and their punishment neither loiters along the way nor nods off to sleep (2 Peter 2:2-3; Philippians 3:18-19).

Angels were created by God to serve him (Hebrews 1:7, 14). Peter tells of some angels who violated God’s will and were being held in bonds awaiting the day of judgment (compare Jude 6). These verses do not reveal when these angels sinned, nor which angels they are, but Peter indicates they are held in a dark place until judgment arrives (2 Peter 2:4).

Judgment is sure to come as Peter learned from the Lord (Luke 17:26-29). Noah was a herald of what is right in God’s sight. Despite the fact that he proclaimed it, the people continued in their evil ways until God destroyed them. Peter did give a ray of hope when he mentioned the eight people who were saved. Anyone striving to please God can be saved like Noah, his three sons and their wives.

Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of God’s judgment (Genesis 19:1-26). It came upon them because of homosexuality (Jude 7), pride, abundant idleness and a refusal to help the poor and needy (Ezekiel 16:48-50). God intended for this destruction to stand as a reminder to all who would live ungodly in the future (2 Peter 2:5-6).

Peter told the story of Lot to show that God will save any righteous who may be found among the wicked. Lot was worn out with worry over the sin he saw all around him. He was in anguish because of what he saw and heard every day. He loved right living and was disturbed by evil deeds (2 Peter 2:7-8).

The examples of Noah and Lot show God knows how to deliver those living godly lives. The word translated "temptations" here could also be translated "trials." Peter does not promise God will keep trials out of Christians’ lives but does say he will deliver them. The day of judgment will be for all. The unrighteous will hear their sentence pronounced on that day (2 Peter 2:7-9; Matthew 25:41, 46).

The ones named in 2 Peter 2:10 are especially reserved for judgment. The apostle does not name their sin. He calls it uncontrolled desire that pollutes the flesh. They had no respect for authority, which lead them to take liberties with God and man. They were determined to have their own way, seemingly leading them to speak evil against any authority that got in the way of their pursuit of what they wanted.

Angels, who were much greater and more powerful than the false teachers, would not even bring accusation against the false teachers, who were their inferiors. The false teachers seemed to have no problems with conscience when they were obviously speaking evil about those who were superior to them (2 Peter 2:11).