Springs Without Water

2 Peter 2

Stories They Have Made Up (2:1-3)

In the previous passage, Peter began to warn us against cleverly invented stories (1:16) which have their origins in man, rather than God (1:20-21). In our current passage, Peter continues in this line of thinking as he tells us that, just as in former days there were false prophets among the people of God (Jeremiah 5:29-31) so it will be in our day (Matthew 24:23-25).

Peter says these teachers will introduce destructive heresies, which is from the Greek hairesis, which means choice or opinion. Originally, this word had a neutral meaning that simply indicated a school of thought or manner of teaching; one might be just as good as another, they were simply different. But in reference to the word of God, a teaching is either true or it is heresy. Certainly, no one of us is given a complete understanding of the word of God, and because of this there may be differences in our understanding; godly people may earnestly hold to different, even seemingly conflicting beliefs. But the mark of a false prophet is greed and the end of their prophecy is exploitation (Matthew 7:15).

Angels When They Sinned (2:4-11)

We would do well to consider two particular aspects of this passage. First, we should consider what the passage has to say about angels. Between the latest book of the Old Testament and the earliest book of the New Testament, the Jews developed a fairly complex angelology, some of which is available to us from extra-Biblical sources, such as The Book of Enoch. In both the Hebrew of the Old Testament and the Greek of the New Testament, the word translated angel means messenger, and in the Old Testament this messenger was not distinctly personified as separate from the message (Exodus 3:1-6).

But in the Old Testament there is the phrase sons of God which is used to describe some entities, or persons. These are the ones who looked with desire upon the daughters of men (Genesis 6:1-4) and it is among the ranks of these that Satan is identified (Job 1:6-12). By the time Peter wrote, there was an understanding that Satan had been a heavenly being who had lead a revolt, and he and his followers had been cast out into the darkness.

The second point we should consider is how much this book, and this chapter in particular, has in common with the book of Jude (Jude 6-10). Either the two were written by the same author, were quoting the same source, or one is quoting the other. Those who have knowledge of such things generally believe that Peter made use of Jude in the writing of 2 Peter.

But the purpose of this passage, in its mention of the fallen angels, the great flood, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, is not only to reinforce the idea that God is able to destroy the wicked, but to reassure us that God is able to save those who call upon his name (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Eyes full of Adultery (2:12-16)

Peter continues his denunciation of these men as he says that the are like beasts. He does not mean by this that they have no understanding, but that they have given themselves over to their desires. It may seem strange to us that, in this way, he likens them to Balaam, whom we tend to view as an almost comical figure. But however we may remember the story of Balaam, there is some ambiguity as to his motivation (Numbers 22:18-22; Further ambiguity, which is beyond the scope of this lesson, arises from the consideration that the word translated oppose is satan.) In extra-Biblical sources, the story of Balaam was extended to reveal that Balaam was motivated by the promise of gain to go against the word of the Lord and go with the men of Balak.

And this is Peter’s point: these men perform their evil deeds in the day, not because they do not know that they should be ashamed, but because they do not care. Their reason and their shame have been replaced by their desire. As their eyes are full of lust, their thoughts are full of themselves. This may seem a hard verdict, but it is based upon a hard saying from the Lord: we cannot serve to masters (Luke 16:13).

Springs Without Water (2:17-22)

Peter’s comparison of men and beasts might not have the same impact on our modern ears as it did on his original audience, but we are certainly repulsed by the image with which he concludes this passage! To compare a man to a dog and a pig was the worst scorn Peter could have expressed, and this he directed to those who knew the Lord, but abandoned him. Those of us who accept the doctrine of the Security of the Believer must also accept that the Bible clearly shows that there is some way to understand the call of Christ, but still reject that call (Luke 8:11-13; Hebrews 6:4-6).

But Peter’s condemnation of these men is not because they have rejected the word of God for themselves, but that they lead others astray. Their teaching is not simply mistaken, but it is wholly wrong. Whatever we choose for ourselves, no matter how good it may seem, cuts us off from the true blessings of God.

[F]or my people have committed two sins: they have turned away from me, the spring of fresh water, and they have dug cisterns, cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all. (Jeremiah 2:13 GNB)

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14 KJV)