In 2 Peter 2:1-3, Apostle Peter talked about false prophets and teachers creeping into churches and leading many astray. This is a problem throughout biblical time and in church history. Whenever there is a true teacher, there will always be a false one. The devil will always seek to oppose God to destroy His work. He uses different means (e.g. persecution, fear) to discourage God’s people. He sends people to creep into churches to erode the foundation of their faith by introducing wrong key doctrines bit by bit. This is an enemy that is difficult to identify.

2 Peter 2:1-3 helps us to identify and to guard against false teachers.

1. These false teachers creep into churches to live amongst members and they bring in “privily” (2 Pet 2:1, meaning “quietly”) new damnable teachings to change God’s truth bit by bit. We must know God’s Word very well and our loyalty must be only to Jesus, not to these false teachers. We must be sensitive to the voice of Jesus so that we can discern truth from error. We must care for one another by addressing one another’s doubts early to prevent further spreading of false teachings amongst church members.

2. They will bring in damnable heresies that cause divisions and destructions . Recent examples are: “the Bible has mistakes,” the VPP issue, denial of the virgin birth of Christ and the miracle of Jesus, etc. Many “shall follow their pernicious (destructive) ways” (2 Pet 2:2). They are influential and appealing. For example, the recently formed “BP synod” claimed certain fundamental doctrines to be non-essential, thus making them more appealing to the non B-Ps. Others, like the health-and-wealth gospel and the Charismatic movement, make you think that by giving more money to the church, God will bless them with more money in return. Through “covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you” (2 Pet 2:3). Their testimony will lead others to blaspheme the truth and tarnish the name of Christ such that Christ’s name will be evil spoken off. We must be careful not to cause the name of Christ be shamed.

3. The Lord will bring judgment upon them (2 Pet 2:1). They will face God’s judgment swiftly and soon (2 Pet 2:1, 3). These deceivers deliberately cause others to be deceived.

May we be warned and know false teachers by their cunning ways, and not fall into their trap.