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Tag: false teaching

2 Peter 2: Pernicious Preachers of a False Gospel
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you..

2 Peter 2:1a – King James Version

Accepting Apostolic Testimony OR Following False Prophets

After presenting his Apostolic testimony to wavering preachers, elders, and marginal followers of “The Way,” Simon Peter now alerts the church to dangerous heresies taught by some seeking to undermine the true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Trustworthy Prophetic Word, reads the heading in this section of 2 Peter 1 of the Christian Standard Bible, also citing testimony from all the synoptic Gospels [Matthew, Mark & Luke].

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed..

For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:17-21 excerpt KJV

The Apostle now warns of pernicious perils of false prophets and false teaching of those who deny Apostolic testimony.

2 Peter 2:

There were indeed false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you.
2 Peter 2:1a – Christian Standard Bible

Peter, Apostle of Jesus, provides familiar examples from the Jewish Bible (Old Testament):
- and if he didn’t spare the ancient world, but protected Noah v.5a
- and if he reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes v.6a
- and if he rescued righteous Lot, v.7a
Compare yourself to Noah. Or compare yourself to Lot, Paul suggests, a righteous man living in Sodom surrounded by every wickedness conceived by evil men in charge of his community.

Are Sodom and Gomorrah not the cities of our home churches to whom Simon Peter writes once again?

And doesn’t our world reminiscingly resemble that near to destruction in the time of Noah?

Take heed that we have survived thus far only be saved from the final judgment of fire by Christ’s righteousness!

How do the Apostle’s examples from Genesis apply to us?

The believers to whom Peter writes live in Asian and Roman and new worldly cities not unlike Sodom — as do we in our towns and churches susceptible to every evil tolerated and encouraged by leaders of every gathering in our home community.

Destructive Doctrines
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HEADING from the New King James Version 
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WATCH OUT! warns the Apostle in his second epistle.

.. even as there will be false teachers among you, – v.1b – NKJV

You know these preachers and elders who CLAIM JESUS.

Some saints succumb to their subtle sweet tolerance. For their deceptive doctrine suggests Christ while discounting His lordship over our saved SELF’s still flourishing in the flesh of this life.

Pernicious Preachers of Their Own Doctrines

ψευδοδιδάσκαλος – pseudodidáskalos, psyoo-dod-id-as’-kal-os; from G5571 and G1320; a spurious teacher, i.e. propagator of erroneous Christian doctrine:—false teacher.

Lexicon :: Strong’s G5572 – pseudodidaskalos
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No, it isn't only the preacher in the pulpit who purveys false doctrine, though some succumb at times as the Apostle fears. 
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They will bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves.

– 2:1c CSB

.. who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.

2 Peter 2:1c King James Version

And many shall follow their pernicious ways
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Time to define a key word Paul uses FIVE TIMES in his Second Epistle (translated in 2 Peter 2:2 KJV as "pernicious ways").  
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ἀπώλεια – apōleia –

The KJV translates Strong ‘s G684 in the following manner: perdition (8x), destruction (5x), waste (2x), damnable (1x), to die (with G1519) (1x), perish (with G1498) (with G1519) (1x), pernicious (1x).

The Apostle Peter chooses STRONG language to describe these sins against the Lord.

And in fact, Jesus had spoken the same to describe Judas Iscariot!

While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition;^G684 that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Gospel of John 17:12 KJV – the words of Jesus
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What must Peter — one of the Twelve — have thought when Judas took the cup the Lord shared at their last Passover meal? 
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The Lure of their Depravity

Common Era preachers may draw in the multitudes to gatherings of those seeking an advantage in the life of proclaiming Jesus.

(Judas, who minded their money, was like that.)

Peter continues in his second epistle warning the faithful:

And in their greed they will exploit you with false words, their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

2 Peter 2:3 LSB

The Apostle describes how to spot false teachers scemingly opposed to all Truth:
- Bold, arrogant people!
- They are not afraid to slander the glorious ones [2:10b LSB]
- go after the flesh in its corrupt lust
- and despise authority.
  - (even that of the Lord’s Apostles, Peter implies)
- Daring,
- self-willed,
- they do not tremble when they blaspheme [angels] glorious ones 2:10 LSB
  - (We’ll continue Peter’s mention of angels momentarily.)
They brag about themselves with empty, foolish boasting.

With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.

2 Peter 2:18 LSB

The APOSTLE’S WARNING!

These people are springs without water, mists driven by a storm. The gloom of darkness has been reserved for them.

For by uttering boastful, empty words, they seduce, with fleshly desires and debauchery, people who are actually escaping from those who live in error.

2 Peter 17-18 CSB

Peter has already presented his powerful case of his authority as an Apostle of Jesus Christ — who IS the only Son of GOD the Father and One with the Holy Spirit.

Won’t you obey an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ?

“For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son,with whom I am well pleased,”

2 Peter 1:17 ESV

OR

Will you subtly slide back into the vomit of your former overindulgence in every sin of this world?

What the true proverb says has happened to them:

“The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

2 Peter 2:22 ESV

Like a dog that returns to his vomit
is a fool who repeats his folly.

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Proverbs 26:11,12 ESV

GOD, Angels, Men, Apostles, creatures & authority
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FOLLOW PETER'S LOGIC: 
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- In the beginning, God [ĕlōhîm] created the heavens and the earth. – Genesis 1:1
- The apostle of Jesus Christ.. stands [in] the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: – 2 Peter 1:1
- Jesus is associated with righteousness, highlighting His sinless nature and the moral perfection that He imparts to believers.
  - sou r ce:
- 2 Peter 2:1 The term “Master” is used in the context of false teachers denying “the Master who bought them.” It underscores Jesus’ ownership and authority over believers, as well as the cost of redemption.
  - ibid.
  - Peter introduces himself as a servant [doulos] of Jesus
    
    2 Peter 1:1
  - and in his first epistle the Apostle instructs those chosen in Christ:
Servants [oiketēs, a domestic], be subject to your masters [despotēs – also translated as Lord or used for husband] with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

1 Peter 2:18 ESV

The Apostle Peter, as servant of the Lord and witness to God in the flesh embraces great responsibility for the faith of those chosen as elect saints in Jesus Christ.

Creation, its creatures and Angels

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

… The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

2 Peter 2:4,9 KJV

The Apostle connects evil men affecting the righteous like Noah and Lot within a lengthy tirade citing angels that sinned. Though we know little of the unseen messengers (evil or good), Peter reminds us of a comparison of Jesus to Adam, who was tempted into our fall by a most-powerful angel.
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Once again: 
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FOLLOW PETER’S LOGIC:
- God did not spare angels when they sinned – v.4
  - .. and his angels he charged with folly: – Job 4:18b KJV
- .. but cast them into hell..
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“How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer,[lit. Day Star] son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations! 

For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
.. 
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit. 
```
Isaiah 14:12-13a,14 NKJV
- and committed them to pits of darkness, held for judgment…
- [2 Peter 2:4b NASB]
These cunning false teachers speaking against Apostolic Authority — granted through the same Holy Spirit of God by which the Prophets spoke — do not tremble when they revile angelic majesties [Doxa] – ‘they blaspheme the glorious ones’ – v.10

FALSE TEACHERS, who are no better than evil men who refused to listen to GOD’s Prophets speaking by the Holy Spirit and less powerful than angels, will also suffer the judgment of angels who turned against the Creator.

.. whereas angels, though greater in might and power,

do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord.

2 Peter 11 ESV

Balaam, False Prophets and Pernicious Popes!

YES, we are still addressing the warning of the Apostle Peter in his second epistle to the 1st century church.
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If you have noted in 2 Peter 2 that I quoted Scripture including men the Apostle lists as negative examples, but I missed a false prophet mentioned only once, you would be right. 
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Peter’s full list (chronologically) includes:
- Angels – vs.4 & 11
- mankind, except Noah – v.5
- community of mankind in Sodom and Gomorrah, except Lot – v.6
- the Prophet Balaam – vs. 15-16
ALL these are WARNING SIGNS from the LAW of Moses — cited by the Apostle Peter, servant of God and JESUS Christ, sent by true direction of the Holy Spirit — to BELIEVERS in the first century churches AND those including a Lot from Common Era elect yet to be born into the body of Christ before the Day of Judgment.

I have nearly bogged down in the mire of Moses’ serious warning in the book of Numbers concerning Balaam.

Moses, Prophet and Lawgiver of Israel, sheds light enough on such men and women who cunningly lead communities of the faithful away from the Lord our God — from then nearer the Beginning until the Day of Jesus Christ.

What Popes, you may ask?

Which false prophets since Jesus, you may wonder?

AND what do these have to do with the Apostle’s example of Balaam in 2 Peter 2?

NEXT – We will examine the timeless application of Balaam to Peter’s prophesies of false teachers and HERESIES already evident to the Common Era church.

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
November 25, 2025
Church of the Lost Pilgrims
The Pilgrim’s Progress in our Church

Many Christians are familiar with John Bunyan’s, THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS, but IF you will look around you at church this Sunday, you may be surprised to see some of these allegorical characters sitting right next to you in the pew or carrying on conversation at a table in your Sunday school social group.

Hopefully you will recognize some of our own local (yet well-worn) doctrinal drifts among lost ones of the flock where we claim Christ as a ‘professor‘ of the faith.
Below: order and read any of the three editions used and quoted for this post.– RH

Dover
Penguin
Crossway – edited by C. J. Lovic

John Bunyan, b.1628-d.1688, a Spirit-led seer of a DREAM of similitude, writes an allegory while imprisoned (for illegal preaching) illuminating a pilgrimage of challenges to everyday faith and exhortation from Scripture as practical cautions to the flock of everyday Christians. – RH
From THIS LIFE To The Next
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The Pilgrim's Progress From This World to That Which Is to Come
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Oh, that You would rend the heavens!
That You would come down!
That the mountains might shake at Your presence—
As fire burns brushwood,
As fire causes water to boil—
To make Your name known to Your adversaries,
That the nations may tremble at Your presence!
When You did awesome things for which we did not look,
You came down,
The mountains shook at Your presence.
For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.
- Isaiah 64 [A Prayer for Help] vs. 1-4, NKJV
```
As I walked through the wilderness of this world, I came to a certain place where there was a cave.. As I slept I dreamed a dream.. I saw a man clothed in rags, standing in place with his face turned away from his own house.

“He had a BOOK in his hand and a heavy burden upon his back,” says Bunyan.

It is the same BOOK of Scripture, the BIBLE which Christians claim as HOLY.

(This is where it all fits into Doctrine – Christian TEACHING claimed in the PULPIT to come from the book.)

“So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.

– Gospel of Luke 14:33 NKJV

“ONLY SCRIPTURE?”

+ But we have DROPPED ‘THE BOOK’

Roger@TalkofJESUS.com

A Christ-like concern for preaching, learning and following the doctrines of an authentic Scriptural faith permeated the writings of Augustine, Luther, Bunyan and many others.

Some Key Moments of Pilgrims passing through THIS LIFE

I looked then, and saw a man named Evangelist coming to him, and asked, Wherefore dost thou cry?

Sir, I perceive by the BOOK in my hand, that I am condemned to die..

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Hebrews 9:27-28 NKJV

.. AND after that to come to Judgment!

.. AND I find that I am not willing to do the first, nor able to do the second.

Then said Evangelist,

Why NOT willing to die, since THIS LIFE is attended with so many evils?

The Man answered,

Because I fear that this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the Grave, and I shall fall into [the place of passing thru the fire]..

IF THIS is your condition, why do you stand still?
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The man's pilgrimage begins here (and it's only somewhat different for his wife) -- that difficult journey of faith and hope even before coming to the Cross with the BOOK. 

Bunyan points to our destined damnation as a result of this LIFE and Salvation only in the Cross of Christ Jesus.
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Christian’s dilemma which he shares with Evangelist is the BURDEN of every unsaved man, the BURDEN of every unsaved woman: JUDGMENT, our destined damnation as a result of THIS LIFE

BUT THE BOOK has shown him Salvation found only in the Cross of Christ Jesus.

DEATH, JUDGMENT and pointing so many SOULS of LOVED-ONES we know are not saved is the Gospel of the Christian Evangelist. So few find the narrow gate and follow the only path of pilgrimage prescribed to THE WAY of ETERNAL LIFE by grace of the Cross of Christ.

To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Hebrews 9:28

WHAT MUST I DO?

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
The Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John 7:10b NKJV

Some Characters Confronting Pilgrims
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As I have already mentioned, YOU will have met some of these on your own journey of faith, perhaps even 'in church.' 

(Go ahead, 'What's the NEW Name they go by in YOUR local church?' 
Later you can see what Bunyan thought to do with their doctrine.) 
Why not SHARE in a comment (without 21st c. names) the fruit of what they do in YOUR church LIFE.)
```
- Mr. Worldly Wiseman
- Obstinate
- Pliable
- The Professor
- Talkative
- Ignorance
- Lord Hate-good
- Hopeful, Faithful & many others
a Quick-glance at Character in the Characters

Obstinate represents an intolerant class of people who think it is foolish and senseless to give up all the comforts of this world.. — its friendships, opportunities, riches, security and approval. – C.J. Lovik

Pliable and Obstinate are neighbors. One tends to stand in his worldly comfort against any change, but Pliable is a curious sort always looking to ‘something better’ than he has in THIS LIFE.

Pliable: “And do you think the words of your book are certainly true?”

(Later, as both are stuck in the mire of the Slough of Despond)

“Is this the happiness you have told me all the while of?”

.. with that he.. got out of the mire, on that side of the slough which was next to his own house, Bunyan notes of his turning back, so away he went, and Christian saw him no more.
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I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the LORD.
```
Do YOU know this from PSALM 40 in the BOOK?

Does your church’s ‘worship team’ sing about the LORD like this?

Almost immediately on our Journey of Faith

Worldly-Wiseman told him, “You will find the relief you seek in a nearby village called Morality. In that village resides a gentleman whose name is Legality, a judicious man of very good reputation.’

A current version of Mr. Worldly Wiseman is any liberal, broad-minded, and compromising person who has no regard for the atoning work of Jesus Christ and would rather believer a “gospel” advancing morality and social reform.. He is everywhere today, disguising his error and heresy by proclaiming a gospel of contentment and peace..
IF he mentions Christ, it is NOT as the Savior who took our place, bur as a GOOD EXAMPLE of an exemplary life.
– C.J Lovic

Evangelist: “How is it that you have so quickly turned aside? .. The man you have met is Mr. Worldly-Wiseman, and he is well named because he loves only the DOCTRINE of THIS WORLD.

They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
First Letter of John to the Church 4:5 NKJV

Evangelist continues:

“Now these are three things in this man’s counsel that you must utterly abhor:
1. His convincing you to leave the right path.
2. His effort to make the cross repulsive to you.
3. His sending you on the very way that leads to death.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew 7:13-16a, New King James Version

Evangelist: “From this narrow gate, and from the way that leads to it, has this wicked man turned you, and by so doing he has almost brought you to your own destruction.

a few ‘not-so-honorable mentions’
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Once again, it's seems I'm going a bit long on my Character mentions. So let's step quickly ahead in the Pilgrims Progress.
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“Talkative is my most familiar brother whose like I have listened to listlessly in many a Bible study and small group. – RH

The theoretical talk is one dimension that is in constant contrast and disharmony with the behavior.. the high-sounding rhetoric is set alongside the double-dealing, self-centered, and abusive behavior that litters the path down which he has trod.
C. J. Lovic
- Does your local church try to hide Talkative’s character because they bought his talk into a position of leadership or teaching?
Ignorance (another familiar follower): “I know my Lord’s will, and have been a good liver; I pay every man his own; I pray, fast, pay tithes, and give alms, and have left my country for whither I am going. “..I know you not: be content to follow the religion of your country, and I will follow the religion of mine. I hope all will be well.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Proverbs 25:12 NKJV

Hopeful: “.. let us pass him by, if you will, and talk to him anon, even as he is able to bear it.

Bunyan adds, “So they went on, and Ignorance followed.

As a Pastor looked out over the congregation he observed three men asleep. Bunyan gives them a mention and you can read of their consequence.

John Bunyan also points to at least two scenes which convict me of my own need to continue in the pilgrimage which at times becomes difficult. For today we must look past his most convicting character who brings a chill to the darkness apart from the Light, the Professor in the iron cage.

Sunday at Vanity Fair

A contemporary Evangelist once observed a Vanity Fair along a well-traveled road (even on Sunday) – a highway to all the places with shops and sport and the lure of lucre where passing pilgrims to buy every worldly treasure. This Evangelist in the 21st century of our Lord Jesus Christ WARNED of Mr. Hate-Good, the Prince of the Fair, Envy, Superstition and Flattery; Lord Old man and Sir Greed and many others in his preaching (though many lost of his flock were not present).

Bunyan relates the trouble and trial resulting from Christian and Faithful passing through Vanity Fair:

One merchant, observing the strange conduct of the pilgrims, mockingly said to them, “What will you buy?”

But they, looking sternly at him, answered, “We buy the truth.”

This caused great offense, Bunyan notes.
- Does your witness to the Way the Truth and the Life in Jesus Christ offend any at Vanity Fair?
“Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Gospel of John 14:5b-6 NKJV

The Great One of the Fair (could it have been Jeff or Bill, perhaps a less common name like Elon 🙂 presides over Bunyan’s trial of Christian and Faithful (who is condemned to death). The Judge * ‘elected by the Fair’ is Lord Hate-good. Jurors * include: Mr. Blind-man, Mr. Malice, Mr. Love-lust, Mr. Live-loose, Mr. Hot-head, Mr. Hate-light and others.
- * Juries now must include Ms. Guided, M. Undetermined and a M/Ms. Color-character.
Faithful is sentenced to death for his witness of Jesus Christ.

The question is not mine, but remains valid:
- IF a jury of ‘your peers’ examined your Christian witness, would they have enough evidence to convict you?
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October 15, 2022