Lesson 24
Second Peter
Warning against dangers
facing the Church
2 Pet 2:9 The conclusion
from the historical examples of 2:4-8 (The “then” clause)
then the
Lord knows
What Peter does here is to draw a conclusion from the
historical examples of the justice of God dealing with evil, the rise of false
teachers and apostasy and the historical deliverance of the righteous.
how to rescue the godly from
temptation, present
infinitive of r`u,omai
- which means to rescue, to
deliver from the edge of catastrophe;
Next is the who! the
godly euvsebh,j speaks of a manner of life lived reverently and
respectfully toward God devout, godly, here refers to believers
The Lord knows how to rescue or deliver the godly “from
temptation” evk out from peirasmoj is
used two ways;
(1) as God's examination of man, test, trial (1Pet 4.12);
no indication of result
(2) as enticement to sin, either from without or
within, temptation (Luk 4.13);
The Lord also knows how to
deal with the unrighteous.
and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for
the day of judgment,
- threw means
to keep under guard, to preserve for a purpose here for judgment
These unbelieving false
teachers are being guarded for punishment.
What about the day of judgment here? krisij is the word for judgment and
in view here is the GWTJ of unbelievers.
2:9 Then the Lord knows how to rescue the
godly (Believer) out from testing and to keep the unrighteous (UB) under
punishment for a day of judgment. (GWTJ)
Summary Observations:
1. Peter makes clear here
the timeless facts which he applies to the last days of the church age.
a. The Lord will
rescue the godly.
b. The Lord will
keep/guard the unrighteous for punishment.
2. If God has shown Himself
capable of judging temporally past apostasies (2:4-8) then He will do the same
for every generation of the church age but especially in the last generation
where these false teachers will arise.
3. The deliverance of the
believers of the last generation of the church age will occur at the rapture.
4. In the examples Noah
represented the advancing believer who is spiritually awake while
5. The testing here is not
referring to testing we experience in time as we noted in 1 Pet. Where we noted
that the means of deliverance in the test was by application of BD, truth as
you dealt with the test.
6. I take this phrase “to
rescue the godly (Believer) out from testing” to be technical for
the rapture occurring before the great tribulation.
- Reason being that there
are only 2 places where ek is used with testing here and
7. In the context the unrighteous refers to the
unbelieving false teachers that Peter is warning about. They will be kept or
guarded for punishment.
8. At death their soul and
spirit leaves the body and will be kept in Hades or sheol to await the last judgment,
the Great White Throne Judgment. Rev
20:11-15
- this is a place of torment, punishment Luke 16:23,28
9. In 2 Pet 3:7 we will see
that the heavens and the earth are also being kept for a day of judgment as are
these ungodly men.
With
and especially those who indulge the flesh
The picture painted by Peter here is that these false
teachers not only are pursuing after their sin natures but are eager to follow
its dictates or cravings.
in its corrupt desires and despise
authority.
- Point is
they despise and reject the center of the apostolic teaching which is the
authority of Christ whom they deny (vs:1).
2:9 Then the Lord knows how to rescue the
godly (Believer) out from testing and to keep the unrighteous (UB) under
punishment for a day of judgment. (GWTJ)
2:10a and especially the
ones who proceed after the flesh eagerly with its corrupting lust (of the
sin nature) and who continually despise authority.
Next Peter lists several
characteristics of these false teachers.
Daring, self-willed, they do
not tremble when they revile angelic majesties
they do not tremble when
they revile angelic majesties
- no word for
angelic majesties
doxaj that is glories [pl.]. kjv speak
evil of dignitaries.
- basic meaning
brightness, splendor, radiance; and we usually think of it in terms of the
essence and character of God. 1:3;
- it also is used
of the opinion and estimation in which one is held, repute; in the N.T. it always of a good opinion;
therefore reputation, praise, honor, glory.
Heb. 3:3;
- "glories" they blaspheme not just angels but any and
all who reflect glory, honor and a sound reputation, this would extend from God/F,
the Son, angels, and any one who reflects the divine norms and standards in
their life.
- These characteristics add up to one who does not honor
or respect the glory of God. But their
day in coming.
2:9 Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly
(Believer) out from testing and to keep the unrighteous (UB) under
punishment for a day of judgment. (GWTJ)
2:10a and especially the
ones who proceed after the flesh eagerly with its corrupting lust (of the
sin nature) and who continually despise authority. Daring, self
willed (arrogant) they do not tremble when blaspheming glories, (the
divine essence with emphasis on the person and work of Christ 2:1)
Observations:
1. Peter singles out here a
category of unbelieving false teacher who are especially the objects of God’s wrath.
2. One of the most blatant
indications of a rejection of God’s Word is their eager pursuit of the sin
nature’s lusts. Singled out here in context are sexual lust patterns.
- 2:2 “lasciviousness” avse,lgeia which speaks of unrestrained
pattern of living, no restraints. Most
often used of normal perversion of sex, promiscuity, adultery.
- 2:7 “sensual conduct of unprincipled men” this
is abnormal perversion, homosexuality.
3. Divine discipline is imminent when a nation reaches the stage where both
are tolerated and promoted.
4. These false teachers promote promiscuity as a way to gain influence over
others, they do so by distorting one’s freedom in Christ.
- Gal 5:1; 5:13
5. Point we must remember is
that Jesus Christ's work on the cross was designed to set us free!
- Free from condemnation of
spiritual death, eternal separation from God and free from slavery to the sin
nature, Rom 8:1, free from servitude to
sin nature.
- free from any and all systems of law
performance living, legalism.
6. They will boldly distort
God’s Word in order to exploit their followers not only to gain control over
them but also to satisfy their own sin nature lust pattern.
- those who are caught in
the web of false teachers who have rejected God and His word are those who
themselves have rejected the Word of God and are operating under their sin
nature’s rulership.
7. Since they are daring and
arrogant they fear no retribution from God as they blaspheme the glories, the
essence and character of Christ having rejected the one who bought them.
- but they will get theirs, you can count on it
8. Characteristics of the
false teachers noted so far:
a. Tied to the cults à having denied the master who bought them.
b. They are in it for the
money à
have an insatiable greed.
c. Approve and promote
sexual promiscuity.
d. They despise bonafide
authority.
e. They reject the
supernatural, buy into evolution.
- they operate on the
premise that they reject anything that the “educated” mind cannot comprehend.