THE BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF FALSE TEACHERS

BASED ON 2ND PETER AND JUDE

A Paper

Presented To

Dr. Steve Sullivan

College of Biblical Studies

In Partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements for the Final Grade

BIBL 1323 General Epistles and Revelation

By

Benito Sanchez Jr

June 19, 2018

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 2

Audience and Purpose ......................................................................................................... 2

Old Testament References ................................................................................................... 2

Examples of Judgement ................................................................................................... 3

Examples of Straying ...................................................................................................... 3

Theology of False Teachers................................................................................................. 4

Denial of Jesus Christ ...................................................................................................... 5

Introduction of Destructive Heresies ............................................................................... 6

Characteristics of False Teachers ........................................................................................ 7

Creep In Unnoticed.......................................................................................................... 7

Revile ............................................................................................................................... 8

Gone Astray ..................................................................................................................... 9

Animal instincts ............................................................................................................... 9

Deception ....................................................................................................................... 10

Devoid of the Spirit ....................................................................................................... 11

Conclusion ......................................................................................................................... 12

Bibliography ...................................................................................................................... 13
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INTRODUCTION

The topic of false teachers, while present throughout the Bible, is perhaps given no

greater singular emphases than in 2nd Peter and Jude. Peter offered an entire chapter on this

subject matter, while Jude focused his entire attention solely on this subject. Since both of these

letters offer similar content, a good understanding of what a false teacher is can be derived from

studying these two letters. Doing so is important, since it is crucial that a Christian understand

what a false teacher is, what their theology is, and how they operate. This essay will explore all

that God has revealed about false teachers within the second letter of Peter and Jude, and at the

end, a definition for false teacher will be given based on this information.

AUDIENCE AND PURPOSE

Both of these letters are thought to be written for similar audiences and with similar

purposes. At the very least, both of these letters were written to congregations with mixed Jewish

and Gentile Christians1. The references to Old Testament events suggest that they were Jewish

believers, since they would have understood these references with ease. The second chapter of

2nd Peter and Jude specifically were written to warn these believers of false teachers who had

made their way into the church (Jude 4). It has been suggested that in the case of Jude, he was

warning against gnostic-influenced teachers who taught lasciviousness and promoted a freedom

of indulgence2.

OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES

Both letters make references to Old Testament events in order to compare situations in

the Old Testament with situations relevant to the audience of these letters. Both Peter and Jude

1
John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: an Exposition of the Scriptures
(Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1983-1985), 862.
2
Ibid., 919
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“saw all heretical teachers as direct successors of the false prophets of the Old Testament3.”

Therefore, it is important to have proper understanding of these events in order to understand the

applications used by Peter and Jude.

EXAMPLES OF JUDGEMENT

Both 2nd Peter and Jude reference Sodom and Gomorrah. These cities, as well as the

surrounding cities, were those destroyed in Genesis 19 as a result of their blatant immorality.

This reference “serves as a dreadful example of what happens to those who turn from God to

follow their own lustful natures.” The inclusion of Lot by Jude is also meant to remind those true

believers who are suffering at the hands of false teachers of God’s promise of deliverance.

The reference to Noah by Peter is similar to the reference of Sodom and Gomorrah. God

will not withhold judgement from those who have strayed away from the truth. In Genesis 6,

God destroys mankind through a flood as a result of their terrible acts of sin. Other similar

references include the reference to the angelic rebellion (referenced by both) and the reference to

God’s judgement of Israel after they left Egypt (referenced by Jude). In all of these cases, the

ones who strayed were the recipients of God’s rightful judgement. Peter and Jude reference these

events to show that false teachers will meet similar fates. So without having developed the actual

essence of false teachers in this paper, one can understand that it is a very serious subject matter.

EXAMPLES OF STRAYING

Both books also make reference to the passage of the Old Testament prophet Balaam. 2nd

Peter 2:15 states “having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of

unrighteousness” while Jude 11 states, “they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam.”

3
Tremper Longman, The Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books,
2013), 571.
 4

Both mention Balaam, although for different reasons. While the way of Balaam as stated in Peter

will be discussed later, it is important to understand what the error of Balaam was, as written by

Jude. “The error of Balaam here in Jude is that he thought God would have to punish Israel for

their sins4.” Since Balak was looking for a way to curse Israel, Balaam assumed that by causing

them to sin it would be inviting God’s curse upon them. “Balaam did not understand that God

would forgive the nation Israel when they turned to Him5.” He did not have a basic

understanding of God’s forgiveness. Jude uses this to suggest that just as Balaam believed this

error, so did many of the false teachers. In other words, what they believed about God was an

error. They were trying to understand “by instinct, like unreasoning animals” (Jude 10) what can

only be understood by faith.

Balaam’s error can be explained as “straying”. Balaam knew the truth and chose to stray

from it. Other examples of straying are given by Jude in Cain (who strayed in his sacrifice) and

Korah (who strayed from God’s chosen leader). In all of these cases, the “straying” can also be

categorized as a “rebellion”. Thus, by alluding to these Old Testament passages, Peter and Jude

are stating that those teachers who stray are actively rebelling against God.

THEOLOGY OF FALSE TEACHERS

While the majority of the time in 2nd Peter and Jude is spent on the character of false

teachers, some mention is also made on their theology. Even though less time is given to their

theology, it should not be counted as less valuable. One’s theology will always determine how a

person lives their life. Therefore, understanding the theology of false teachers will help better

explain why false teachers have the character that they have.

4
J Vernon (John Vernon) McGee, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon Mcgee, vol. 5, Thru the Bible with J.
Vernon Mcgee, Volume 5 (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc, 1981), 863.
5
Ibid.
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DENIAL OF JESUS CHRIST

Both 2nd Peter and Jude make it clear that these false teachers, who have crept into the

church, deny Jesus Christ. Unlike Peter’s denial, which was a bitter mistake caused by his

impulsivity, false teachers’ denial is doctrinal in nature; in other words, they deny “the person

and authority of Jesus Christ6”. This is noted in Peter’s choice to use the word “master”, or lord.

This word depicts supreme authority, and Peter uses it to show that “false teachers deny the

sovereign lordship of Jesus Christ7”. Practically, this means that false teachers do not live a life

submitted to Christ. Doctrinally, this means that they deny orthodoxy regarding Christology

(virgin birth, bodily resurrection, etc.).

Some debate exists over the passage in 2nd Peter 2, which states that one of the

characteristics of false teachers is that they deny “the very Master who bought them”. The

controversy presents itself when one believes in the eternal security of the believer, for how can

one deny Christ if they have already been bought by him? If one cannot lose their salvation, then

what did Peter mean when he stated that Christ “bought” them? The most probable explanation

is that Peter is not using the word “bought” in the regenerative sense, but that “Christ paid the

redemptive price for their salvation, [and] they did not apply it to themselves and so were not

saved8”. It is known from other passages (Heb. 6:4-9) that it is possible to experience and

participate in the works of the Holy Spirit and still choose to reject the truth. It seems most

probable, then, that Peter is referring to the same type of people referenced in Hebrews 6:4-9,

6
John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, 920.
7
John MacArthur, The Macarthur Bible Commentary: Unleashing God's Truth, One Verse at a Time
(Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005), 1933.
8
John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, 870.
 6

those who are part of the church and have grown in the church, yet have chosen to willfully

abandon the faith that was within their grasp yet never obtained.

INTRODUCTION OF DESTRUCTIVE HERESIES

Peter makes emphasis on the way false teachers introduce heresy. They do so secretly, so

that one is almost unaware of the heretical nature of their doctrine. By heresy it is not meant that

they had certain disagreements over secondary issues that, while important, have no effect on the

salvific status of the congregation. By heresy it is meant that these false teachers were

introducing topics that were affecting the very doctrinal foundation of the church9. These

teachers were also not ignorant of the truth, but knew the truth and chose to reject it in favor of

their doctrine10. In other words, these false teachers were not acting out of ignorance, such as

Peter when he was rebuked by Paul (Gal. 2:11), or Apollos when he was corrected by Priscilla

and Aquila (Acts 18:26). In both cases, these men allowed themselves to be corrected for they

were true believers who allowed themselves to be led and corrected by the Holy Spirit. False

teachers cannot experience this since they do not have the Holy Spirit (Jude 19). These false

teachers that Peter described were acting out of a rejection of the truth. A false teacher, then, will

reject true Christian orthodoxy for foreign teachings that will break the foundation of the church.

Once one rejects the central tenants of Christology, as false teachers do, then all other orthodox

doctrines are easier to distort. It is also important to note the nature of these heresies: they are

destructive. The use of the word “destructive” means damnation and it is used to signify the final

damnation these heresies cause11.

9
Thomas L. Constable, Notes on Jude, 2017, 31.
10
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: the Complete New Testament in One Volume,
2nd ed. (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007), 938.
11
John MacArthur, 1933.
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While both Peter and Jude bring up the heresies of false teachers, Jude focused on one

particular heresy. One of the destructive heresies that false teachers were introducing during the

time the letter was written was the false teaching known as antinomianism. These false teachers

were claiming that God’s grace provided enough freedom from laws and rules that one was free

to do as they wished. They turned the freedom gained from God’s grace into “licentiousness”,

which is defined as “wantonness, absence of moral restraint, indecency12”. This was partially the

error of Balaam, who caused Israel to commit acts of immorality, which both Jude and Peter

make reference to. In other words, doctrinally speaking, false teachers abuse the grace of God

and believed that one can give in to the desires of the flesh because of this freedom.

CHARACTERISTICS OF FALSE TEACHERS

Most of the time in 2nd Peter and Jude is spent describing the characteristics of false

teachers. Although not every single characteristic will be discussed in length, a few major

characteristics will be developed in order to have a well-rounded understanding of which

characteristics are possessed by false teachers.

CREEP IN UNNOTICED

Both Peter and Jude make it a point that false teachers do not come from the outside, but

from among those who appear to be believers, whether it be from current congregations or other

similar congregations. Peter’s argument is backed up by his allusion to the Old Testament false

prophets, who “rose out of Israel, not from surrounding peoples13.” In other words, false teachers

are deceptive in nature. They appear to be true believers and if one is not careful, one can allow

12
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: the Complete New Testament in One Volume,
2nd ed. (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007), 1023.
13
John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, 869.
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them to operate within the church without realization that they are counterfeits. These

counterfeits are unbelievers who were “long before hand marked for condemnation” (Jude 4).

REVILE

Both Jude and Peter point out that false teachers “revile angelic beings”. The word

“revile” in both Jude and Peter is blasphémeó, which means to “speak evil against, blaspheme,

use abusive or scurrilous language about14.” In other words, one of the characteristics of the first

century false teacher was that they spoke evil against or used abusive language against angelic

beings. Jude expands this by alluding to the Old Testament event where Michael the archangel

did not revile the devil, but rather conceded judgement to the Lord. Jude contrasts this with false

teachers, for they do revile against angelic beings. “The point of contrast is that Michael could

not reject the devil's accusation on his own authority… All he could do was ask the Lord, who

alone is judge, to condemn Satan for his slander. The moral is therefore that no one is a law to

himself15.”

False teachers, then, reject authority and take it upon themselves to blaspheme and

confront angelic beings. They are not careful with the way the talk about angelic beings. One

must not take the liberty and victory held in Christ and use it licentiously and without regard. If

Michael, who is an archangel, did not dare rebuke the devil, but conceded that judgement to the

Lord, then Christians cannot usurp that power unto themselves16. This is what false teachers do.

14
"Strong's Greek: 987. βλασφημέω (blasphémeó) -- to Slander, Hence to Speak Lightly or Profanely of
Sacred Things," , accessed June 19, 2018, http://biblehub.com/greek/987.htm.
15
Thomas L. Constable, Notes on Jude, 15
16
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: the Complete New Testament in One Volume,
2nd ed. (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007), 1027.
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GONE ASTRAY

Only Peter makes reference to the fact that the false teachers he encountered had “gone

astray” although both Peter and Jude make reference to the subsequent topic of Balaam. Peter

mentions it as the way of Balaam, while Jude mentions it as the error of Balaam, as stated

earlier.

In the Old Testament story, Balaam was a false prophet who, by opportunity of the king

Balak, caused Israel to sin by leading them to commit sexual immorality. Peter references this

passage to show how in that same manner, false teachers also lead their congregations away to

practice similar sinful acts. Just as Balaam’s motive was greed, so are false teachers motivated

by greed. True spiritual leaders are motivated by service and love, while false leaders are

motivated by personal gain. “By advocating unrighteousness, they gained followers and profited

personally17.” False teachers, then, stray from the truth by seeking personal gain. Their purpose

is not to lead a holy people, but to gain earthly, temporary rubbish.

Of those who turned away from the way, Peter writes, “it would be better for them not to

have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy

commandment handed on to them” (v. 21). False teachers cannot plead ignorance; their willful

departure from the faith will have no excuse on the day of judgement.

ANIMAL INSTINCTS

Both Peter and Jude connect the animal-like instincts of false teachers to the “reveling of

angelic beings”. It was already discussed that false teachers blaspheme angelic beings by taking

it upon themselves to judge what is not theirs to judge. Now, both Peter and Judge attribute their

17
Thomas L. Constable, Notes on 2nd Peter, 39.
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reveling to their animal-like instincts. In the case of Jude, he states that “But these men revile the

things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct” (v.10). Jude

uses two similar words, understand and know, and it is important to make a distinction between

the two.

The Greek word for understand is oida, which refers to “mental comprehension and

knowledge… referring to the whole range of invisible things18.” In other words, oida is having a

deeper understanding than that which is just visible. There is a dimensional aspect to this type of

knowledge. On the other hand, the Greek word for know is epistamai, which refers to the

understanding of “palpable things; objects of sense; the circumstances of sensual enjoyment19.”

In other words, epistamai is knowledge based on empiricism if a modern epistemological term is

to be used. Thus, Jude is contrasting two types of knowledge. Oida is that knowledge which in a

spiritual sense is gained through the Holy Spirit, while epistamai is knowledge gained through

the human experience. Therefore, when Jude states that false teachers act from animal instincts,

he is highlighting their carnal characteristics. They do not have spiritual comprehension, rather,

they simply act based on their own concupiscence. “Their gospel was a gospel of the flesh20.”

This can be seen in other characteristics assigned to them, such as “lustful” (Jude 16), “indulging

of the flesh” (v.8), “sensual” (2 Pet. 2:2), and “eyes of adultery” (v. 14). False teachers are led by

the flesh, not by the Spirit.

DECEPTION

Both Peter and Jude make reference to the deceitful nature of false teachers. In 2nd Peter,

it is stated that these apostates “carouse with you”, implying that their participation in the body

18
J Vernon (John Vernon) McGee, 862.
19
Ibid.
20
Thomas L. Constable, Notes on Jude, 16.
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of Christ is unacceptable, as a blemish is on a sacrificial animal (Lev. 1:3). However, because

they are participating, they are deceiving those who believe that they are true believers. This can

make it very difficult to detect a false teacher if one is not aware of what to look for. Jude states

something similar. He states that “they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining

an advantage” (v. 16). In other words, “they are great at applauding others- and they say a lot of

things which are not true- because they are looking to men for their promotion, their

advantage21.” Thus, detecting a false teacher can be a difficult task. Many times they say the

right things, yet act in a manner that pleases the flesh and not the spirit.

DEVOID OF THE SPIRIT

Jude makes one final declaration regarding false teachers: they are “devoid of the Spirit”

(v. 19). One cannot be a believer and not have the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9). Therefore, false

teachers are not believers. Throughout the letter, Jude describes many characteristics belonging

to false teachers, yet at the end, he ties it all together by revealing that false teachers are

unregenerate. This is why false teachers revile angels, act with animal instincts, deceive others,

and have gone astray; they were never regenerate in the first place (Matt. 7:23). Therefore, one

can detect a false teacher by the way their ministry functions. A worldly-minded ministry will

always glorify man, but a Spirit-led ministry will always glorify Jesus Christ22. Therefore the

easiest way to detect a false teacher is to look at their ministry and ask, “Does this ministry

glorify man or does it glorify Jesus Christ?”

21
J Vernon (John Vernon) McGee, 867.
22
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: the Complete New Testament in One Volume,
2nd ed. (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007), 1031.
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CONCLUSION

Now that various key passages in this essay have been expanded upon, a proper

definition can be given for “false teachers”. A false teacher is a leader who, whether in doctrine

or in action, denies the Lordship of Jesus Christ, who holds doctrine incapable of producing

godly living, and whose character reflects that of an unregenerate person. Both the second

chapter of 2nd Peter and Jude take the time to expand on this definition by providing various

examples and explanations of the character of false teachers. Both chapters also end in a positive

note, however. Even though false teachers threaten the church, true believers can rest confident

in the promises of God, that He who rescued Lot and Noah from a sensual generation will also

rescue those who remain steadfast in their walk with God.

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

Constable, Thomas L. Notes on Jude. 2017.

Constable, Thomas L. Notes on 2nd Peter. 2017.

Longman, Tremper. The Baker Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker
Books, 2013.

MacArthur, John. The Macarthur Bible Commentary: Unleashing God's Truth, One Verse at a
Time. Nashville, Tenn.: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2005.

McGee, J Vernon (John Vernon). Thru the Bible with J. Vernon Mcgee. Vol. 5, Thru the Bible
with J. Vernon Mcgee, Volume 5. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, Inc, 1981.

"Strong's Greek: 987. βλασφημέω (blasphémeó) -- to Slander, Hence to Speak Lightly or

Profanely of Sacred Things." Accessed June 19, 2018.
http://biblehub.com/greek/987.htm.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: an Exposition of the
Scriptures. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1983-1985.

Wiersbe, Warren W. The Wiersbe Bible Commentary: the Complete New Testament in One
Volume. 2nd ed. Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2007.