False Teachers in Second Peter

The apostle Peter prophesied that there would be false teachers in the church at some point in the future from when he wrote. This is agreed upon by practically every commentator who has addressed this letter. But how far in the future? Let’s hear it from Peter himself. Take special note that Peter states the false teachers will affect his original readers (see the underlined portions).

2:1: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be [FUTURE TENSE] false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in [FUTURE TENSE] damnable heresies, denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2:2: and many shall follow [FUTURE TENSE] their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be [FUTURE TENSE] spoken evil of.

2:3: And through covetousness shall they [FUTURE TENSE] with feigned words make merchandise [FUTURE TENSE] of you, whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

3:3: Knowing this first, that there shall come [FUTURE TENSE] in the last of the days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.

Conclusion:

The false teachers spoken of by Peter had not yet been revealed when he wrote in AD 63-65, but would affect his original readers (see also 2 Peter 2:13 for another example).

Tomorrow, we will show how Jude fits into this whole discussion.

-Bradley Cobb

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