2 Peter 2:20-22 False Prophets and False Teachers

2 Peter 2:20-22 is another passage many struggle with, because it does sounds like one can lose salvation.

²⁰For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Yeshua Messiah, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. ²¹For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. ²²But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

However, when this passage is studied in context from the beginning, it will be clear what Peter is writing about, 2 Peter 2:1.

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

From the beginning the context is false prophets and false teachers.  So what is a false prophet or false teacher?  It is the opposite of a true one.  Before one assumes that this is referring to someone who has lost their salvation, read Matthew 7:15 and Matthew 7:21-23.

¹⁵Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

 Matthew 7:21-23

²¹Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³And then will I profess unto them,  I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Yeshua does not state that he knew them once.  He states that he never knew them, depart from me.  These never had salvation.  These are people who profess, but do not posses.  It is not signs and wonders that authenticates a believer.  It is doing the will of the Father that is important; do not be fooled.

Listen to what Peter states about these individuals, 2 Peter 2:2-3:

²And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ³And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment (krima) now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

These are false prophets and false teachers, their words are not true.  Peter will make a comparison in 2 Peter 2:4-5.  He will juxtapose two different groups.

⁴For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell (tartaroo), and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment (krima); ⁵And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

 Peter compares the angels that sinned to righteous Noah.  Peter continues the comparison in 2 Peter 2:6-8.

 ⁶And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; ⁷And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: ⁸(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;

Peter is contrasting the sinners of Sodom and Gomorrha with just Lot.

2 Peter 2:9

⁹The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment (krisis) to be punished:

Two groups of people, God delivers the just, the godly and the unjust, unto the day of judgment.

2 Peter 2:10-11

¹⁰But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. ¹¹Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

Peter is now comparing the false prophets and the false teachers to angel that do not speak evil.  One will speak evil while the other will not.  False prophets and false teachers have no problem speaking against the government including the apostles and true teachers.  Something many did.  Peter now speaks about the false teachers and the unrighteous referred to above, 2 Peter 2:12-16.

¹²But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; ¹³And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; ¹⁴Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:  ¹⁵Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; ¹⁶But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

The false prophets and false teachers may claim to be righteous, but so many are driven by their lusts.  Whether it is for money or power, they do not walk the right way.  We see many like that even today.  They speak against the word of God and have persuaded many to follow them.

 2 Peter 2:17-18

¹⁷These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.  ¹⁸For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

These are minus the spirit of God.  Their words may draw people.  However, they are the ones that have brought us doctrines that are counter to the word of God.  Just a word of caution, just because one teaches or believes a false doctrine does not make them lost or a false teacher.  However, these described in 2 Peter are false prophets and false teachers.  They are not saved.

2 Peter 2:19

¹⁹While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

They promise liberty.  Yet, they are servants of corruption.  These are the false prophets and false teachers.  There are even those today that may promise liberty; however, they are NOT doing the will of the Father.  The will of the Father is simply, the Bible the spirit and truth of God.  It starts and ends with the Bible.

These false prophets and false teachers promise a lot; however, they are servants of corruption.  These do not sound like a born again believer.  They bring others into bondage.

Here is the problematic verse, 2 Peter 2:20.

²⁰For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Yeshua Messiah, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

These people escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Messiah.  We need to understand what it means to escape the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of Yeshua Messiah.

Matthew 12:43-45

⁴³ When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. ⁴⁴Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. ⁴⁵Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

In this passage, the last is worse than the first.  This just like in 2 Peter 2:20. So what is Yeshua talking about?  The unclean has gone out yet he is empty.  For one that is saved that should not sound right, because it is not.  A person that has salvation is not empty.  An individual who is born again is born of the Spirit of God.  When one is born of the Spirit, Ephesians 1:13 is true.

¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

A believer receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.  The believer is not empty, they have the in-filling.  However, these in 2 Peter are empty.

The question one should be asking is, then why do some teach that these are believers?  Because it states that they are kept from the pollution by the knowledge.  Are they believers because they have knowledge?  No way, knowledge alone is not sufficient, 2 Thessalonians 2:13.

¹³But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

It is the belief of the truth and sanctification of the spirit to have salvation.  This is why Peter tells us that the latter end is worse than the beginning.  There are plenty of people who have had an experience, but are not born again.  People that have had a healing or miracle, it is better to never have been involved.  Because it may mean a false sense of security or possibly rejection.

The truth is, even if one is not a believer; following the law, which many do not understand, will provide a hedge of protection.  However, the law cannot save you.  The Hedge is what is discussed in Job 1, Luke 13 and many other places.  Although not commonly understood or taught by many, the Law provides this hedge of protection.  One does not have to believe in it for it to work.  However, if one does not continue in the word; the  hedge will eventually disintegrate.  This is not about salvation, it is sanctification.

2 Peter 2:21

²¹For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

This is similar to what was discussed for Hebrews 6:4-6.  These people have only had a taste or glimpse of the truth.  Then the end, 2 Peter 2:22.

²²But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

God never likens his people to a sow, pig or a dog.  A washed pig is still a pig.

When one is born again, God does something, Ezekiel 36:25-26.

²⁵Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.  ²⁶A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

It states that God will take out the stony flesh and give the believer a heart of flesh.  God transplants a new heart.  They are no longer a sow. A washed sow goes right back to the mud puddle, because she is a sow.

2 Peter 2 rather than teaching that one can lose salvation, it is a warning to believers to be watchful of the false prophets and false teachers.

Finally 2 Peter 2:19:

¹⁹While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

These are servants of corruption.  1 Peter 1:23 states:

²³Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

If one is born of an incorruptible seed, they cannot be in the category of 2 Peter 2:19.  A servant of corruption is not born of the incorruptible seed.  These were never believers.

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