1–2 Peter: A 10-Day Devotional Reading PlanPrimjer

False Teachers

False prophets, or false teachers, are nothing new. They have always operated in and among God’s people, which Peter makes clear in verse 1. These false teachers spread what Peter calls “destructive heresies,” which are ideas that warp the truth about God. And Peter says that they do it “secretly” (v. 1). His point is that false teachers don’t announce that they are false. Instead, they gain ground by appealing to people’s desires, leading some to question the true goodness and power of God.

Reflection:

The false teachers in Peter’s day made headway because they appealed to people’s sensuality. They taught that believers could participate in sin and enjoy its pleasures with no consequences, and many were all too eager to believe it. Can you identify teaching of a sensual nature impacting Christians today?