Three Safeguards Against Spiritual Con Men – 2 Peter 2:1-2,14-22
2 But there also were false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will subtly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them—bringing swift destruction upon themselves. (2) Many will follow their licentious conduct, because of whom the way of truth will be maligned…
(14) With eyes full of adultery and an insatiable appetite for sin, they seduce unstable souls. Having a heart that has been trained by greed, they are accursed children. (15) Having abandoned the right way, they have gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages to be gained by wrongdoing. (16) But he was rebuked for his transgression: a dumb donkey, speaking with a man’s voice, restrained the madness of the prophet.
(17) These men are wells without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. (18) Making great claims that are worthless, by the sensual passions of the flesh they seduce those who are just escaping from those who live in error. (19) They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity; for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.
(20) If those who are escaping the corruptions of the world (by the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ) are overcome by once again becoming involved in those corruptions, this last condition has become worse for them than the previous one. (21) It would have been better for them not to have become acquainted with the way of righteousness, rather than, having become acquainted with it, to turn back from the holy commandment that was delivered to them. (22) The true proverb applies to them: “A dog returns to its own vomit; and a sow, after bathing, returns to wallowing in the mud.”
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
