29/12/19 – 2 Peter 2:20-22
When we talk of false teachers, we generally think of those
who teach doctrinal heresies, doctrines of demons such as SDAs, mormons, extreme pentecostalism or calvinists. And certainly such are all included in the false teachers of 2
Peter 2, and more. But the description in 2 Peter 2:13-14 seems to
cover more than just doctrinal heresies: they that
count it pleasure (hedone) to riot
in the day time. Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves
with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling
unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed
children: For example,
“pleasure” here is hedonism, an enjoyment of pleasure for the sake of pleasure
itself. What all these false teachers do, however, is to drag Christians back
into the world from which they had escaped. For some it meant back to the false
worshipping of their past. For the Hebrews this meant being enticed from their episynagoge Christian meetings (see Hebrews 10:25) back to the temple and synagogue
worship; to return was to avoid the persecution of believers. For other Jews it
meant a return to the law-based religion of the pharisees (see Galatians).
But the
recipients of Peter’s epistle here were probably Gentiles who had been rescued
from their pagan-worshipping religions, or from a licentious life-style. False
teachers didn’t just teach false doctrines but also included those who taught
that the pleasure-filled life they’d escaped from was still the best option.
Perhaps those false teachers emphasised the lack of certainty of future
benefits as opposed to the pleasure of life right now. Perhaps they tried to
convince those escaped ones that they only had one life, so live it to the
full; how could they be assured of a better life ahead when they had to die to
find out for certain?
The false
teachers of 2 Peter 2 included all those who pretended to be like one of the
escaped ones (2 Peter 2:18) in order to entice back into their worldly fold as many as possible of
those escaped ones. After all, they were all satan’s teachers, and the
overriding goal of satan is to control! Everything satan does is in order to
control. He doesn’t worry what you become as long as you are one of his, as
long as he controls you! It matters little what the false teachers entice you
back to, as long as it is something satan and his demons
control.
There were
other types of false teachers who enticed believers into another sect belief
system by convincing them that the sect beliefs were somehow “better” than
their standard biblical beliefs. These included such as the synagogue of satan
(Smyrna and Philadelphia), the Nicolaitans (Ephesus and Pergamos), the doctrine
of Balaam (Pergamos), and that woman
Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants
to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols (Thyatira). Throw the Gnostics into
this mix, plus dozens of other false doctrines and you had a wide choice of
false teachings to chase after in the early church.
And today we
can throw calvinism in as a very deceptive lying doctrine that has much of the
appearance of being biblical without being the slightest bit biblical at all! However,
the one factor common to all was that they were intended to draw believers back
to satan and his lies and deceptions, and, most importantly, back under satan’s
control.
2 Peter 2:20 – For if after
they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the
latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
escaped – apopheugo (flee from;
escape [from]) from apo (of separation; of local separation; after verbs
of motion from a place i.e. of departing, of fleeing; from; out of) and pheugo (flee away; seek safety by flight)
It is in the second aorist tense. In aorist
tense the concept of the verb is considered without regard for past, present,
or future time. Online Bible says There
is no direct or clear English equivalent for this tense, though it is generally
rendered as a simple past tense in most translations. The common practice of
rendering an aorist by a simple English past tense should suffice in most
cases.
The "second aorist"
tense is identical in meaning and translation to the normal or
"first" aorist tense. The only
difference is in the form of spelling the words in Greek, and there is no
effect upon English translation.
Thus it is a completed
action, not in progress in the present. While it does not define the extent of
the escape that has been completed, it does state that the intended level of
escape has been achieved. Therefore, for some, this escape would mean further
away from recapture than for others. But they have “escaped from”
somewhere. The prefix apo- indicates a separation from one place to
another, not just a fleeing or escaping, but an actual “getting somewhere” as a
result of that fleeing. Here it means the separation of the person from the
corruptions of the world, and not just an action intended to eventually remove
the person from corruption.
www.dictionary.com says apo
is a prefix
occurring originally in loanwords from Greek, where it was joined to verbs,
deverbal forms, and other parts of speech. Among its functions in Greek, apo- has the spatial sense
“away, off, apart” (apogee;
apocope; apostasy; apostrophe) ….. In modern scientific
coinages in English and other languages, apo- marks things that are detached, separate, or derivative
(apocarpous;
apoenzyme).
pollutions – miasma
(that which defiles; defilement; foulness) This is its only occurrence in the
NT. Today we would use “miasma” to describe a rotten smell, such as swamp gas,
rotten egg gas etc. Doctors used to believe that miasmas caused diseases such
as cholera. Bad air caused sicknesses and that was why children got sick more
than adults: because they were closer to the ground where much of the rotting
material produced miasma.
world – kosmos Note that this word is incorrectly defined by calvinists in 1 John 2:2 as meaning “only those who believe”, rather than “the whole world”!
knowledge – epignosis (Its verb form – epiginosko – is used twice in the next verse.)
epignosis is used 4 times
in 2 Peter, where each time it refers to a deeper knowledge of God/Jesus
Christ. It is not likely that non-Christians would have such a knowledge,
especially when Peter says it of those who have “obtained like precious faith
with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:1).
the
knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2)
the
knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue (2 Peter 1:3)
the
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8)
the
knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 2:20)
epiginosko (the verb form)
is used twice in 2 Peter, both in 2 Peter 2:20 above. In both cases it refers to having a thorough knowledge of
righteousness (that is, according to the biblical definition of righteousness,
without which no-one may enter heaven).
2 Peter also uses the word gnosis (knowledge)
3 times as follows:
And beside this, giving all
diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge (gnosis); And to knowledge (gnosis) temperance; and to temperance
patience; and to patience godliness; (2 Peter 1:5-6)
In these verses it may be seen more as
discernment rather than the deeper, more thorough form of knowledge of epignosis.
But grow in grace, and [in]
the knowledge (gnosis) of
our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18) where gnosis is more of a benediction rather than a statement
of fact concerning their level of knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Lord – kyrios (he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which
he has power of deciding; master; lord)
the latter end – eschatos (extreme; last in time or place; last in a series
of places; last in temporal succession; last in time, space; last in rank or
worth, i.e. the lowest) It has the idea of being your final situation or
position; you’ll be here until the day you die! When it says that the end is
worse, it also means that there’s no option to change anything after that! Once
you fall away, that is your final station in life: fallen! It is your eschatos! Final!
the beginning – protos
(first in time or place; first in rank; chief; principal; first) It is the
opposite of eschatos. In Revelation 22:13 Jesus is called the
first (protos) and
the last (eschatos).
Are these Christians or are they merely
those who act, talk and behave like Christians but are actually not Christians?
Many choose to describe them as non-Christians. Note that these people have
escaped the world’s corruption via the knowledge of Jesus Christ who is Lord
and Saviour. (Even the use of “Saviour” should mean that these people are
saved!) But due to the enticements of these false teachers they become involved
once again in the world’s corruptions; and they end up in a worse state than
they were in before they escaped.
Note 2 Peter 1:4 – Whereby are given unto us exceeding
great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
They would have been better to have never
escaped in the first place (see Vs 21 below). It is indeed difficult to see
these as non-Christians.
2 Peter 2:21 – For 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.
have known (2 times) – epiginosko (to become thoroughly acquainted with; to know
thoroughly; to know accurately; know well)
to turn from – epistrepho (to turn to or
from; to turn one’s self about; turn back; return; come back) Used for “turned
…. again” in Vs 22 below.
It would be bad if you didn’t escape the
corruptions of the world and never knew the way of righteousness, but that
would still be far better than knowing and escaping such corruptions and then
falling away again, never to be able to escape a second time. That is, you only
have one chance to escape! For once you return to the world, you are eschatos – your final situation! (See “the
latter end” in Vs 20 above)
the holy
commandment delivered unto them – that ye should earnestly contend for
the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 1:3) Such a faith
should have been contended for, but to surrender to the world again was to
ignore the holy commandment.
2 Peter 2:22 – But 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.
turned …. again – epistrepho As used for “turned
from”
in Vs 21 above.
washed – louo (wash; bathe; used of washing dead bodies; washing to cleanse blood out
of wounds) Used in the following:
Revelation 1:5b – Unto him that
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, This has the idea
of being washed, purged from sins as per 2 Peter 1:9.
John 13:10a – Jesus saith to him,
He that is washed (louo) needeth not save to wash (nipto – to wash one’s self) [his] feet, but is clean
every whit: (nipto was more
commonly used for everyday washing of one’s self)
Hebrews 10:22 – Let us draw
near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled
from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed (louo) with pure water.
mire – or dung
Departing from the holy commandment (Vs 21 above)
is taught as the equivalent of a dog returning to eat its own vomit, and a sow
that is washed clean returning to its filthy wallowing again. Such images are
difficult to apply to any other than those washed in the blood, purged from
their sins (2 Peter 1:9).
Many explain
this passage as referring to those who have attended church for a long time,
learned much of the Bible, do many of the good works associated with
Christians, yet never were Christians at any time. If they should turn away
from such a knowledge of righteousness, then their end is worse than the
beginning, for eschatos (“the latter end”) in Vs 20 above is clear: there is no further option after that! “the latter end” here is their final situation; this can only mean that they won’t ever
have another chance to learn further of the way of righteousness. I find
nothing in the Bible to teach that one would be eternally lost if one forewent
all that teaching and departed for the world for a season, especially when
alleged Christians can depart from such knowledge (backslide) for a season, and
then return! This would then teach that God permits Christians to sin and be
forgiven, but doesn’t permit non-Christians the same option! The Bible teaches
that those who actively oppose God will be reprobated (Romans 1:28) and the false teachers in today’s
passage are certainly depicted as those who actively rebel for the sake of
rebellion itself. But these escaped ones have turned away from their knowledge
of righteousness, back to the world again. They have followed those false
teachers through deception. Clearly the false teachers deserve reprobation, but
those who are led away from righteousness by these false teachers don’t appear
to warrant such a final cutting-off if they weren’t genuine Christians in the
first place. (Especially if back-slidden Christians are to be permitted a
second chance!)
To declare
these as non-Christians and punish them so severely for not getting saved is in
marked contrast to the way God treats Christians. Christians can turn away from
their knowledge of righteousness, yet may be permitted to repent and be
restored. But, if these who fall away are non-Christians (who allegedly have
less such knowledge), then are they to be treated with no mercy and no grace? Those
non-Christians who fall away here will never be able to return because they
will fall into their final situation/state of life (eschatos).
This teaching does seem to be very calvinistic indeed! The calvinist God only
loves his own elect! Only the elect may have access to their God’s mercy and
grace! No others may apply!
Imagine two
church members, both seemingly good Christians, both widely accepted as genuine
Christians in their church community. Then both fall away, back into the world.
Some of the other church members might say that they weren’t genuine Christians
in the first place, and some also might say that now they have fallen, they
won’t be back. Others might say that they were merely backslidden Christians;
that if they made a genuine commitment to become Christians, then they cannot
be lost, ever. However, time will tell, they say, but that there is no clear
evidence to point to one view and not the other. Then one of the two returns to
the church, to full-on Christian behaviour again, and remains a good Christian
after that. The other remains in the world, apparently never coming back. So what was the difference between the two? They both
exhibited the same Christian witness before they fell, and they both fell in
similar fashion. Why did one return and the other remain “lost”?
It seems that
the only way to discern the difference between the two views is to wait and see
what these people do. If we take the “once-saved-always-saved” (OSAS) view,
then a Christian can’t be lost, ever, once he has made a decision to be saved.
If he falls away, he will return; end of story! But if he didn’t make a
genuine decision, then if he falls away, he can never return, ever again, if
popular teaching about today’s passage is true. Thus a
Christian will return; a non-Christian will not return. In this way many will determine
the difference between the two.
This
introduces a serious question of double standards in their God’s judgment, for
according to the standard OSAS view, Christians can fall away and their God
will always permit them to return, in fact, in the end, he will always arrange
their guaranteed return. But if they are not Christians but merely wannabee
Christians, then God will drop them like the proverbial hot potato if they
should dare “fall away” from their Christian worship while yet a non-Christian.
That is, a OSAS Christian is guaranteed heaven forever
no matter how much he backslides, yet a non-Christian is only permitted one
attempt to get to heaven, and will never be given a second chance! Sounds like
rough justice to me! The Christian is given all favour while the non-Christian
had better watch his step! It paints a picture of a God who only really loves
his elect while the non-elect are given only one
chance. That is, Christians can never be struck out while non-Christians have
only one strike and they’re out! There is something terribly wrong with this
kind of logic.
It does seem
more logical (and biblical too) to require Christians to commit themselves
fully to God before they are to be permitted such guaranteed existence in
heaven. Why should people be given a 100% guarantee for heaven if they cannot
give themselves 100% into serving the God who has saved them to the uttermost? Why
should they love the world when they should be loving God? The Christian is a
citizen of heaven; and the non-Christian is a citizen of the world. But far too
many Christians want to hold dual citizenship; they want the future guaranteed
without giving up their present pleasures. OSAS should really only apply to
those future citizens of heaven if they have cancelled their citizenship in the
world. If you have dual citizenship, then you continue to have a choice between
the two options. While you retain that choice, you are always at risk of
choosing to return to the world you left behind. But you cannot be a disciple
of Jesus nor are you worthy of Him if you do not take up your cross of
suffering, deny yourself (that includes your right of continued access of the
world you should have left behind), and follow Jesus.
It does seem
as if churches today are trying far too hard to justify their pleasures of this
world without losing their Christian status. What would happen if they told the
truth: that if you aren’t prepared to forsake the world, then you cannot be a
disciple of Jesus (Luke 14:27), and if you refuse to take up your cross and follow Jesus you cannot
be guaranteed entry into heaven because Jesus declares you unworthy of Him (Matthew 10:38).
Just being
saved by genuinely praying a simple prayer might save you and get your name
written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. God promises to save you and He will not
break His promise. Your faith in God’s character as one who will always do what
He promises is justified. However all this is to get
the benefits for the person who is saved. But what does God get out of such a
covenant? Doesn’t He desire your service, your worship, your obedience?
So, to ensure
your salvation for eternity, here are the conditions I believe are necessary.
Being written in the Book of Life is one thing, but why were some at Sardis
promised that their names would not be blotted out of the Book of Life if it
were impossible to do otherwise?
Revelation 3:5 – He that overcometh,
the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name
out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and
before his angels.
Clearly it is
possible to be assured of your eternal salvation, for these people were so
assured. But then, is it possible for some to not be so assured? The answer
logically has to be “Yes!” So what’s the difference?
There were a few at the church of Sardis who had not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are
worthy. (Revelation 3:4) (Cf Matthew 10:38) Clearly others were not worthy!
Therefore, I
believe that having your name in the Book of Life is not necessarily sufficient
for eternity. If you are saved yet do not give up the world, do not deny
yourself, do not take up your cross of suffering, do not fully follow Jesus,
then you are not worthy of Christ and you can not
be His disciple! This is what Jesus Himself taught! Do not fool yourself into
thinking that because you’ve prayed the sinner’s prayer you are now set for
heaven! That you can now really enjoy the world because you’ve got your eternal
life insurance in place! That you have the right to choose!
Then think
again!
Luke 9:23-27 – 23And he said to [them] all, If
any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross daily, and follow me. 24For whosoever will save his life shall
lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25For
what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world,
and lose himself, or be cast away? 26For whosoever shall be ashamed
of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall
come in his own glory, and [in his] Father’s, and of the holy angels. 27But
I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of
death, till they see the kingdom of God.
Luke 14:27 – And whosoever doth not bear his cross,
and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:33 – So likewise, whosoever he be of
you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be
my disciple.
Matthew 10:38 – And he that taketh not his cross,
and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
So the
remedy? Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which
is] your reasonable service.
What you
control, you can lose; what God controls you can never lose! Psalm 127:1 – Except
the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord
keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in
vain.
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