Wolves Among Us: Destructive Doctrines

2 Peter 2:1 NKJV

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2 Peter 2:1

As I stated at the beginning of this series, much of the NT was written to combat false doctrine in the church. And, here, Peter is warning us about false teachers. And in , Paul is telling us that this problem will get even worse before the end of the age. And, yet, many Christians naively go to church and listen to teaching without giving a second thought to WOLVES and if what they’re listening to is even truth.

We can’t use verse 1 as “evidence” that we no longer need prophets. There’s too much NT text on the importance of the office of prophet and prophecy in the church including Paul’s encouragement to desire to prophesy above any other gift. Peter isn’t excluding prophets in the church but he is pointing out that the main issue for us is FALSE TEACHING. But let me point out a couple of things on the prophecy aspect.

First, the Passion reveals that “false prophets” are “pretend prophets [that] birthed themselves.” There was no calling or commission from the Lord. They simply began calling themselves prophets and prophesying out of their own wills.

2 Peter 1:20–21 NKJV

knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

True prophets, specifically the ones that wrote the holy Scriptures, spoke as they were moved by Holy Spirit.

2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

The word inspiration means “God breathed.” The writer was influenced by God. And the INTERPRETATION must also be INSPIRED BY HOLY SPIRIT, THE AUTHOR OF THE WORD! Listen to the Passion:

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 1

20 You must understand this at the outset: Interpretation of scriptural prophecy requires the Holy Spirit, for it does not originate from someone’s own imagination. 21 No true prophecy comes from human initiative but is inspired by the moving of the Holy Spirit upon those who spoke the message that came from God.

The Spirit interprets the Spirit’s words. Just like there were false prophets who birthed themselves as prophets; there are false teachers that birthed themselves as teachers. They are interpreting scripture out of their own imagination. The imagination is a part of the soul. I.E. INSTEAD OF INTERPRETING THE WORD USING THE SPIRIT, THEY ARE USING THEIR SOUL BECAUSE THEY ARE SOULISH.

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 2

In the past there arose false prophets among God’s people, just as there will continue to be false teachers who will secretly infiltrate in your midst to divide you, bringing with them their destructive heresies.

These self-proclaimed soulish false teachers were “secretly infiltrating” (and will continue to do so) the church TO DIVIDE IT. Their weapon is false doctrine. A false teacher isn’t just one who claims to be one and isn’t. They must also teach falsehood that divides. Secretly means “to cause something to happen by introducing factors from outside…who will cause divisions which greatly harm people.” These come in illegally, not true shepherds or teachers but thieves, using heresy to steal, kill, and destroy others and institutions.

These come in illegally, not true shepherds, teachers, using heresy that is intended to bring ruin to the hearer and destroy institutions.

And here is where it gets interesting. The word “deny” referring to “denying the Lord.” is a Greek word that only relates to a person meaning you can’t deny a hamburger or a workout. This Greek word is only denying a person. It “implies a PREVIOUS relationship of obedience and fidelity. It can only take place where there has first been acknowledgement and commitment.” We can’t use this word to refer to the Jews denying Christ because there was no relationship or commitment but we can of Peter denying Him.

This means that this person, the false teacher, the wolf, at some point had a relationship with Christ, was obedient and faithful, and commited but somewhere along the way, they began to deny Him in word and deed.

The seeds of destruction they sowed will produce swift destruction upon themselves.

These are obviously demonically inspired, and, yet, I believe oblivious to this fact and deceived. That’s what makes deception so dangerous. YOU DON’T KNOW YOU’RE DECEIVED. Again, I feel offense is a huge factor. The real culprit behind the infiltration is the enemy. It goes back to the idea of DIVIDING.

Matthew 12:25 NKJV

But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

Listen to the Passion:

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 12

Now, Jesus supernaturally perceived their thoughts and motives, so he confronted them by telling them this parable:

“Any kingdom that fights against itself will end up in ruins. And any family or community splintered by strife will fall apart.

Remember how grumbler means “talebearer” and according to Proverbs you remove strife if you remove the talebearer? THIS IS A WELL-USED TACTIC OF THE ENEMY. He uses gossip, factions, and false doctrine to divide. ONE OF THE THINGS THE LORD TOLD ME TO IMMEDIATELY FIRE SOMEONE FOR WAS STRIFE. You have to nip it in the bud quick!

Again, this begs the question, do they know or are they so deceived they don’t know? Yes.

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 2

Many will follow immoral lifestyles. Because of these corrupt false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. 3 They are only out for themselves, ready to exploit you for their own gain through their cunning arguments. Their condemnation has been a long time coming. But their destruction does not slumber or sit idly by, for it is sure to come.

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 2

Many will follow immoral lifestyles. Because of these corrupt false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.

Slandered means “to harm or injure” a reputation. By these false teachers’ outrageous behaviors and doctrines, the church’s reputation suffers harm as well as Father’s. That’s why swift destruction is necessary. If they’re allowed to continue, they can cause much damage in a short amount of time.

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 2

They are only out for themselves, ready to exploit you for their own gain through their cunning arguments. Their condemnation has been a long time coming. But their destruction does not slumber or sit idly by, for it is sure to come.

In the NKJV, it’s “by covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words.” Covetousness means “to take advantage of someone, usually the result of a motivation of greed.” It’s a hunger for more, hunger for power, to take a greater share, to seek political gain (was very much tied to a political role), and to press to one’s advantage.” In plain words, GREED.

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 2

Now, don’t forget, God had no pity for the angels when they sinned but threw them into the lowest, darkest dungeon of gloom and locked them in chains, where they are firmly held until the judgment of torment.

5 And he did not spare the former world in the days of Noah when he sent a flood to destroy a depraved world (although he protected Noah, the preacher of righteousness, along with seven members of his family).

6 And don’t forget that he reduced to ashes the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, condemning them to ruin and destruction. God appointed them to be examples as to what is coming to the ungodly. 7 Yet he rescued a righteous man, Lot, suffering the indignity of the unbridled lusts of the lawless. 8 For righteous Lot lived among them day after day, distressed in his righteous soul by the rebellious deeds he saw and heard.

9 If the Lord Yahweh rescued Lot, he knows how to continually rescue the godly from their trials and to reserve the ungodly for punishment on the day of judgment. 10 And this especially applies to those who live their lives despising authorities and who abandon themselves to chasing the depraved lusts of their flesh.

These might die suddenly if they refuse to stop or you can rest assured that wolves will receive just punishment on the day of judgment. WE MUST NEVER THINK PEOPLE ARE GETTING AWAY WITH STUFF. One day the scales of justice will be balanced.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 NKJV

Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

Eccl 8:

The Arrogance of False Teachers

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 2

They are willfully arrogant and insolent, unafraid to insult the glorious ones. 11 Yet even angels, who are greater than they in power and strength, do not dare slander them before the Lord. 12 These individuals are nothing but brute beasts—irrational creatures, born in the wild to be caught and destroyed—and they will perish like beasts. They are professional insulters, who slander whatever they don’t

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 2

They are willfully arrogant and insolent, unafraid to insult the glorious ones. 11 Yet even angels, who are greater than they in power and strength, do not dare slander them before the Lord. 12 These individuals are nothing but brute beasts—irrational creatures, born in the wild to be caught and destroyed—and they will perish like beasts. They are professional insulters, who slander whatever they don’t understand, and in their destruction they will be destroyed.

Professional insulters. That’s a good one.

Now in verse 12, I want to give you the definition of “natural brute beasts.” The simplest definition is they are like animals. The word “brute” means UNABLE TO REASON. This means they are making decisions based on what they want at the moment whether it’s food, sex, money, someone else’s wife, etc. But the UNABLE TO REASON is important for us because I’ve tried to reason with people like this. It doesn’t work. I think we need to still try because you never know if what you say might break through. But these are blind and driven by their soulish desires living like animals.

Carouse means “to live a life of luxury, usually associated with intemperate feasting and drinking.”

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 2

For all the evil they have done will come crashing down on them. They consider it their great pleasure to carouse in broad daylight. When they come to your love feasts they are but stains and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions as they feast with you. 14 They are addicted to adultery, with eyes that are insatiable, with sins that never end. They seduce the vulnerable and are experts in their greed—they are but children of a curse!

Carouse means “to live a life of luxury, usually associated with intemperate feasting and drinking.” The phrase “seduce the vulnerable” is important to understand how they choose their “victims.” Enticing or seducing is a Greek word that is translated “TO MAKE SINNING LOOK ATTRACTIVE or TO MAKE SIN TASTE GOOD or TO WAVE SIN IN FRONT OF A PERSON’S NOSE.”

Vulnerable or unstable souls are those who don’t yet know how to support themselves yet. More than like a baby Christian who’s just come out of sin and hasn’t yet learned to WALK. This is why it’s so important to #1 deliver a strong gospel message for a strong birth and then #2 strong discipleship to create stable believers.

“Experts in greed” is crazy! The NKJV says “trained” and the Passion experts. The Greek means “TO EXPERIENCE VIGOROUS TRAINING AND CONTROL WITH THE IMPLICATION OF INCREASED PHYSICAL AND/OR MORAL STRENGTH.” Now here we know it’s not moral. It literally means “to exercise naked” and referred to the practice of elite athletes training constantly in order to win their competitions. This means that this isn’t some person who’s fallen into sin. This is a person who has devoted much time and effort in learning COVETOUS PRACTICES. If they’d devoted their time to the Word, they’d be unstoppable is the idea. INSTEAD THEY ARE EXPERTS IN GREED. And for that reason they are “accursed children” meaning they are “exposed to cursing” (AMP Bible).

I hope by now you see that a FALSE TEACHER’S ENTIRE LIFE is in pursuit of their own pleasures. They will do whatever it takes and take advantage of whomever will let them to get what they want—power, money, influence, sex, etc. They don’t make decisions based on reasoning but only on instinctual animal lust. And in their own perversions is there destruction. THEY ARE LITERALLY SELF DESTRUCTING.

The Passion Translation: New Testament Chapter 2

They have wandered off the main road and have gone astray, because they are prophets who love profit—the wages they earn by wrongdoing. They are following the example of Balaam, son of Beor, 16 who was rebuked for evil by a donkey incapable of speech yet that spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

START HERE IN :15.

Go into Benjamin. . .