“looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:12).

There are several ways we can approach the various themes within this passage. The first is relatively simple and clear: God’s people should look for Christ’s return in advance of this coming day of God. However, this does not mean we should seek to associate a date with Jesus’ return. As Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 24:36, “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows–neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son–except the Father only” (HCSB). Instead, every generation should wait expectantly for Jesus’ second advent.

Next, we have this reference to “…hastening the coming of the day of God.” “Hastening” conveys several related ideas including “to urge on,” “impel,” or “to be eager for the arrival” of something. ₍₁₎ While some may view this approaching day of God with a sense of dread, Jesus’ followers should eagerly embrace its arrival. For instance, Jesus once explained the underlying differences between those mindsets…

“…everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:20-21).

We can also view this reference to “hastening” from a different perspective. As we’ve already seen, the word “hasten” is used to describe an attempt to expedite an action or activity. In light of this, our text from 2 Peter 3:12 underscores the need to avoid a passive mindset in anticipation of that day. Instead, we should actively employ the talents, skills, abilities, gifts, and opportunities that God has graciously given us for use in His service today.

As one source observes, “…[Its] not that God’s eternal appointment of the time is changeable, but God appoints us as instruments of accomplishing those events which must be first before the day of God can come.” ₍₂₎

Finally, this reference to “the day of God” invites a comparison to Jesus’ experience in the Garden of Gethsemane. When Jesus was seized in Gethsemane, He said to those who came to arrest Him, “…Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:52-53). So even though Jesus’ enemies had their hour in the waning days of His earthly life, 2 Peter 3:12 tells us that God will have His day in the future.

Image Credit: Opportunity by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0Alpha Stock Images

(1) G4692 speudo. Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/speudo

(2) Jamieson, F. &. B. (2000, February 19). Commentary on 2 Peter 3. Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/jfb/2Pe/2Pe_003.cfm

“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11).

The apocalyptic images described earlier in 2 Peter 3:10 lay the foundation for the practical application given to us here in 2 Peter 3:11. Since all our material possessions will eventually dissolve, our author brings forth a thought-provoking question: “What kind of people ought you to be?” He then provides the answer himself: “You ought to live holy and godly lives.”

Unlike those who choose to disregard the Biblical teachings on this subject, it is important to live with these realities in mind. Consider the following warning from Jesus in the form this parable from the Gospel of Luke…

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night.

But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

Peter asked, ‘Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?’ The Lord answered, ‘Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers” (Luke 12:35-46 NIV).

This parable, along with our text from 2 Peter 3:11, reminds us of the need to live in “holy conduct and godliness” (CSB) with a view towards eternity.

“The day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day heaven will pass away with a roaring sound. Everything that makes up the universe will burn and be destroyed. The earth and everything that people have done on it will be exposed” (2 Peter 3:10 GW).

The twenty-fourth chapter of the gospel of Matthew is dedicated exclusively to the subject of end-time events. That portion of Scripture also records a message from Jesus to His disciples regarding the importance of being prepared for His eventual return. A closer look at that message reveals an analogy followed by a warning…

“But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Luke 12:39-40).

The Apostle Peter drew upon this imagery of an unexpected thief here in 2 Peter 3:10. As mentioned earlier, Paul the Apostle made use of a similar illustration in the New Testament epistle of 1 Thessalonians, as did the Apostle John in the book of Revelation. These references serve to remind us that we should live in anticipation of Jesus’ return whenever it might take place. As one source observes, “Knowing how to live in preparation for the Lord’s return is more important than knowing the timing of His return (Acts 1:6–7).“ ₍₁₎

Here in 2 Peter 3:10, we’re told that the constituent elements that make up the physical universe will dissolve when that day arrives. This reference to “Everything that makes up the universe…” pertains to the elemental components of physical matter. This probably alludes to some type of dissolution in the atomic structure of material things.

Finally, two sensory events will accompany this cataclysmic event: fire and sound. Taken together, this seems to reflect an event of tremendous explosive power, one that will be seen, heard, (and likely) felt. As with our earlier reference to an unexpected thief, there are other Biblical allusions to this event in the Old Testaments books of Haggai (2:6-7), Isaiah (13:13), and the New Testament epistle to the Hebrews.

2 Peter 3:10 thus completes a quartet of four Biblical witnesses who testify to the reality of this all-encompassing, catastrophic event. Therefore, these passages should inform our thinking regarding the investments we make today with respect to our time, our relationships, our finances, our material possessions, and other aspects of our daily lives.

(1) Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (1 Th 5:1). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:10 NIV).

In the context of this passage from 2 Peter 3:10, the “day of the Lord” signifies the future dissolution of the universe, or “space” as we know it today. We find similar expressions of this idea in the book of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 65:17), as well as the New Testament book of Revelation (Revelation 21:1). The Biblical book of Colossians also touches upon this subject in speaking of Jesus in the following manner: “He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17).

So Jesus is not only the executor of creation, He is the one who holds creation together. Colossians 1:17 thus provides us with an insight of astonishing proportions: Jesus personally sustains everything that exists in the material realm. This striking reality brings an important perspective to our text from 2 Peter 3:10. If Jesus were to refrain from holding everything together, it would surely generate the result described here in 2 Peter.

While it may be unsettling to contemplate a future that ends with universal destruction, this should not lead to hopelessness or despair. God has better things in store, as we’ll learn shortly. Instead, these future realities should motivate us to act proactively and make choices that honor God today. To illustrate this, our author will pose a question in the following verse and then proceed to answer it himself…

“Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives” (2 Peter 3:11 NIV).

We’ll return to this verse from 2 Peter 3:11 shortly. But for now, we can also approach this reference to the day of the Lord from a different perspective. You see, “the day of the Lord” also arrives in a multitude of human lives each day. In this sense, the day of the Lord occurs whenever someone departs from this earthly life and enters the realm of eternity.

For some, that day arrives “like a thief” in the form of a sudden or untimely death. Thus, the day of the Lord did not represent a distant event in the far-off future for those who pass in this manner. Instead, it became the day when someone was abruptly summoned to face his or her Creator with no further opportunity to reverse the choices and decisions of life.

Since every material possession we own will eventually dissolve, those who act upon this message from 2 Peter 3:10-11 will be well prepared to answer that call to eternity whenever it arrives.

Image Credit: “The countdown clock struck zero and the launch happened and” by G0SUB is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).

Considering how often the “day of the Lord” appears within the Scriptures, this term is one that warrants careful consideration. For instance, this phrase appears in both the Old and New Testaments to describe God’s wrath (Isaiah 13:9), God’s judgment (1 Thessalonians 5:3), a time of destruction (Joel 1:15), and a day of reprisal for those who have committed transgressions (Obadiah 1:15).

The prophet Joel depicted the day of the Lord as a “great and very terrible” event (Joel 2:11). Several other Biblical authors shared that characterization, including the Old Testament prophets Ezekiel, Amos, Zephaniah, and Malachi. Those writers associated the “day of the Lord” with corresponding descriptions such as, “doom,” “darkness,” “trouble and distress,” and “dreadful.”

In the New Testament epistle of 1 Thessalonians, the day of the Lord is linked with the events that will accompany Jesus’ return (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:2). Three commentators add their insights into this important Biblical concept…

“The prominent idea associated with that Day in the Old Testament, and in this passage as well, is that of ‘judgment’ and destruction upon the enemies of God. This stands in striking contrast to the previous passage (4:13–18), where the emphasis was hope and resurrection. The difference of course is one of focus; it depends upon whether believers or unbelievers are in view.” ₍₁₎

“In the OT the writers saw two ages, an evil age and a coming age of righteousness, the age of the Spirit. God would intervene in history through His Messiah to set up this new age. This event was known as the ‘Day of the Lord.’ Notice that NT writers attribute this to Christ. His first coming, the Incarnation, was foretold in many OT texts. The Jews did not expect a divine person, just a divine intervention. The two comings of the Messiah, one as suffering servant and savior, one as Judge and Lord, were not obvious to OT people.” ₍₂₎

“Christ has already passed through the judgment of the day of the Lord for believers, so they need not fear His return (Heb. 9:27, 28). Unbelievers, however, will feel the wrath of God when the day of the Lord is consummated at the second coming of Christ.” ₍₃₎

Portions of this study originally appeared here.

(1) Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 2480). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

(2) Dr. Bob Utley. Free Bible Commentary, 1 Thessalonians 5:2 Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL07/VOL07B_05.html

(3) Sproul, R. C. (Ed.). (2015). The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (p. 2138). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.

“The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NET).

We can work through several challenging aspects of this passage with the help of various commentators. Our first source sets an appropriate foundation for our look at this verse…

“[The Lord] can’t be waiting for everyone to be saved, since the emphasis is that He will destroy the world and the ungodly. Those who do perish and go to hell, go because they are depraved and worthy only of hell and have rejected the only remedy, Jesus Christ, not because they were created for hell and predetermined to go there. The path to damnation is the path of a non-repentant heart; it is the path of one who rejects the person and provision of Jesus Christ and holds on to sin (cf. Is 55:1; Jer 13:17; Eze 18:32; Mt 11:28; 23:37; Lk 13:3; Jn 3:16; 8:21, 24; 1Ti 2:3, 4; Rev 22:17).” ₍₁₎

Another commentary directs our attention to the tension between God’s desire (or His desiderative will), and what He decrees (or His decretive will)…

“Unless God’s will is viewed on the two planes of his desiderative and decretive will (what he desires and what he decrees), hopeless confusion will result. The scriptures amply illustrate both that God sometimes decrees things that he does not desire and desires things that he does not decree. It is not that his will can be thwarted, nor that he has limited his sovereignty. But the mystery of God’s dealings with humanity is best seen if this tension is preserved. Otherwise, either God will be perceived as good but impotent or as a sovereign taskmaster. Here the idea that God does not wish for any to perish speaks only of God’s desiderative will, without comment on his decretive will.” ₍₂₎

Our final commentator addresses this reference to “those who perish” in response to an age-old question: “How can a good God send people to hell?”

“This question assumes that God sends people to hell against their will. But this is not the case. God desires everyone to be saved (see 2 Peter 3:9). Those who are not saved do not will to be saved. Jesus said, ‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing’ (Matthew 23:37). As C. S. Lewis put it, ‘The door of hell is locked on the inside.’ All who go there choose to do so. Lewis added: ‘There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end,’ Thy will be done.’ All that are in hell, choose it.'” ₍₃₎

(1) John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 2 Pe 3:9.

(2) NET Bible notes on 2 Peter 3:9 https://netbible.org/bible/2+Peter+3

(3) Zacharias, R., & Geisler, N. L. (2003). Who Made God?: And Answers to Over 100 Other Tough Questions of Faith. Zondervan. [pg. 30]

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

While this passage is notable for the controversy it stirs with regard to the relationship between God’s sovereignty and human responsibility, there is another aspect of this verse that may go virtually unnoticed from a 21st century perspective.

Among the heretical teachers of the first century, there were undoubtedly some who viewed the acquisition of “secret knowledge” as the key to spiritual enlightenment. However, 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that God does not hide His plan of salvation from a larger audience in favor of a select few. Instead, God’s call to salvation through Christ is open to all who will accept it.

Thankfully, God is patient with the members of the human family and not willing that any should perish, as we are told in the passage quoted above. For instance, we can illustrate the depth of God’s patience with a look at His attitude toward the people of Old Testament Israel. Consider the following lament as expressed through the pen of the Biblical prophet Isaiah: “But concerning Israel he says, ‘All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people'” (Isaiah 65:2 NIV).

With unparalleled patience, God continues to extend His hands to us through Christ. But let’s approach this gracious gesture from a human point of view and reflect upon our own relationships with others. If one person extends his or her hand to another in a gesture of friendship, it would be highly offensive to ignore or reject it. If such is the case among human beings in their relationships with one another, how much more insulting is it for the Creator of humanity to be rejected in a similar manner?

Furthermore, we should note that God stretches forth His hands in an offer of friendship even to those who are obstinate and disobedient. One pastoral commentator adds the following insight…

“We understand that God is not willing that any should perish not in the sense of a divine decree, as if God has declared that no sinners will perish. Rather, Peter’s statement reflects God’s heart of love for the world (John 3:16), and His compassionate sorrow even in the righteous judgment of the wicked. It is the same thought as expressed in Ezekiel 33:11: As I live, says the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” ₍₁₎

(1) Enduring Word. (2022, July 13). Enduring Word Bible Commentary 2 Peter Chapter 3. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/2-peter-3/

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Earlier in verse three, Peter the Apostle addressed a question from scoffers who ridiculed those who were awaiting Jesus’ return: “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” One commentary highlights the distinction between those who adopt that dismissive attitude and others who raise valid concerns about the perceived delay in Jesus’ return…

“There is considerable difference between the question ‘where is the promise of His coming?’ and ‘when is the Lord coming?’ The former is of the unbeliever and the latter is of a perplexed believer.” ₍₁₎

With this in mind, we should recognize that it is neither wrong nor inappropriate to ask questions regarding this subject. For instance, the following commentator defines this reference to “slackness”: “The word implies, besides delay, the idea of lateness with reference to an appointed time.” ₍₂₎ If we are similarly puzzled by this apparent delay, then perhaps we may benefit from a change of perspective.

If we desire to know why Jesus has not returned in the centuries that have elapsed since His death and resurrection, we need look no further than 2 Peter 3:9 for the answer. As seen in the passage quoted above, “…he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (NIV). This directs our attention to an important point. Instead of focusing on the apparent delay in Christ’s return, we may do better to set our sights on what He seeks to accomplish during this interim period.

One source highlights the beneficial nature of this approach…

“The point of 2 Peter 3 is that, no matter how long it takes, God will keep His word—’the Lord is not slow in keeping his promises’ (verse 8)—specifically, He will return one day to judge the world and rescue His people. The fact that it has not happened yet is absolutely no indication that He will not do it.” ₍₃₎

While it may seem as if Jesus’ second advent is taking longer than expected, we can be confident that there is a justifiable reason for any apparent delay. We can be certain that Christ will fulfill His promise to return, for we have His personal assurance in this regard…

“And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am” (John 14:3 GNT).

(1) Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 1700.

(2) Vincent, Marvin R. DD. “Commentary on 2 Peter 3”. “Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/vnt/2-peter-3.html. [verse 9[ Charles Schribner’s Sons. New York, USA. 1887.

(3) GotQuestions.org. (2022, September 19). GotQuestions.org. https://www.gotquestions.org/2-Peter-3-8-thousand-years-day.html

“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8).

In midst of the fiery images that precede and follow this passage, the Apostle Peter was quick to reassure his readers that they were among God’s beloved. Yet, this passage also includes a reminder that provides us with an opportunity to consider the nature of time, a familiar commodity that is often difficult to define.

For instance, we can kill time, buy time, or pass the time. Musicians keep time and athletes call time out. Some have time on their hands, while others never seem to have enough. Employees and others can spend time or steal time. Time can be free or expensive, good or bad, wasted or invested, and lost or found. So we can view time in different ways, but what is it?

Well, the notion of “time” encompasses more than just the measurement of hours and days. Time is a “continuous, measurable quantity in which events occur in a sequence proceeding from the past through the present to the future.” ₍₁₎ But here in 2 Peter 3:8, we’re reminded that God exists outside the constraints of time. Since God is timeless, He does not experience sequential events that proceed from the past through the present to the future as we do.

There are several other factors that highlight the contrast between our experience of time and that of God. For example, things like mass, acceleration, and gravity may affect our measurement of time. Our perception of time may also differ, for time may seem to pass slowly for those who are involved in an unpleasant task, but rapidly for those who are engaged in something they enjoy. So, if finite human beings experience these variations in relation to time, we should not be surprised to learn that the Creator of time also relates differently to it.

To illustrate this, Peter reached back to the Old Testament to bring forth a related reference: “For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4). Thus, a seemingly long delay for us may be just be a moment for God. This reminds us that we should not adopt the attitude of a scoffer who assumes “…everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation” as mentioned earlier in verse three. In the words of one source, “To Him the hours pass away, neither more slowly, nor more quickly, than befits His economy.” ₍₂₎

Image Credit: “Time” by Nick J Webb is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

(1) time. (n.d.) American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. (2011). Retrieved September 13 2024 from https://www.thefreedictionary.com/time

(2) Jamieson-Fausset-Brown commentary: Second Peter. (n.d.). [verse 8] https://www.ccel.org/j/jfb/jfb/JFB61.htm#Chapter3

“But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:7).

If we were to subtitle our look at this portion of Scripture, we might do so with the following caption: “That was then, this is now.”

The preceding verse introduced the “then” portion of our fictional subtitle when we were told, “…the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished” (2 Peter 3:6 ESV). The “now” portion references the fact that “…heaven and earth are now held in reserve for fire, kept for the Judgment Day and destruction of ungodly people” (CEB).

Although this cataclysmic end-time event tends to command the most attention, there is another aspect of this passage that also reveals a great display of power: “…the heavens and the earth that now exist are being preserved by the same command of God” (GNT). So just as God spoke creation into existence through His word, this verse tells us that He continues to sustain His creation in a similar manner.

Nevertheless, that sustaining effort will continue only as long as God sees fit. When God ceases to maintain the current form of the heavens and earth, He will use fire as His chosen element of dissolution. This imagery should be familiar to readers of the Old and New Testaments alike. For example, the book of the Old Testament prophet Nahum alludes to the fiery presence of God…

“In his presence the mountains quake, and the hills melt away; the earth trembles, and its people are destroyed. Who can stand before his fierce anger? Who can survive his burning fury? His rage blazes forth like fire, and the mountains crumble to dust in his presence” (Nahum 1:5-6 NLT).

A similar image appears in the New Testament epistle of 2 Thessalonians…

“And so I would say to you who are suffering, God will give you rest along with us when the Lord Jesus appears suddenly from heaven in flaming fire with his mighty angels, bringing judgment on those who do not wish to know God and who refuse to accept his plan to save them through our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 TLB).

Finally, this catastrophic act of destruction is more than just an event that is destined to occur in the remote future. Instead, the Apostle Peter is building towards a present-day application that he will bring to our attention shortly in verse eleven.

Image Credit: “flaming gold” by paloetic is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

“But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed” (2 Peter 3:5-6).

This description of the earth’s formation draws our attention to the creation account of Genesis chapter one…

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters” (Genesis 1:2 NIV).

Other translations of Genesis 1:2 tell us that the earth was “…without form and void…” (ESV) or “…a shapeless, chaotic mass…” (TLB) at this stage in its development. This lends support to the idea that God first established the components that later became the universe as we know it (Genesis 1:1). For instance, we might interpret this passage to mean that the constituent elements of creation were suspended in a formless, fluid state during this phase. Yet, Earth seems to have been separate and distinct almost from the moment of creation.

One source offers some insight into what likely occurred during that process…

“In the first stage of creation, after the second day, the earth material was surrounded by vast waters above the firmament and suspended in other waters under the firmament {Ge 1:7). The waters beneath the ‘firmament’ (the ‘expanse’ of the troposphere) later were either formed into seas or confined in a ‘great deep’ beneath the earth’s crust. This regime apparently continued until the time of the great flood when they all came together again. Until then the earth was ‘standing’ (Greek sunistemi- that is, being ‘sustained’) in and by the waters.” ₍₁₎

This also corresponds to what we read later in Genesis 7:10-12. That portion of Scripture tells us “…all the underground waters erupted from the earth” (NLT) at the time of Noah’s flood. The sudden emergence of those underground pockets of water would have led to the catastrophic results associated with the flood.

So it wasn’t just the falling rain that produced Noah’s flood. Instead, it was the torrential downpour from above, coupled with the corresponding surge from the water table below.

So while life on this planet cannot survive without the presence of water, it is a curious irony to note how God employed that same element as a catalyst for the destruction of the ancient world along with the wickedness of its inhabitants. Thus, “…it was by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished” (ESV).

Image Credit: James St. John, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

(1) Institute for Creation Research, New Defender’s Study Bible Notes [2 Peter 3:5] https://www.icr.org/bible/2Pet/3/5/ Accessed 02 September, 2024

“They purposely ignore the fact that long ago God gave a command, and the heavens and earth were created. The earth was formed out of water and by water, and it was also by water, the water of the flood, that the old world was destroyed” (2 Peter 3:5-6 GNB).

2 Peter 3:5 draws our attention to God’s sovereign act of creation in establishing the heavens and the earth. Unlike those who believe that the universe is a product of random chance, this passage tells us, “…God gave a command, and the heavens and earth were created.” Nevertheless, the “random chance” theory of origin is one that merits further investigation.

For instance, many believe that the universe came into existence through an arbitrary process. This idea suggests that the universe could have formed by chance if given a sufficient amount of time. But let’s consider this premise for a moment. In this context, the word “chance” conveys the statistical probability that something will occur. However, this explanation fails if we apply it to the notion that the universe came into existence through random chance.

The problem is that chance by itself is powerless. For example, let’s consider a scenario where two individuals are engaged in a card game. Person one shuffles the deck of cards and then deals a random selection of cards to person two. With this in mind, let’s ask a few relevant questions…

• Did random chance manipulate or control the cards person two received?
• Can “the power of chance” direct specific cards to player two?
• Does “chance” possess the ability to ensure that person two received a pre-determined sequence of cards?

The answer to these questions is obviously no. In this context, chance simply describes the statistical likelihood that one type of card will be dealt instead of another. This illustration helps explain why “random chance” cannot be responsible for the existence of the universe. Chance doesn’t make things happen; it only describes the probability that something will happen.

Here’s another way to demonstrate this idea. Let’s imagine that someone flips a coin in the air. If we flip a coin in the air, the chance that it will land on “heads” is 50%. ₍₁₎ However, “chance” doesn’t make a coin land that way. Instead, that outcome will depend on several variables. Those variables include the size, shape, and weight of the coin. Other contributing factors include the number of revolutions the coin makes, the environmental conditions, and the surface upon which the coin lands.

The point is that “chance” will not make a coin land on heads or tails- that will be determined by other factors. Chance only describes the statistical probability that a coin will land in a certain manner. In the same way, the idea that “random chance” brought the universe into existence is unsustainable because chance has no ability to “do” anything.

Image Credit: “Dice 04” by Thomas Dippel is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

(1) For the purpose of this illustration, we will discount the nominal possibility that a coin will land on its edge after it is flipped.

“For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water” (2 Peter 3:5-6).

The prominent lyricist Paul Simon once observed that, “…a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.” ₍₁₎ That poetic observance aptly describes 2 Peter 3:5 and its reference to those who “willfully forget.” This serves to identify someone who makes a volitional choice to ignore God’s past intervention into the affairs of His creation.

Today, we might associate this approach with the 21st century concept of “plausible deniability.” This involves an attempt to disavow any knowledge or responsibility for the actions taken by others. While that strategy may succeed with limited human beings, we cannot hide behind the cloak of plausible deniability when facing an omniscient God who knows our every thought and deed.

One translation underscores this attitude of willful neglect in stating that God’s involvement in the affairs of human history “…escapes their notice” (NASB). This does not refer to a minor detail or an insignificant item that might be overlooked. Instead, several commentators highlight the deliberate and intentional nature of that mindset…

“A more precise translation would be, ‘They persistently (Greek progressive present) ignore one obvious fact.'” ₍₂₎

“It was a culpable ignorance.” ₍₃₎

“This term has the connotation of forgetting something or hiding something; therefore, an intent of purposefulness is contained in the term (cf. 2 Pet. 1:9; 3:5,8).” ₍₄₎

“‘Escapes their notice’ in the Greek means forgets purposely by disregarding information.” ₍₅₎

“[T]hey do not wish to know. Their ignorance is voluntary.” ₍₆₎

So those who adopt this mentality purposely forget that things are not the same as they ever were. God is not like the proverbial watchmaker who “wound up the universe” and then left it to run on its own. In fact, the reality is quite the reverse- God has intervened throughout the course of history, as seen most notably in the example of Noah’s flood.

Thus, the world as we know it has not always existed as it does today. There have been cataclysmic occurrences in the past, and such things will occur again in the future, as the Apostle Peter will remind us over the next few verses of this chapter. While such things may have escaped others’ notice, we should take care to ensure they do not escape our notice. ₍₇₎

(1) The Boxer. © 1968 Words and Music by Paul Simon

(2) Edward E. Hindson and Woodrow Michael Kroll, eds., KJV Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1994), 2625.

(3) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament (note on 2 Peter 3:8) Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

(4) Dr. Bob Utley. Free Bible Commentary, Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International 2 Peter 3. (n.d.). http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL02/VOL02B_09.html

(5) Constable, Thomas. DD. “Commentary on 2 Peter 3”. “Dr. Constable’s Expository Notes”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dcc/2-peter-3.html. 2012.

(6) Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary: Second Peter. (n.d.). https://www.ccel.org/j/jfb/jfb/JFB61.htm

(7) Ibid.

“This will be their line of argument: ‘So Jesus promised to come back, did he? Then where is he? He’ll never come! Why, as far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained exactly as it was since the first day of creation'” (2 Peter 3:4 NLT).

The assertion that “the world remains unchanged” here in 2 Peter 3:4 predates a contemporary theory regarding the processes that have helped shape our present world. That theory asserts that “the present is the key to the past.” The following commentators discuss its relevance to our text from this passage…

“This argument against the second coming of Christ is based on the theory of uniformitarianism, which says that all natural phenomena have operated uniformly since the beginning of the earth. The false teachers were also implying that God is absent from earth affairs.

In effect, they were teaching that, ‘There will not be a great cataclysmic judgmental event at the end of history, because that is not how the universe works. There never has been such a judgment, so why should we expect one in the future? Instead, everything in the universe is stable, closed, fixed, and governed by never varying patterns and principles of evolution. Nothing catastrophic has ever happened in the past, so nothing catastrophic ever will happen in the future. There will be no divine invasion, no supernatural judgment on mankind.'” ₍₁₎

“Their conclusion is based on the careless hypothesis that ‘since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’ They say that nature invariably follows uniform laws, that there are no supernatural interventions, that there is a natural explanation for everything. They believe in the law of uniformitarianism. This law states that existing processes in nature have always acted in the same manner and with essentially the same intensity as at present, and that these processes are sufficient to account for all the changes that have taken place.” ₍₂₎

By studying the processes of the present, we can often gain valuable insight into the past. However, it is hazardous to presume that all such processes are solely the result of natural causes. The Scriptures tell us that God has previously intervened in world history in a significant manner and will do so again in the future. Our final source guides us toward a better understanding of this concept…

“A valid application of the principle that ‘the present is the key to the past’ is that ‘the kinds of causes known to produce certain kinds of effects in the present can be assumed to produce similar kinds of effects in the past.’ But… this principle does not rule out a credible belief in past miracles, even if no such miracles exist in the present. This use misapplies the principle.” ₍₃₎

Image Credit: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

(1) John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 2 Pe 3:4.

(2) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary Edited by Arthur Farstad, Thomas Nelson Publishers [note on 2 Peter 3:4]

(3) Geisler, N. L. 1999. Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. Baker reference library. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, Mich. See Troeltsch, Ernst

“They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4 ESV).

2 Peter 3:4 and its reference to the “fathers [who] fell asleep” is an interesting and descriptive expression that deserves a closer look.

You see, the Scriptures occasionally employ the word “sleep” as a figurative reference to death. Mark 5:22-53 offers one such example in relating the account of a local religious leader whose daughter had fallen ill. Although Jesus graciously agreed to heal her, the young girl tragically succumbed to her illness prior to Jesus’ arrival at her home. Jesus thus arrived at a house that was populated by mourners and others who had gathered to express their condolences.

In response, Jesus answered by saying, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep” (NLT). Those who heard this message reacted with laughter, scorn, and ridicule to that assessment. However, they stopped laughing after Jesus put them out of the house and returned the little girl alive to her parents.

The “fathers” mentioned here in 2 Peter 3:4 likely allude to the ancestral generations of many years ago. The idea is that the circle of life begins at conception and ends at death. While civilizations, technologies, and individual lives come and go, the treadmill of life goes on, according to this perspective.

However, that view has two fatal flaws. The first looks forward into the future and the second looks backward into the past. The first flawed assumption involves an indisputable truth: anything that can’t go on forever, won’t go on forever. ₍₁₎ In other words, the supposed absence of change in the past does not mean things can’t or won’t change in the future. The world in its present form cannot go on forever, and even if it does continue past our lifetimes, we are still left with the prospect of confronting an unknown eternity after a few brief decades of life (at best). So this approach is not only flawed, but depressing as well.

The other flawed assumption is that things have remained unchanged in the past. The Apostle Peter will address that view in the following verse, but for now, we should not permit the routine of daily life to lull us into the false assumption that tomorrow will be the same as yesterday, or the days that preceded it. Instead, we would do well to adapt Jesus’ cautionary message from Luke 12:40…

“Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Image Credit: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

(1) Sometimes referred to as “Stein’s Law.” See Quoteresearch. (2018, April 28). If Something Cannot Go On Forever It Will Stop – Quote Investigator®. https://quoteinvestigator.com/2018/04/28/go-on/Accessed 3 September, 2024

“and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation'” (2 Peter 3:4).

It is often easy to associate false teachers or heretical doctrines with cultic organizations or strange religious sects. However, false teachings aren’t limited to such groups- they can come from a variety of other sources as well. You see, false teachers may also exist among the irreligious or the spiritually indifferent. For instance, 2 Peter 3:4 offers a Biblical example of a false teaching that came packaged as something else.

This passage gives us insight into the skepticism of those who dismissed the notion of Jesus’ return by pointing to the lengthy period that has elapsed since His crucifixion and resurrection. Unfortunately, that view is diametrically opposed to the Biblical teaching regarding Jesus’ second advent. We can thus associate this secular mindset with a false teaching, for such individuals operate under the mistaken belief that “…everything has remained the same since the world was first created” (NLT).

While the question posed in 2 Peter 3:4 may represent an honest question for some, it also represents an attitude of presumptuous skepticism for many others. Those who fall into that latter category comprise the mockers or “scoffers” mentioned earlier in verse three. Such questions aren’t based on a genuine desire to learn or understand. Instead, their intent is to ridicule.

This pretentious viewpoint assumes that nothing has changed in the past, and nothing is likely to change in the foreseeable future as well. That represents an opinion that the Apostle Peter will address over the next few verses. In the meantime, we can say that the more frequently we observe these types of behaviors, the closer we are to Christ’s return. As one source reminds us…

“Peter, like Paul (1Th 5:1f.; 2Th 2:1f. ), preached about the second coming (1:16; Ac 3:20f. ), as Jesus himself did repeatedly (Mt 24:34 ) and as the angels promised at the Ascension (Ac 1:11 ). Both Jesus and Paul (2Th 2:1f. ) were misunderstood on the subject of the time and the parables of Jesus urged readiness and forbade setting dates for his coming.” ₍₁₎

In contrast to those who choose to disregard the Biblical teachings related to Jesus’ second advent, it is important to live in anticipation of His return. Whether Christ returns for someone at the end of his or her life (whenever that occurs) or whether He returns to begin a new era of history, our responsibility is to be ready whenever He appears.

(1) 2 Peter 3 – Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament – Bible Commentaries – StudyLight.org. (n.d.). StudyLight.org. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/rwp/2-peter-3.html

“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts” (2 Peter 3:3 KJV).

Our author has repeatedly addressed the risks associated with an attitude of lust over the course of this epistle. For example, the word “lust” (in its various forms) appears four times in the three chapters of this letter. 2 Peter 3:3 serves as one such example in describing those who walk after their own lusts.

In a general sense, “lust” is a characteristic that is found among those who seek to exploit others in various ways. It may also involve a desire to possess or control someone (or something) that belongs to someone else. Whenever we engage is such behaviors, we effectively strip others of their humanity and objectify them for use in gratifying our needs or desires. One translation of this passage helps communicate this idea in speaking of those “…whose only guide in life is what they want for themselves” (Phillips).

Since lust is typically distinguished by selfishness (Colossians 3:5 and 1 Thessalonians 4:4-5), it is incompatible with the God who is love (1 John 4:8, 1 Corinthians 13:4-7). In the words of one source, “Those who give way to their own lusts will always mock at any incentive to noble living.” ₍₁₎ This behavior will signify a growing trend as we approach the end of days.

This characteristic is also associated with the act of “walking” in our text from 2 Peter 3:3. “Walking” is a Biblical idiom that refers to our conduct, disposition, and/or manner of life. 2 Corinthians 5:7 employs this idea in a positive sense when it tells us that God’s people are those who “…walk by faith, not by sight.” We find a similar example in Colossians 2:6: “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”

However, the scoffers mentioned here in 2 Peter 3:3 are those who travel a different path. Thus, it is important to recognize that this type of conduct is not a mistake, an accident, a momentary indiscretion, or an isolated lapse in judgment. Instead, “lustfulness” represents an ingrained pattern of behavior, or a characteristic quality that serves to distinguish these individuals.

The following Biblical commentator shares several insights on this passage that are well worth our attention…

“False teachers who know not the truth and know not God have nothing to restrain their lusts. They particularly mock the second coming of Jesus Christ because they want to pursue impure sexual pleasure without consequence, or without having to face divine retribution. They want an eschatology that fits their conduct (cf. 1Jn 2:28, 29; 3:2, 3).” ₍₂₎

Image Credit: Cheapthrill, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

(1) Wheaton, David H. “2 Peter.” In The New Bible Commentary, Revised. Third edition. Edited by Donald Guthrie and J. A. Motyer. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1970. p. 1257. Quoted in Notes on 2 Peter 2024 Edition, Dr. Thomas L. Constable https://www.planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/html/nt/2peter/2peter.htm

(2) John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 2 Pe 3:3.

“knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts” (2 Peter 3:3).

The word “first” can be used to mark the beginning of a numerical sequence or denote something of primary importance. The Apostle Peter has that second definition in view regarding the things he will say over the next few verses. Those things relate to blatant scoffers (NET), or mockers (Phillips) who will “…laugh at the truth” (TLB).

A “scoffer” is defined as someone who expresses derision or scorn for another person or thing. ₍₁₎ The Biblical definition of this word serves to identify someone who derides another person. ₍₂₎ While many of us are probably acquainted with those who exhibit such traits, “scoffing” actually has a lengthy history that dates back to the Garden of Eden.

For instance, Genesis 3: 1 tells us that the devil (in the form of a serpent) approached Eve with a seemingly harmless question: “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1 NLT).

When Eve stated that consuming the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil would bring certain death, the serpent responded with a scoffer’s retort: “’…You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’” (Genesis 3:4-5). This episode illuminates an unfortunate reality: those who choose to scoff at God’s Word in the last days are not unlike the one who scoffed at God’s Word in the first days.

That brings us to the difference between the “end times” and the “last days” mentioned here in 2 Peter 3:3. Although these terms are sometimes used interchangeably, the term “end times” commonly refers to the events that will unfold shortly before this era of human history concludes. In contrast, the “last days” began with Jesus’ ascension and will expire upon His return.

For instance, the Biblical book of Hebrews tells us, “…in these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Hebrews 1:2 ESV). So this reference to the “last days” pertains to the current period of human history, an era where God has spoken to us through His Son.

So while scoffers have been present in every era, we can expect them to increase in number as we approach the end of this chapter in human history.

(1) scoffer. (n.d.) American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. (2011). Retrieved August 26 2024 from https://www.thefreedictionary.com/scoffer

(2) G1703 – empaiktes – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (kjv). (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1703/kjv/tr/0-1/

This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles” (2 Peter 3:1-2 ESV).

In addition to expressing the Apostle Peter’s deep affection for his readers, our text from 2 Peter 3:1 also makes reference to a “sincere mind” or “wholesome thinking” (NIV). However, the passage quoted above defines sincerity in a way that transcends the ordinary definitions of honesty, earnestness, and candor.

Although sincerity is often associated with a lack of pretense, this word is rooted in the concept of “judging by sunlight” in the original language of 2 Peter 3:1. While it may be difficult to see the correlation between these ideas, some background information can help establish a connection between these seemingly unrelated themes. To do so, let’s return to the scene of a first century marketplace to witness a prospective transaction between a buyer and a seller.

In ancient times, an unethical merchant might seek to market a defective earthenware vessel to an unsuspecting customer. To accomplish this, a dishonest vendor would camouflage the damaged portion of a container by carefully applying a thin layer of wax. Once painted, the final product looked as if it was in perfect condition- until the purchaser attempted to fill it with water and subsequently discovered the truth.

To avoid that problem, a knowledgeable consumer would inspect a potential purchase by holding it up to the sun and looking within. The resulting sunlight would instantly illuminate any damage that had been repaired in such a manner. Armed with that information, a prospective buyer could negotiate a better price or discard the damaged item in favor of an unbroken piece.

So how does this apply to contemporary readers of this passage? Well, this portion of Scripture reminds us of the need to maintain sincerity and authenticity in our thinking. Unlike those who avoid being honest with themselves, the Biblical Scriptures encourage us to cultivate a God-honoring thought life that is truthful and ethical. Then, if we are “brought into the light” and examined by others, it will be evident that we are sincere individuals who genuinely represent God, rather than hypocritical “cracked pots.”

This brief aside also encourages us to avoid the path chosen by the false teachers that Peter identified for us in the previous chapter. A person who displays a “pure mind” (NET) thus serves as an appropriate contrast to others who prefer “…carousing in their own deceptions” (2 Peter 2:13).

Image Credit: “A very old crack” by Unhindered by Talent is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The final chapter of the book of 2 Peter reveals our author’s deep affection for his readers. In fact, the word “beloved” appears five times in the eighteen verses that comprise this portion of Scripture. Within this chapter, the Apostle will encourage his audience to reflect on the past, consider the future, and seek guidance for the present in order to “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).

The opening verses of chapter three mark the beginning of that journey…

“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior” (2 Peter 3:1-2).

This reference to “my second letter” (NIV) likely refers to the Biblical book of 1 Peter. If so, this highlights Peter’s commitment to reinforce the sound doctrinal teachings he shared earlier. Furthermore, the last chapter of this letter (and Peter’s determination to stir up their pure minds “by way of reminder”) parallels a trio of similar commitments from the first chapter…

• “I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things” (2 Peter 1:12).
• “Yes, I think it is right …to stir you up by reminding you” (2 Peter 1:13).
• “…I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things…” (2 Peter 1:15).

So, Peter’s intent in authoring this letter was not merely instructional, but to serve as a reminder for his readers to apply what they had already learned. In light of this, Peter endeavored to stir his audience to action. Much as a homeowner might stir up the coals in a fireplace to bring warmth and light to a home, Peter sought to ignite their desire to grasp Jesus’ teachings and act on them. The same holds true for contemporary readers of this epistle as we reflect on the teachings of the Scriptures and seek to put them into practice.

Finally, we should note this reference to “…the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles” (NIV). This serves to establish an equal level of authority between the Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles. Our author will revisit this topic again near the end of this chapter when he introduces us to a special guest.
Image Attribution: Rickyukon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

“They are illustrations of this true proverb: ‘A dog returns to its own vomit,’ and ‘A sow, after washing herself, wallows in the mire'” (2 Peter 2:22 NET).

We will close our look at 2 Peter chapter two with some final observations regarding false teachers…

The Scriptures tell us that many false prophets have gone out into the world.

The New Testament epistle of 1 John underscores the need to assess the spiritual concepts and beliefs we encounter…

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1 NIV).

This serves to remind us that God may not be the motivating force behind every spiritual encounter or apparent display of supernatural ability. The same concept applies to spiritual leaders as well, for a person who claims to be a spiritual leader may not be someone who accurately conveys spiritual truth. A teacher who presents an alternate Jesus, or a “Jesus” who is inconsistent with the person who appears in the Biblical Scriptures, is someone who is peddling a falsehood. This important Biblical admonition can help us follow Jesus’ guidance from Mark 13:5: “…Take heed that no one deceives you.”

The Book of Acts provides us with a good example.

We can learn much from the positive example set by the inhabitants of the town of Berea as chronicled in the Biblical book of Acts…

“Immediately when night came, the believers sent Paul and Silas to the city of Berea. When Paul and Silas arrived in the city of Berea, they entered the synagogue. The people of Berea were more open-minded than the people of Thessalonica. They were very willing to receive God’s message, and every day they carefully examined the Scriptures to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:10-11 GW).

With these things in mind, it’s important to remember some key points from our study of 2 Peter 2…

• False teachers will always exist.
• False teachers don’t tell the truth about Christ.
• The “Jesus” that some religious groups speak of may not be the same Jesus we see within the pages of the Scriptures.
• False teachers often take advantage of others and manipulate them for personal gain.
• False teachers often have an unbiblical concept of God.
• Its easy to be deceived by false teachers if we aren’t diligent to study the Scriptures.

Finally, the New Testament book of 1 Thessalonians gives us an effective method of guarding against spiritual deception: “Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).

“They prove the truth of this proverb: ‘A dog returns to its vomit.’ And another says, ‘A washed pig returns to the mud'” (2 Peter 2:22 NLT).

We continue with a short list of strategies that can help us recognize and guard against the risks presented by false teachers. For example…

The “Jesus” proclaimed by some religious organizations may vary from the Jesus we find in the Bible.

Some groups that self-identify as “Christian” believe that Jesus was merely “a” God. But Jesus isn’t simply a god; He is the God according to the following Biblical passages…

“Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM'” (John 8:58 [compare with Exodus 3:14]).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

“looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

“Thomas answered and said to [Jesus], ‘My Lord and my God!'” (John 20:28).

False teachers often have an unbiblical concept of the Deity.

For example, the Scriptures tell us that there is one God (1 Timothy 2:5). This God has always existed and has always been God (Habakkuk 1:12, Isaiah 44:6). God can never make a mistake and never changes (Psalm 18:30, Malachi 3:6). The God of the Scriptures is a God of love (1 John 4:8) who is holy in all His ways. In other words, God is morally perfect and completely separate from anything that may be dirty or impure (Isaiah 5:16).

God is all-knowing and all-powerful (Psalm 147:5, Deuteronomy 32:39). He is good, merciful, and righteous in His judgments (Psalm 100:5, Psalm 103:8, Psalm 96:13). The God of the Scriptures has no equal anywhere (Isaiah 46:9). Teachings or beliefs that do not align with these characteristics are inconsistent with the Biblical definition of God.

Jesus warned us of the need to guard against false and misleading teachers.

Consider the following portion of Jesus’ message from His Olivet Discourse: “Jesus began to say to them, ‘Watch out that no one misleads you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will mislead many'” (Mark 13:5-6 NET). This brief but powerful message serves to remind us of our need to take responsibility in measuring the ideas and beliefs we encounter against the teachings of the Scriptures to verify their truthfulness and accuracy.

This holds true even if someone assigns the label “Christian” to those beliefs, for “Many will come in [appropriating to themselves] the name [of Messiah] which belongs to Me [basing their claims on the use of My name], saying, I am [He]! And they will mislead many” (AMP).

“What happened to them shows that the proverbs are true: ‘A dog goes back to what it has vomited’ and ‘A pig that has been washed goes back to roll in the mud'” (2 Peter 2:22).

Given the information presented to us in 2 Peter chapter two, what measures can we take to detect and defend against the threats posed by false teachers? Well, we can turn to a variety of strategies to help address that question…

Test all things against the Scriptures.

A good way to start is by prayerfully studying the God’s Word to ensure that a message or doctrine aligns with the Scriptures. The mere presence of the word “Christian” on a building, ministry, or teaching doesn’t guarantee its authenticity. Therefore, we should remember the counsel given to us in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22: “Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil” (NIV).

Remember that false teachers are often untruthful.

Consider the following warning from the New Testament epistle of 1 Timothy…

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2 NIV).

These verses remind us that false teachers are skilled in the art of deception. In light of this, we would do well to familiarize ourselves with God’s Word to avoid being misled.

False teachers are aggressive recruiters.

The Biblical book of 2 Timothy offers the following assessment of such teachers…

“For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:6-7).

This passage alerts us to some of the strategies employed by false teachers. In fact, today’s false teachers hold many advantages over their first-century counterparts…

• Today, a deceptive religious teacher can easily reach countless households with video presentations in high-definition quality.
• Access to a global audience is now made possible by the power of the internet.
• The availability of podcasts, streaming media, and other forms of digital content allows for the widespread distribution of false teachings in a variety of formats.
• Traditional broadcast mediums continue as a reliable and effective means of communication for such teachings.

As it was in the days of the first century, false teachers still work their way into homes and “…mislead whole families by teaching for dishonest gain what ought not to be taught” (Titus 1:11 NET). The difference is that present-day false teachers now possess the ability to leverage 21st century technology to market and present their teachings in a far more effective manner.

“But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ‘a dog returns to his own vomit,’ and, ‘a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire’ (2 Peter 2:22).

While dogs in the New Testament era were occasionally kept as pets, they were frequently regarded as scavengers and pests. Because of this, people often used the word “dog” in a derogatory manner to describe an offensive individual. Those characteristics thus served as fitting analogies for the false teachers of 2 Peter chapter two. That comparison draws upon the imagery of Proverbs 26:11, where this same word-picture is used to depict the actions of a foolish individual.

Our second illustration (which portrays a pig returning to the mud), is an extra-Biblical adage. Pigs were unclean animals according to the Old Testament law, and that made them ideal stand-ins for these heretical teachers as well. However, there may be more to these analogies than meets the eye.

For instance, a dog returns to the internal impurities it has expelled from inside. A pig returns to the external impurities it finds outside. In our first example, these internal impurities emerge from within, and are comparable to those who are internally enslaved to corruption (2 Peter 2:19). Our second example highlights the external impurities associated with those who “who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness” (2 Peter 2:10).

So, the external behaviors of these animals reflect their internal natures, just as the corrupt behaviors of these false teachers reflect their immoral character. That leads us to an important takeaway from this chapter…

“There is no suggestion in the proverb that they had experienced any change in their natures. They were unclean before they were delivered from the vomit and the mud, and they were still unclean when they returned to them. So it is with the people of whom Peter wrote. They had undergone a moral reformation but they had never received a new nature…

This passage should not be used to teach that true believers may fall from grace and be lost. These people never were true believers. They never received a new nature. They demonstrated by their last state that their nature was still unclean and evil. The lesson is, of course, that reformation alone is not only insufficient, but is positively dangerous, because it can lull a person into a false security. Man can receive a new nature only by being born again. He is born again through repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.” ₍₁₎

(1) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary. Edited by Arthur Farstad, Thomas Nelson Publishers [2 Peter 2:1-22]

“For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Peter 2:21 ESV).

2 Peter 2:21 is a portion of Scripture that challenges us in several respects. By analyzing this text with the aid of the following commentators, we can gain a better understanding of this complex passage. We can begin with this reference to “it would have been better…”

“Peter’s comment here reflects the severity of the situation. The false teachers have experienced Christ’s work enough to understand the basic principles of following Him, but they resist coming to repentance … The cost of losing these false teachers to their own devices—which will ultimately result in their perishing, if they still do not repent—does not outweigh the harm they cause in leading others away from Christ and inhibiting God’s work within the community.” ₍₁₎

Next comes the phrase, “never to have known the way of righteousness…”

“The phrase ‘to have known the way’ refers to an intellectual knowledge of the ethical teachings and mode of life characteristic of Christians (note the phrase ‘holy commandment’). Perhaps the nature of their knowledge and faith are analogous to that of the demons who ‘believe and shudder’ (James 2:19). This verse indicates that the conversion of the false teachers was illusory.” ₍₂₎

This is followed by a description of those who “turn back…”

“Rather than turning to God, the false teachers have turned back to their own ways. The idea here is that the original knowledge of Jesus gave these leaders an opportunity to repent, but instead they exploited it to lead others astray.” ₍₃₎

That brings us to a warning, as well as an application from this passage…

“The entire canon makes it clear that those who apostasize can, at least for a time, give many signs that they have been converted (Matt. 13:1–9, 18–23). But for those who apostasize, this knowledge of Christ never involved a saving trust in the Lord (John 6:22–71). Because apostates have seen the light of the Gospel and rejected it, Peter reminds us that their condemnation will be worse than if they had never known of the Gospel in the first place (2 Peter 2:21).” ₍₄₎

Our final commentator offers an important consideration for those who profess to be Christians…

“I’m not sure that Peter is saying that if you go back to the world that you’ll never come back to Jesus. I think that may be the case sometimes. But he is saying that if you go back to the world, you will find your life worse than it ever was before you knew Jesus. Why? Because you now know what it’s like to be clean. And you’re miserable.” ₍₅₎

(1) John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), 2 Pe 2:21.

(2) R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015), 2259.

(3) John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), 2 Pe 2:21.

(4) Entangled Again. Ligonier.org. (n.d.). Ligonier Ministries. Accessed 17 August, 2024 from https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/entangled-again.

(5) Rich Cathers, 2Peter 1-3. (n.d.). Accessed 17 August, 2024 from https://bstudy2.calvaryfullerton.org/61%202Pe/2001/612Pe01-03.htm.

“For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Peter 2:21).

Knowledge and responsibility are two elements that go hand in hand. Those who have been made aware of the salvation that is available through faith in Christ but fail to act upon that knowledge are exposed to a significant degree of risk. For instance, consider the cautionary messages that are presented to us in the Biblical book of Hebrews…

“For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened— those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame” (Hebrews 6:4-6 NLT).

“Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us. For we know the one who said, ‘I will take revenge. I will pay them back.’ He also said, ‘The Lord will judge his own people.’ It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:26-31 NLT).

These are difficult and challenging portions of Scripture. Yet it is important to understand that genuine Christianity encompasses more than an acknowledgement of certain religious truths. It involves trust in Christ. One commentator puts these insights into perspective…

“If a man has never known the right way, he cannot be condemned for not following it. But, if he has known it and then deliberately taken the other way, he sins against the light; and it were better for him that he had never known the truth, for his knowledge of the truth has become his condemnation. A man should never forget the responsibility which knowledge brings.” ₍₁₎

(1) Barclay, William. “Commentary on 2 Peter 2”. “William Barclay’s Daily Study Bible”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/dsb/2-peter-1.html. 1956-1959.

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning” (2 Peter 2:20).

2 Peter 2:20 is a complex passage that will benefit from a careful and thoughtful analysis. We can begin by saying that those who know Jesus but have yet to fully embrace Him in faith are at a heightened risk of falling prey to heretical teachers. This brings us to a point that bears repeating: it is of utmost importance to read the Biblical Scriptures, for it enables us to familiarize ourselves with the person of Christ. Those Scriptures also demonstrate why He is worthy of our trust.

Next, we should consider the nature of the word “knowledge” as used here in 2 Peter 2:20. That word is epignosis in the original language of this passage. This implies a depth of understanding regarding Christ that goes beyond a superficial awareness. Instead, this word highlights the accuracy and precision of that understanding. This hypothetical scenario from 2 Peter 2:20 thus involves those who have an accurate knowledge of Christ but have not yet placed their trust in Him.

One Biblical scholar helps clarify these distinctions…

“…they are not saved, only professing Christians. They are said to have had a knowledge of the Lord Jesus. It is one thing to know Him personally, as a believer does, and another to know of Him, namely, the facts about Him, and to give a mental acquiescence to these, as an unbeliever does. Such a knowledge resulted in their escaping the pollutions of the world.” ₍₁₎

Another source adds, “The implication is not that these people necessarily knew the Lord (in the sense of being saved), but that they were in the circle of those who had embraced Christ as Lord and Savior.” ₍₂₎ The point is this: those who fail to act on their knowledge of Christ by placing their faith in Him are in a precarious position. If they should fall back into the entanglements of a world that has abandoned its Creator, they will find themselves in a worse condition than they were before.

How might that place someone in a worse condition? Well, Jesus answered that question in the following excerpt from His parable of the faithful and evil servants: “Much is required from those to whom much is given, for their responsibility is greater” (Luke 12:48 TLB). This carries important implications, and we’ll examine some of those implications next.

(1) Kenneth S. Wuest, Word Studies in the Greek New Testament [note on 2 Peter 2:20-21] Copyright © 1942-55 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

(2) NET Bible notes on 2 Peter 2:20 https://classic.net.bible.org/bible.php?book=2Pet&chapter=2&mode=print

“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage” (2 Peter 2:19).

Our journey through 2 Peter chapter two has brought us face to face with a sobering reality: false teachers take advantage of those who are seeking freedom from things like guilt, anxiety, emotional distress, or the adverse effects of an immoral lifestyle. Our text from verse nineteen alerts us to the underlying motive that drives those individuals- they are enslaved by a corrupt mindset.

Much like an unethical salesperson who offers the promise of a superior product but delivers something else, these teachers promise “freedom” but deliver bondage. Perhaps the best-known Biblical statement on the subject of genuine freedom comes from a portion of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospel of John…

“…’If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free… Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed'” (John 8:31-32, 34-36).

Unfortunately, the heretical teachers of 2 Peter 2:19 advertised another kind of “freedom” that failed to align with Jesus’ message from that passage. That alternative view of freedom often meant liberty from any form of moral constraint. But those who act on that definition of freedom are inevitably enslaved by their own immorality. The following source offers a further explanation along with a warning…

“We read in verses 18–19 that the message of these teachers included promises of freedom. These promises likely included freedom from moral restraint and freedom from accountability to God, since these teachers encouraged licentious behavior and denied final judgment (2:14; 3:4). However, far from resulting in true freedom, these teachings actually made the false teachers slaves of their own corruption.

Alarmingly, these teachers targeted those who were ‘barely escaping’ from error (v. 18). False teaching has a greater potential to influence those new to the faith, and so we must do what we can to protect new converts, otherwise they might fall back into old patterns of sin.” ₍₁₎

We experience freedom in Christ because we are no longer driven to engage in destructive behaviors that bring harm to ourselves and others. As another source rightly observes, “The false teachers can’t deliver the freedom they promise, because they themselves are enslaved to the very corruption which people are trying to escape.” ₍₂₎

(1) Tabletalk magazine. Slaves of Corruption. https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/slaves-corruption Retrieved 12 August, 2024

(2) John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), 2 Pe 2:19.

“For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error” (2 Peter 2:18).

In 1946, the British Institution of Electrical Engineers documented a previously unknown mechanical device called the “Turbo Encabulator.” That device was previously unknown for a good reason- it was a fictitious machine that was created for the amusement of the engineers who invented it. The product documentation for the Turbo Encabulator was thus infused with a humorous maze of techno babble, mechanical gibberish, and imaginative descriptions of fictional components.

Engineers at the General Electric corporation later built upon that work with the publication of a data sheet for the Turboencabulator. This bulletin was similar to the documentation created for other devices manufactured by General Electric, but contained the same ridiculous technical jargon. An excerpt from that publication offers an amusing sample of this pseudo-technical language…

“Based on the principle of power generation by the modial interaction of magnetoreluctance and capacitive directance, the Turboencabulator negates the relative motion of conventional conductors and fluxes… In addition, whenever a barescent skor motion is required, it may be employed with a reciprocating dingle arm to reduce the sinusoidal depleneration in nofer trunnions.”

An instructional video for the Turbo Encabulator was later created that mimicked the industrial training films of the 1960’s with the same entertaining results.

While the Turbo Encabulator was invented to make us laugh, there was nothing funny about the heretical teachers of the first century, or those who carry on their work today. Much like the imaginary Turbo Encabulator, such teachers hide false doctrines and religious platitudes inside “great swelling words of emptiness.” These void and empty teachings thus masquerade as penetrating insights, but actually deliver little or nothing of spiritual value.

We can often identify the presence of such teaching with the following question: “How much Scripture does this person use in his or her teachings?” Religious books, messages, or presentations that routinely feature little or no Biblical text should thus serve as warnings. Spiritual teachings that are not supported by the text or context of a Biblical passage should also be viewed with great suspicion.

The insight offered by one source is one that bears repeating in this regard…

“…There are various ways to use the word of God deceitfully, or to tamper with it. Using a Bible text to preach a ‘sermon’ that has little or nothing to do with the Bible is one of the common ways of doing it.” ₍₁₎

Image Credit: Engineers at General Electric’s Instrument Department, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?search=Turboencabulator&title=Special:MediaSearch&go=Go&type=image

(1) Paul T. Butler. The Bible Study Textbook Series, Studies In Second Corinthians (College Press) [p. 93] Copyright © 1988 College Press Publishing Company https://archive.org/stream/BibleStudyTextbookSeriesSecondCorinthians/132Corinthians-Butler_djvu.txt

“These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (2 Peter 2:17).

There are few emotions more painful than disappointment. For instance, let’s consider the plight of a thirsty traveler in an ancient culture where access to water from a well was crucial for survival. Imagine the hope and encouragement that would accompany the sight of a water well in the distance. Now imagine the intense disappointment our traveler would experience if he or she found that well to be dry. In that scenario, we might argue that it would have been better if our fictional traveler never came across that well at all.

That little drama serves to illustrate the word-picture given to us here in 2 Peter 2:17. False teachers are like spiritual wells without water, which is worse than no well at all. If you’re dying of thirst, it would be better to have no well than a dry well, since the presence of a well naturally raises the expectation of finding water. When it comes to false teachers, the situation is quite similar – you approach with the hopeful anticipation of receiving something valuable from God’s Word, only to be disappointed when you leave empty-handed.

Peter builds upon this analogy with a subsequent reference to “…clouds blown by a windstorm” (CEV). To better understand this reference, it helps to remember that ancient farmers didn’t have access to modern irrigation methods to supply water for their fields. Instead, farmers often had to rely on steady rains to help their crops develop. A cloud that held the promise of rain but failed to deliver might be a matter of life or death for a farmer and those who depended on him.

This stands in contrast to Jesus, who once said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him” (John 7:37-38). He also said, “‘…whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life'” (John 4:10-14 NIV).

Finally, the indictments leveled against these false teachers went beyond their failure to deliver on their promises, for this passage ends on an ominous note: “…their fate will be the black night of utter darkness” (Phillips). Thus, it is important to familiarize ourselves with the Christ of the Scriptures. As Jesus Himself reminded us, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

“These false teachers have left the straight path and wandered off to follow the path of Balaam, son of Beor. Balaam loved what his wrongdoing earned him. But he was convicted for his evil. A donkey, which normally can’t talk, spoke with a human voice and wouldn’t allow the prophet to continue his insanity” (2 Peter 2:15-16 GW).

After failing to place a curse upon the people of Israel, here is what took place immediately after the prophet Balaam left the Moabite king Balak….

“While Israel was staying in the Acacia Grove, the people began to prostitute themselves with the women of Moab. The women invited them to the sacrifices for their gods, and the people ate and bowed in worship to their gods. So Israel aligned itself with Baal of Peor, and the Lord’s anger burned against Israel” (Numbers 25:1-3 CSB).

So Balaam could not collect on Balak’s promise of a payment to curse the people of Israel, at least not initially. However, it appears Balaam devised a trap that involved seducing the people of Israel into acts of idolatry and sexual immorality. Balaam’s strategy was apparently this: “If I can’t get God to harm the people, perhaps I can get the people to harm themselves.” Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened according to the opening verses of Numbers chapter twenty-five.

So what do we have in Balaam? Well, a few potential applications come to mind…

• Balaam serves as an example of a spiritual leader who is “only in it for the money.”
• He was someone who appeared religious, but actually had a hidden agenda.
• In Balaam, we have someone who was willing to sell others out for the right price.
• Finally, Balaam merchandised a God-given gift for personal gain. In the words of 2 Peter 2:15, Balaam was someone “…who loved the wages of unrighteousness.”

Now, before we conclude our look at Balaam’s life, we should take note of one final detail. That detail involves Balaam’s demise, as recorded for us in Numbers 31:8. During a battle against the people of Midian, that portion of Scripture tells us that the people of Israel defeated five Midianite kings. And then, almost as an aside, we read this: “They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword.”

Balaam’s death reminds us that judgment eventually comes to all. Like Balaam, we may disguise our true intentions from others, but we can never hide them from our Creator. Thus, we should remember Balaam’s example along with the words of Romans 2:6: “[God] will render to each one according to his deeds.”

“Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness” (2 Peter 2:15-16 ESV).

Balak, a Moabite king, sought to enlist the prophet Balaam’s help in cursing the people of Israel; however, his efforts produced the opposite effect. The prophet he sought to hire to curse the Israelites responded with three blessings instead. That led to what happened next…

“King Balak flew into a rage against Balaam. He angrily clapped his hands and shouted, ‘I called you to curse my enemies! Instead, you have blessed them three times. Now get out of here! Go back home! I promised to reward you richly, but the Lord has kept you from your reward.’

Balaam told Balak, ‘Don’t you remember what I told your messengers? I said, ‘Even if Balak were to give me his palace filled with silver and gold, I would be powerless to do anything against the will of the Lord.’ I told you that I could say only what the Lord says!’” (Numbers 24:10-13).

If the Biblical account of Balaam’s life ended there, we might struggle to grasp the significance of this reference to “the prophet’s madness” here in 2 Peter chapter two. Unfortunately, the story of Balaam’s life didn’t end with that passage. By piecing together various portions of Scripture, it becomes apparent that Balaam’s interest in Balak’s money was greater than it seemed.

For example, the Biblical book of Deuteronomy conveys the following information regarding the Moabites and another Old Testament people group known as the Ammonites…

”…they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you. Nevertheless the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you” (Deuteronomy 23:4-5).

So it seems that Balaam asked God to curse the people of Israel, but He refused to do so. Then there is Jesus’ message to the church community in the ancient city of Pergamos…

“But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin” (Revelation 2:14 NLT).

Based on this information, it appears Balaam concluded he couldn’t curse Israel directly. So he devised an alternate plan. This portion of Scripture tells us that Balaam guided Balak towards an indirect means of destruction by leading the people of Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality. Not coincidentally, that is exactly what took place after Balaam departed from Balak, as we’ll see in the last installment of our sub-study into Balaam’s life.

“They have gone off the road and become lost like Balaam, the son of Beor, who fell in love with the money he could make by doing wrong; but Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey spoke to him with a human voice, scolding and rebuking him” (2 Peter 2:15-16 TLB).

The Biblical book of Numbers relates the account of the prophet Balaam and his journey to visit a king who offered to hire him to curse the people of Israel. But unbeknownst to Balaam, the donkey he was riding refused to pass the angel of the Lord who stood before them. That led to the following encounter…

“Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him. ‘Why did you beat your donkey those three times?’ the angel of the Lord demanded. ‘Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.’

Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the Lord, ‘I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.’ But the angel of the Lord told Balaam, ‘Go with these men, but say only what I tell you to say.’ So Balaam went on with Balak’s officials” (Numbers 22:31-35 NLT).

Upon his arrival, Balaam was taken to a place where he could curse the nation of Israel encamped below. But God instead gave him a blessing to invoke upon the people. That prompted an immediate response from Balak, the king who sought to hire him: “…’What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies. Instead, you have blessed them!’ But Balaam replied, ‘I will speak only the message that the Lord puts in my mouth’” (Numbers 23:11-12 NLT).

The king then escorted Balaam to another location where he could curse the Israelites. But once again, Balaam spoke a blessing upon the people. That led to the following exchange: “Then Balak said to Balaam, ‘Fine, but if you won’t curse them, at least don’t bless them!’ But Balaam replied to Balak, ‘Didn’t I tell you that I can do only what the Lord tells me?’” (Numbers 23:25-26 NLT).

The following verse tells us, “Then King Balak said to Balaam, ‘Come, I will take you to one more place. Perhaps it will please God to let you curse them from there” (Numbers 23:27 NLT). However, Balaam pronounced another blessing that ended with an echo of God’s promise to Abraham, the Old Testament patriarch: “Blessed is everyone who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is everyone who curses you’” (Numbers 24:9)

And, as we’ll see, that’s when Balak really became enraged.

“They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor, who loved to earn money by doing wrong. But Balaam was stopped from his mad course when his donkey rebuked him with a human voice” (2 Peter 2:15-16 NLT).

While it’s hard to make a definitive statement, it appears God qualified His permission to allow the prophet Balaam to accompany a delegation of Moabites who approached him with a proposal to curse the Israelites. We find that qualification in Numbers 22:20: “If the men come to call you, rise and go with them…” (NKJV). However, the following verse tells us that Balaam rose the next morning and departed with the Moabite ambassadors seemingly of his own accord.

Balaam’s apparent readiness to act on an invitation to curse those whom God sought to bless may shed light on the events that followed…

“But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road.

Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all.

“This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff. Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. ‘What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?’ it asked Balaam. ‘You have made me look like a fool!’ Balaam shouted. ‘If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!’” (Numbers 22:22-29).

The most noteworthy incident in this passage is open to debate. Was it the fact that God caused a donkey to speak a human language, or the fact that Balaam engaged in a conversation with a talking donkey as though there was nothing out of the ordinary?

Either way, Balaam’s donkey responded to him with a perfectly logical question…

“’But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,’ the donkey answered. ‘Have I ever done anything like this before?’ ‘No,’ Balaam admitted” (Numbers 22: 30).

So far, Balaam’s donkey has demonstrated greater composure than Balaam himself. But then again, Balaam’s donkey knew something he didn’t, as we’ll see next.