II Peter 2:1-11
Unbelievable! Of our 11 (or 10, if you prefer) verses today, six and one-half of those verses (vv. 4-10a) are all one sentence!! Peter truly writes differently from Paul!
Much of what we have in today’s reading we also saw in Jude. Biblical scholars presume that Peter copied from Jude, or Jude from Peter, or they both worked from a third source. We’ll see this pattern for the next few days.
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. (v. 1) In bold above I highlighted …even denying the Master who bought them… and I felt so sad. I quickly had in mind people (some whom I know) who have turned away, even priests and “Christian” ministers who deny Jesus’ physical resurrection or do not believe in heaven or hell – especially a hell where people could suffer for all eternity. Yeah, that troubles me also, but it’s what Scripture seems to say. Maybe there is something “post-death” that has not been revealed to us; maybe there is something beyond the “Final Judgment” for which God has a plan. But for me, as I live now, I am humbled and fully grateful that my Master bought me and I trust that I would never deny Him.
Slava Bohu!