False teachers were everywhere in the early church—and Peter and Jude weren’t having it. Today’s reading, 2 Peter 1-3 and Jude, breaks down how to spot false teachers and why their behavior exposes their bad theology. If their lives don’t reflect the gospel, their words won’t either. Let’s dive in and see how Peter and Jude call them out.
✈️ Overview:
• 2 Peter and Jude are nearly identical in content, both written to warn against false teachers creeping into the church.
• Peter focuses less on doctrinal debate and more on the behavior of these teachers—because wrong belief leads to wrong behavior.
• Jude, the half-brother of Jesus, echoes Peter’s concerns, calling out leaders who abuse grace to justify sin.
🔎 Context Clues:
• The Guild Feasts were common in the Greco-Roman world—monthly gatherings for trade guilds that involved idol worship, raw meat sacrifices, heavy drinking, and sexual immorality.
• False teachers encouraged Christians to participate in these feasts, claiming it was “freedom.”
• Both Peter and Jude condemn this behavior, tying it to idolatry, greed, and power.
🤓 Nerdy Nuggets:
• Both books rely heavily on the Apocrypha, especially 1 Enoch and the Assumption of Moses. Jude 9 mentions Michael disputing the devil for Moses’ body—an apocryphal reference not found in the Old Testament.
• Both books also reference Old Testament examples like Balaam, Lot, and Sodom and Gomorrah, showing how God consistently judges sin.
✅ Timeless Truths:
• Behavior reveals belief. False teaching always leads to ungodly living—sensuality, greed, and idolatry. (2 Peter 2:1-3)
• Freedom isn’t what you think. “Whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” (2 Peter 2:19) True freedom means being free from sin, not indulging in it.
• Twisting Scripture is dangerous. Peter warns against distorting Paul’s writings to justify sin. (2 Peter 3:16)
False teachers promise freedom, but Peter and Jude remind us: If sin controls you, you’re not free. Stay rooted in truth and don’t be fooled. See you tomorrow as we kick off the Gospel of Matthew!
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