Having described his own apostolic experience with Jesus, and having affirmed the authority of all Biblical revelation (1:16-21), Peter is now ready to address the problem which has prompted him to write this letter: the presence of false teachers in the church. In 2 Peter 2, we are reminded that God’s people in every age have had to deal with those who depart from the truth of God’s Word, introducing harmful heresies to the community of faith. Whether adding to the Scriptures or subtracting from them, their errors are usually subtle. They may talk about Jesus, but they have their own agenda. Since they typically arise from within the fellowship, they are often trusted and popular. Those not well-grounded in the Word are especially vulnerable to these deceivers. But in departing from the true gospel, they deny the very Master they claim to follow. Motivated by greed, their goal is to exploit others. Ensnared by shameful immorality, they bring dishonor to God’s name. As a result, they are on the path to eternal destruction (v 1-3). Despite the apparent success of these false teachers, God will have the last word. He is perfectly capable of bringing them into judgment, while bringing final salvation to all true believers. Peter cites three examples from the Old Testament to prove his point. First, God cast rebellious angels into hell, where they await final judgment. Second, God saved Noah and his family from the flood that wiped out the wicked people of his day. Third, God saved righteous Lot when He destroyed the immoral cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Based on these three incidents, Peter draws two conclusions: God will certainly preserve His people from all trials, including the trial of false teaching. And God will certainly condemn the ungodly on the day of judgment (v 4-10). The rest of the chapter provides a further description of the false teachers. “Bold and willful,” they arrogantly assert themselves rather than submitting to God’s authority. With “eyes full of adultery” and “hearts trained in greed,” they promise freedom, but, in reality, they are slaves to their own corruption. Despite their initial profession of faith, these people had given themselves back over to the destructive sinful ways of life that characterized them before they claimed to know Jesus. Peter says, it would have been better for them to have never heard the gospel than to reject it after being so close. Like the dog returning to its vomit, and like the sow returning to its mud, professing believers who eventually return to their pre-Christian lifestyle reveal their true nature as those who have never actually been born again (v 11-22). For further meditation: