Eight Hundred and Fifty

The Old Testament lists several mighty warriors who fought other soldiers or armies—David against the Philistines or Gideon against the Midianites. One exception was the fight between God’s prophet Elijah against four hundred and fifty prophets of the god Baal and four hundred prophets of the goddess Asherah. One against eight hundred fifty! These prophets were not foreigners or warriors; they were fellow Israelites who led other Israelites to worship god Baal or goddess Asherah. It was a fight for the loyalty of Israelites to YHWH God or other gods or goddesses (1 Kings 18).

Because of these and many other false prophets (including Balaam), the Law warned them how to spot false prophets. First, their predictions didn’t come true (Deut 18:22). Second, they tried to lead people away from worshipping YHWH God (Deut 13:5). Israelites were to watch and not fall prey to those false prophets.

Peter referred to their presence in the OT and said,

“Just as false prophets were among the people in those days, false teachers will come among you and will introduce destructive sects while denying the master who bought them and bringing upon themselves sudden ruin.” (2 Pet 2:1)

Just as false prophets of the old falsely predicted the future and tried to stir people away from worshipping YHWH God, the false teachers of Peter’s time introduced destructive sects (in Greek: heresies, meaning teachings that meant to cause division). In the process, they denied the Lord Jesus, who bought them, just as Peter once denied Jesus. Because they denied the Lord, they brought sudden ruin upon themselves. Peter never explained what this ruin was, but it would have been as severe as what the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and four hundred prophets of Asherah faced.

Sadly, however,

“Many will follow their licentiousness; in this way, they will speak evil of the path of truth.” (2 Pet 2:2).

One of the characteristics of the false teaching was licentiousness – doing whatever one wanted, even if it was against the Law and God’s character. Because the followers loved and followed their teaching, they started speaking ill of the path of truth. Perhaps, they found the path of truth restrictive or constraining, and they preferred the licentiousness the false teachers taught.

Peter explained the true motive of the false teachers:

“They will do business with you with fabricated words with the intention of greediness.” (2 Pet 2:3a).

Those false teachers were motivated by greediness. They wanted to get rich off the congregation. So they fabricated words, “wisely crafted myths” (1:16), to trap the people.

Those false teachers would not always flourish.

“The judgment will not tarry long for them, and their destruction will not sleep [i.e., it will not rest].” (2 Pet 2:3b)

The false teachers would someday have to give an account for their actions. They couldn’t escape forever.

We shouldn’t quickly call people heretics or judge them as false teachers. Genuine false teachers, however, will try to lead believers away from worshipping the true God to worshipping false gods, promote a licentious living, bring in destructive or divisive teachings, and teach for gaining wealth (i.e., for greediness). When they do these, we avoid them as they try to deny the Lord who bought them and will face the consequences.