And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
Many will copy the corrupt and destructive conduct of deceptive teachers, and because of them the true way will be slandered and brought into disrepute. These deceivers rise from within the professed people of God claiming light and godliness while serving sin, secretly bringing in ruinous errors and even denying the Lord who bought them. Their pernicious course is lawless, self-exalting indulgence, teaching that impurity such as adultery does not offend God and twisting truth into smooth pleasing sophistries for gain. By such inconsistent lives they cause the world to revile the gospel, make believers stumble, and turn souls who might have been saved toward ruin. The warning describes the present time and calls for following the meek and lowly pattern of Jesus in united obedient labor, since name and place in the church do not decide destiny but character does.
Meaning in Context
Many will take up the corrupt and destructive course of false teachers, and because of that conduct the way of truth will be brought into disrepute and spoken against. Their destructive ways discredit the truth they profess or oppose, yet opposition does not remove the duty to let the words of truth still be heard. Those who trust and rely on such teachers can be led to ruin by deceptive and destructive doctrines and practices.
As there were false prophets among ancient Israel, so there will be false teachers among God's people who secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring swift destruction upon themselves. Through covetousness they will exploit their followers with deceptive, feigned words, making merchandise of them, though their judgment is certain. Opposite them stands the obedient approved class, loyal to all the commandments, for sin is transgression of the law, and the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation while reserving the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. The verse is fulfilled when professed teachers depart from the faith, refuse light and warnings, exalt themselves, and lead souls astray.
Pernicious ways are iniquitous works of licentiousness, including adultery, committed by those who profess to believe the truth and claim light, knowledge, and love of the truth. Such vileness of character denies Christ more decidedly than open unbelief, for the class described is not open unbelievers but professed followers whose conduct brings reproach on the cause of truth. Pernicious ways are also self-exalting ways, set against the pattern of Jesus who did not exalt Himself but came meek and lowly in heart, though the greatest Teacher, traveling on foot from place to place. To follow them is to trust one's own judgment and walk in one's own wisdom, rejecting God's voice and despising the warnings and counsel of His servants, and to persist in that course turns the feet into the path to perdition, ending in pale-faced terror and open confession with bitter self-reproach before the assembled throng in the judgment, with souls lost who might have been saved.
Character of False Teachers
False teachers do not rise among open unbelievers but among professed followers who claim to believe the truth and claim light and knowledge and love of the truth. They are not those who openly claim no faith in Christ, but a class whose vileness of character brings reproach upon the cause of truth. Those who introduce heresies and weaken faith may appear to be godly people walking in the light and correcting the church, yet they serve sin. Many follow their vile and corrupt ways, and by their character the true way is slandered and discredited.
They deny the Lord who redeemed them with His blood, refusing to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God and showing no reverence for the eternal Father, so they have neither the Father nor the Son. Like their great leader the rebel chief they are in rebellion against the law of God and despise the blood of Christ. These seducers despise His law and blood while seeking to draw souls after them. Spiritualist teachers belong to this company, for in denying Christ as the Son of God their teaching is a manifestation of antichrist.
They secretly bring in destructive errors, including that licentiousness and adultery do not displease God, thus denying Christ by vileness of character more decidedly than open unbelief. Their pernicious ways are iniquitous works of licentiousness and adultery. They twist Scripture and the spirit of prophecy to serve human ideas and schemes, and through covetousness they exploit others and bring discredit on the truth. They proclaim a misleading message and speak smooth things that lead others astray. They go out from among God's people speaking perverse things, exalting themselves above their brethren, rejecting united labor, choosing their own way and leaning to their own understanding, and claiming solitary new light contrary to the established faith of the body in every reform to draw away disciples after them. In this they repeat the work of the Jews in spying on the track of Jesus, gathering false reports and charging Him with crimes to turn the people away from Him, and by reason of their course the truth of God is given a bad name before others. Men make terms for themselves and follow their own pernicious ways by copying the world's standard in the household, departing from the plain Thus saith the Lord and walking contrary to the Word of God, and by them the truth is evil spoken of. They hold opinions that are never to be given up and seek to immortalize theories, and the same cherishing of wrong ideas that developed the character of Lucifer leads them to actions unacceptable to God. Thinking their judgment infallible, they bring strange things and pleasing sophistries from deceiving angels to confuse the minds of God's people, spoil the church, and injure the Lord's work.
By their inconsistent lives false brethren bring reproach on the way of truth they profess. The world reviles the gospel because of the inconsistent lives of people who profess Christ, and Christians may stumble when they see that many who bear His name are not controlled by His Spirit. Their presence also leads people to think that God excuses sin. Following pernicious ways means trusting to one's own judgment and walking in one's own wisdom, rejecting the voice of God and despising the warnings and advice of His servants, and continuing in that course with perseverance and persistency. By those pernicious ways the way of truth is evil spoken of, and souls are lost who might have been saved through that person's instrumentality.
Fulfillment and Duty Today
The verse presents the true condition of the world at this time and stands as an admonition to be heeded. It is fulfilled when professed teachers depart from the faith, refuse light and warnings, exalt themselves, and lead souls astray. As there were false prophets among ancient Israel so there are false teachers who secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them and bringing swift destruction on themselves, while many follow their corrupt ways so that the way of truth is spoken evil of. It applies to opposition that seeks to discredit the truth entrusted to the saints, including the third angel's message, yet opposition does not remove the duty to make its words heard. Their conduct brings reproach on the truth they claim or oppose, in contrast with sincere speakers who do not corrupt God's word, making the choice between falsehood and truth clear.
The same danger seen when men in the early church caused much trouble by holding opinions never to be given up and seeking to immortalize theories must be met today, so all must be on guard. The cherishing of wrong ideas that developed the character of Lucifer leads to actions unacceptable to God, as men thinking their judgment infallible bring strange things and pleasing sophistries from deceiving angels to confuse minds, spoil the church, and injure the work. Many depart from the faith by making terms for themselves and following their own pernicious ways, copying the world's standard in the household, departing from the plain Thus saith the Lord and walking contrary to the Word, and by them the truth is evil spoken of. The warning applies to those in Battle Creek who disregard God's messages and follow their own ways, and to those who depart from the faith to proclaim a misleading message and speak smooth things leading others astray.
Parents who let their children follow pernicious ways bring reproach on the way of truth. Children's education should begin at the dawn of reason in the home and continue in the fear and love of God. Parents who indulge their children and fail to restrain them are responsible when the children follow pernicious ways and bring discredit on the way of truth, since neglect allows children to follow their own will rather than learn obedience to God.
The passage belongs to a rule in 2 Peter 2:1-12 to be carried out by following Jesus as pattern. Jesus did not exalt Himself but came meek and lowly in heart, traveling on foot from place to place, yet He was the greatest Teacher who ever walked the earth, and the call is to learn from Him and be what He would have His people be. The work is to be carried on sensibly with men and women connected in the work and each carrying their part in a way that glorifies God, in contrast to following pernicious self-exalting ways by reason of which the way of truth is evil spoken of. It sets forth work that means everything and must be understood and made a business, calling for heaven's light to know the will of the Lord, for circumspect and earnest seeking of heaven with all the heart and understanding, with grace giving precious light so mistakes are not made, with confession and overcoming when mistakes are made, and with refusal to practice the sayings and customs of the world. It calls to live as a peculiar people called out of darkness into marvelous light to show forth His praises, to keep this Scripture in view, to search the Scriptures to know duty and find eternal life leaving no excuse for being found deficient, and to come into sacred relation to Jesus Christ so that by beholding His life and character there is partaking of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust.
Bearing Christ's name or holding a place in the church does not determine destiny; character does. The world reviles the gospel because of the inconsistent lives of professed followers, Christians may stumble when they see that many who bear His name are not controlled by His Spirit, and their presence can lead people to think that God excuses sin. Following pernicious ways means trusting to one's own judgment and walking in one's own wisdom, rejecting the voice of God and despising the warnings and advice of His servants, and continuing in that course with perseverance and persistency. That course turns the feet into the path to perdition and will bring pale-faced terror and open confession with bitter self-reproach before the assembled throng in the judgment, while souls are lost who might have been saved through that person's instrumentality. Refusal to see and humble themselves leaves followers of their own harmful ways unprepared for the day of God, which comes upon them unexpectedly like a thief.
Many will copy the corrupt and destructive conduct of deceptive teachers, and because of them the true way will be slandered and brought into disrepute. These deceivers rise from within the professed people of God claiming light and godliness while serving sin, secretly bringing in ruinous errors and even denying the Lord who bought them. Their pernicious course is lawless, self-exalting indulgence, teaching that impurity such as adultery does not offend God and twisting truth into smooth pleasing sophistries for gain. By such inconsistent lives they cause the world to revile the gospel, make believers stumble, and turn souls who might have been saved toward ruin. The warning describes the present time and calls for following the meek and lowly pattern of Jesus in united obedient labor, since name and place in the church do not decide destiny but character does.
Meaning in Context
Many will take up the corrupt and destructive course of false teachers, and because of that conduct the way of truth will be brought into disrepute and spoken against. Their destructive ways discredit the truth they profess or oppose, yet opposition does not remove the duty to let the words of truth still be heard. Those who trust and rely on such teachers can be led to ruin by deceptive and destructive doctrines and practices.
As there were false prophets among ancient Israel, so there will be false teachers among God's people who secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring swift destruction upon themselves. Through covetousness they will exploit their followers with deceptive, feigned words, making merchandise of them, though their judgment is certain. Opposite them stands the obedient approved class, loyal to all the commandments, for sin is transgression of the law, and the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation while reserving the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished. The verse is fulfilled when professed teachers depart from the faith, refuse light and warnings, exalt themselves, and lead souls astray.
Pernicious ways are iniquitous works of licentiousness, including adultery, committed by those who profess to believe the truth and claim light, knowledge, and love of the truth. Such vileness of character denies Christ more decidedly than open unbelief, for the class described is not open unbelievers but professed followers whose conduct brings reproach on the cause of truth. Pernicious ways are also self-exalting ways, set against the pattern of Jesus who did not exalt Himself but came meek and lowly in heart, though the greatest Teacher, traveling on foot from place to place. To follow them is to trust one's own judgment and walk in one's own wisdom, rejecting God's voice and despising the warnings and counsel of His servants, and to persist in that course turns the feet into the path to perdition, ending in pale-faced terror and open confession with bitter self-reproach before the assembled throng in the judgment, with souls lost who might have been saved.
Character of False Teachers
False teachers do not rise among open unbelievers but among professed followers who claim to believe the truth and claim light and knowledge and love of the truth. They are not those who openly claim no faith in Christ, but a class whose vileness of character brings reproach upon the cause of truth. Those who introduce heresies and weaken faith may appear to be godly people walking in the light and correcting the church, yet they serve sin. Many follow their vile and corrupt ways, and by their character the true way is slandered and discredited.
They deny the Lord who redeemed them with His blood, refusing to acknowledge Christ as the Son of God and showing no reverence for the eternal Father, so they have neither the Father nor the Son. Like their great leader the rebel chief they are in rebellion against the law of God and despise the blood of Christ. These seducers despise His law and blood while seeking to draw souls after them. Spiritualist teachers belong to this company, for in denying Christ as the Son of God their teaching is a manifestation of antichrist.
They secretly bring in destructive errors, including that licentiousness and adultery do not displease God, thus denying Christ by vileness of character more decidedly than open unbelief. Their pernicious ways are iniquitous works of licentiousness and adultery. They twist Scripture and the spirit of prophecy to serve human ideas and schemes, and through covetousness they exploit others and bring discredit on the truth. They proclaim a misleading message and speak smooth things that lead others astray. They go out from among God's people speaking perverse things, exalting themselves above their brethren, rejecting united labor, choosing their own way and leaning to their own understanding, and claiming solitary new light contrary to the established faith of the body in every reform to draw away disciples after them. In this they repeat the work of the Jews in spying on the track of Jesus, gathering false reports and charging Him with crimes to turn the people away from Him, and by reason of their course the truth of God is given a bad name before others. Men make terms for themselves and follow their own pernicious ways by copying the world's standard in the household, departing from the plain Thus saith the Lord and walking contrary to the Word of God, and by them the truth is evil spoken of. They hold opinions that are never to be given up and seek to immortalize theories, and the same cherishing of wrong ideas that developed the character of Lucifer leads them to actions unacceptable to God. Thinking their judgment infallible, they bring strange things and pleasing sophistries from deceiving angels to confuse the minds of God's people, spoil the church, and injure the Lord's work.
By their inconsistent lives false brethren bring reproach on the way of truth they profess. The world reviles the gospel because of the inconsistent lives of people who profess Christ, and Christians may stumble when they see that many who bear His name are not controlled by His Spirit. Their presence also leads people to think that God excuses sin. Following pernicious ways means trusting to one's own judgment and walking in one's own wisdom, rejecting the voice of God and despising the warnings and advice of His servants, and continuing in that course with perseverance and persistency. By those pernicious ways the way of truth is evil spoken of, and souls are lost who might have been saved through that person's instrumentality.
Fulfillment and Duty Today
The verse presents the true condition of the world at this time and stands as an admonition to be heeded. It is fulfilled when professed teachers depart from the faith, refuse light and warnings, exalt themselves, and lead souls astray. As there were false prophets among ancient Israel so there are false teachers who secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them and bringing swift destruction on themselves, while many follow their corrupt ways so that the way of truth is spoken evil of. It applies to opposition that seeks to discredit the truth entrusted to the saints, including the third angel's message, yet opposition does not remove the duty to make its words heard. Their conduct brings reproach on the truth they claim or oppose, in contrast with sincere speakers who do not corrupt God's word, making the choice between falsehood and truth clear.
The same danger seen when men in the early church caused much trouble by holding opinions never to be given up and seeking to immortalize theories must be met today, so all must be on guard. The cherishing of wrong ideas that developed the character of Lucifer leads to actions unacceptable to God, as men thinking their judgment infallible bring strange things and pleasing sophistries from deceiving angels to confuse minds, spoil the church, and injure the work. Many depart from the faith by making terms for themselves and following their own pernicious ways, copying the world's standard in the household, departing from the plain Thus saith the Lord and walking contrary to the Word, and by them the truth is evil spoken of. The warning applies to those in Battle Creek who disregard God's messages and follow their own ways, and to those who depart from the faith to proclaim a misleading message and speak smooth things leading others astray.
Parents who let their children follow pernicious ways bring reproach on the way of truth. Children's education should begin at the dawn of reason in the home and continue in the fear and love of God. Parents who indulge their children and fail to restrain them are responsible when the children follow pernicious ways and bring discredit on the way of truth, since neglect allows children to follow their own will rather than learn obedience to God.
The passage belongs to a rule in 2 Peter 2:1-12 to be carried out by following Jesus as pattern. Jesus did not exalt Himself but came meek and lowly in heart, traveling on foot from place to place, yet He was the greatest Teacher who ever walked the earth, and the call is to learn from Him and be what He would have His people be. The work is to be carried on sensibly with men and women connected in the work and each carrying their part in a way that glorifies God, in contrast to following pernicious self-exalting ways by reason of which the way of truth is evil spoken of. It sets forth work that means everything and must be understood and made a business, calling for heaven's light to know the will of the Lord, for circumspect and earnest seeking of heaven with all the heart and understanding, with grace giving precious light so mistakes are not made, with confession and overcoming when mistakes are made, and with refusal to practice the sayings and customs of the world. It calls to live as a peculiar people called out of darkness into marvelous light to show forth His praises, to keep this Scripture in view, to search the Scriptures to know duty and find eternal life leaving no excuse for being found deficient, and to come into sacred relation to Jesus Christ so that by beholding His life and character there is partaking of the divine nature having escaped the corruption in the world through lust.
Bearing Christ's name or holding a place in the church does not determine destiny; character does. The world reviles the gospel because of the inconsistent lives of professed followers, Christians may stumble when they see that many who bear His name are not controlled by His Spirit, and their presence can lead people to think that God excuses sin. Following pernicious ways means trusting to one's own judgment and walking in one's own wisdom, rejecting the voice of God and despising the warnings and advice of His servants, and continuing in that course with perseverance and persistency. That course turns the feet into the path to perdition and will bring pale-faced terror and open confession with bitter self-reproach before the assembled throng in the judgment, while souls are lost who might have been saved through that person's instrumentality. Refusal to see and humble themselves leaves followers of their own harmful ways unprepared for the day of God, which comes upon them unexpectedly like a thief.