September 29, 2022 – Thursday
2 Peter 2:1 NIV
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.
2 Peter 2:1 HNT (Haweis New Testament)
1 BUT there were false prophets among the people, as there will be false teachers also among you, who wickedly introduce damnable heresies, and deny the sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 2:1 WNT (Weymouth New Testament)
1 BUT there were false prophets among the people, as there will be false teachers also among you, who wickedly introduce damnable heresies, and deny the Sovereign Lord who bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.
Comment
Continuing down the list of references to God as the Sovereign Lord, we come to the fourth occurrence. You see there are only three versions that refer to Him as sovereign Lord. Surprisingly, only one of the three makes it a point to capitalize the s on sovereign. However, if you go here and here you will find most versions refer to the Lord as Master. A few simply use the Lord, but all are translated from the Greek despotes.
I continue bringing this up as the references to God or His Son as despotes are rare enough we should pay attention to when it is used and see if we might discern why. Here, whether it is sovereign Lord as above or as Master in the NASB (and others), But false prophets also appeared among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even, bringing swift destruction upon themselves the reason for using despotes seems clear.
God is the absolute ruler over us, He is the despot over us with the ability to taake those denying the Master who bought them to do whatever He pleases with them. Most of us are aware He is the God of mercy and love, thus His Son died for our sins. Jesus bought us by His sacrifice on the cross. Looking at the verse, the one destructive heresy mentioned is denying the Master who bought them. Who would act as a teacher and deny what Jesus had done? There are those who lead churches who do so even today. Reading the rest of this chapter reveals God has a terrible punishment for such teachers, although the verse summarizes their fate, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.
This is not like what we read in James 3:1 where we read, 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. This speaks of a tougher judgment, but not a swift destruction as in our verse for today.
Bottom Line: God’s judgment can be swift and terrible, especially for those who seek to bring heresies into the church. Today this goes on in many churches as those in leadership make decisions clearly in opposition to God’s word. Avoid them and their heresies.
Prayer: Almighty God, Help us to discern whenever a false teaching comes before us. Let us see such clearly so we may avoid it as we should. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek