Peter laid out five critical warnings about false teachers (cf. 2 Peter 2:1-3). False teachers are a continuous threat, promote destructive heresies and alluring immorality, have impure motives, and are doomed to judgment. Regarding their judgment, Peter used the judgment of the fallen angels who cohabited with women, the ungodly generation of Noah’s era, and the ungodly of Sodom and Gomorrah to demonstrate that the judgment of false teachers is certain (cf. 2 Peter 2:4-10a). In the first part of verse ten, Peter gave two reasons for the certainty of judgment upon false teachers, namely they indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.
These two reasons for judgment against false teachers function as the transition to Peter’s damnable description of false teachers in 2 Peter 2:10b-22. It should be underscored that Peter’s description in verses ten through twenty-two parallels his warning in verses one through three. The purpose of the parallel is to focus the reader on the false teachers’ wickedness. In doing so, Peter uses more expressive and detailed terms to emphasize their wickedness. Peter presents a sevenfold damnable description of false teachers.
These two reasons for judgment against false teachers function as the transition to Peter’s damnable description of false teachers in 2 Peter 2:10b-22. It should be underscored that Peter’s description in verses ten through twenty-two parallels his warning in verses one through three. The purpose of the parallel is to focus the reader on the false teachers’ wickedness. In doing so, Peter uses more expressive and detailed terms to emphasize their wickedness. Peter presents a sevenfold damnable description of false teachers.
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