In his second epistle, the apostle Peter had much to say about the prophets of old. He used them to explain the difference between God’s message and the counterfeit teaching of men, both in old times and now.
In the latter part of the first chapter, he wrote of the blessed nature of prophecy. He noted that Jesus was identified as the Christ, the Son of God, by the fulfillment of the prophecies of old. His conclusion: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21).
Thayer defines prophecy as: “a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God.” He indicates that in the New Testament the word is used to reference the inspired utterance of the Old Testament prophets, especially regarding the Christ and His kingdom.
But, it is noted in our text that there were also false prophets that existed in Old Testament times. Men who portrayed themselves as proclaimers of God’s will, but who spoke instead words of their own devising. The advisors of king Ahab of Israel were of this sort, telling the king and his ally king Jehoshaphat of Judah that they would be victorious against Syria, when God Himself declared through the true prophet Micaiah they would be defeated.
So, how do we know which prophets are false prophets and which prophets are true prophets of God? Well, the proof is in the pudding! What Micaiah said would happen actually happened. The other 400 said something would happen which did not come true! As Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever the Lord says to me, that I will speak” (1 Kings 22:14). This is the test regarding teaching, whether inspired or uninspired (taken from the inspired word) – is it TRUE? Notice the clear words of God, from Deuteronomy 18:20-22, “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’— when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.”
Prophets were always speaking God’s word. Otherwise they were false prophets.
This leads to Peter’s warning in 2 Peter 2:1-2, “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.”
See the similarities? Some prophets of old and some teachers Peter warns about are FALSE. The false teachers will bring in destructive doctrine, just like the false prophets did. Many will follow their destructive ways, just like the many who were taken in by the false prophets in Old Testament times.
What is the difference? Well, today there is no indication of inspiration. We know that the faith has been “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Now, men claim to be proclaiming an understanding of God’s will, and they are either wrong or purposefully lying! Regardless, the proof is still in the pudding! The apostle Paul wrote, “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself” (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
Notice Paul’s words, “If anyone…” The teaching of error is inherently sinful. It is indicative of one who is unwilling to submit to truth, and as such is dangerous to the people of God. Such people are not to be tolerated by the faithful. “From such withdraw yourself.” It is a mistake to take one that is leading others into error, and to protest that “he is a good person” or “he is sincere!” Instead, he is proud, he has a corrupt mind, he is destitute of the truth! Regardless of our perception, unless he ceases and repents, he is evil!
It doesn’t matter if it is a false prophet of old, or a false teacher of today, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the first. Therefore by their fruits you will know them” (Matthew 7:19-20). It is a mistake to protect any man who is teaching a doctrine (no matter our perception of his sincerity) that can deceive the elect. Peter wrote they have “forsaken the right way and gone astray” (15), and that “many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2). Brethren beware!
