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SELF-WILLED APOSTATES
LORD’S DAY, JUNE 21
2 Peter 2:9-12
Colossians 3:5-10
 
“For a bishop must be blameless,
as the steward of God; not selfwilled …
not given to filthy lucre.”
 
SELF-WILLED APOSTATES
 
Peter exposed the rebellious conduct of the false teachers who were gaining grounds in the early church. They were portrayed as carnal, selfpromoting persons who showed no respect for authority.
 
The apostates were men who “walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness …” (2 Pet 2:10). The phrase “walk after” portrays them as persistently following a certain course. They were men who lived in unrestrained lust of their flesh. Their activities were “unclean” or defiling.
 
The next description of the apostates is that they “despise government” (2 Pet 2:10). They were challenging the authorities or those in power. This is certainly the opposite of what the Apostles taught the early church concerning believers’ attitude towards leadership. The apostolic teaching concerning our attitude toward the government is to submit (Rom 13:1). We are also exhorted to pray (1 Tim 2:1-4) and to show them respect (1 Pet 2:11-17). The same attitude is also encouraged at home toward parents (Eph 6:1-4), at workplaces toward employers (Eph 6:5-8) and in church toward leaders (Heb 13:17-18).
 
Peter continued to portray the false teachers as arrogant and presumptuous men who talked strange things for their own glory. In their daring speeches, they would “speak evil of dignities.” This could well be a description of their reviling against the angels. Then Peter reminded us that even the angels did not revile against the fallen angels. If the good angels avoid any rash accusation of those fallen ones, how much more should we avoid maligning authorities!
 
Their inconsiderate and puffed up speech and action made them look like “brute beasts.” They acted irrationally. They did not show the discernment and sensibility that were expected of spiritual men. They also liked to talk about things that were beyond their knowledge. Such apostates “shall utterly perish in their own corruption.”
 
THOUGHT: “A corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit” (Matt 7:17).
PRAYER: Deliver me and my church, O Lord, from corrupt men and their devices.

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