2 Peter 2:4-10a – The impending judgement of false teachers

To ensure that the believers avoid those false teachers and their teachings, Peter then dealt with their consequences in verses 4-10. He illustrated from records of God’s past judgements on fallen angels, the apostates and the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. They all deviated from the truth and were condemned.

In verse 4, he talked about the fallen angels. Their sins were not spared, they were cast into hell and committed to the pit of darkness, reserved for the judgment. The word “hell” is not referring to the ultimate place of judgment but to “Tartarus”. A term borrowed from Greek mythology that described a holding place of darkness and bondage.

 

In verse 5, he talked about the apostates in Noah’s days. God also did not spare those apostates in the days of Noah. Hence, there was no ground why God should spare sinners now. However, God did spare Noah and seven others, his family members. Noah is here described as a preacher of righteousness. His life and testimony witnessed for God and reflected His righteousness. Peter was implying that in Noah a new order had begun. The old world, the world of the ungodly, was destroyed in the judgment of the Great Flood.

In verse 6, he referred to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. In using the illustration of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, God had indicated that He would judge ungodly sinners with fire. What was seen in the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah should serve as a warning to all who would continue in their life of ungodliness. 

While He would judge the sinners, Peter showed in verses 7-9, that God would preserve the righteous. Lot’s life as well as Noah’s should serve to assure the readers of God’s justice. He would not lump the righteous with the ungodly. Peter actually described Lot as a righteous man. He could have seen this in comparison with the licentious sinful people of Sodom and Gomorrah. Here, Peter seemed to indicate that Lot was tortured by what he saw. He was tormented by the unrestraint evil carried out by the people of that twin-city. In verse 9, Peter assured them that the Lord is just. He would judge those who blatantly pay no attention to His commands but would protect and preserve those who remained faithful to Him. Those who deliberately disregard His Word and continue in their indulgent lifestyle, pandering to their carnal desires and despising His authority, God will definitely punish them.

In light of what we have seen would happen to those who had departed from God and did evil, we need to be circumspect in our living. Periodically, as soon as we know we are at risk of falling, let’s learn to pray the words of Psalm 139:23-24 -

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me and know my anxious thoughts;

And see if there be any hurtful (sinful) way in me,

And lead me in the everlasting way.