Resisting the evil one
Bold, arrogant people! They are not afraid to slander the glorious ones; however, angels, who are greater in might and power, do not bring a slanderous charge against them before the Lord. But these people, like irrational animals—creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed—slander what they do not understand, and in their destruction, they too will be destroyed. 2 Peter 2:10b-12 CSB
This chapter has been focused on false teachers and the judgment that they will be subjected to. In the following verses, Peter, in a way, intensifies his writing and disdain for these false teachers and their actions. “Bold, arrogant people!” This opening shows the general attitude of these false teachers, respecting no one and are unhinged. Peter shows how far they act in such a manner, saying that “they are not afraid to slander the glorious ones,” meaning that the false teachers have no fear or shame in slandering angles and God. Peter contrasts their attitude with the angels, who “are greater in might and power.” God’s angels have defeated many enemies throughout the Bible, such as in 2 Kings 19:35, when the angel of the Lord “went out and struck down one hundred eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians,” or in Exodus 12 with the Passover, leading to the liberation of the Israelites from slavery under the Egyptians. The angels are powerful, and yet, Peter writes that they “do not bring a slanderous charge against them before the Lord.” The angels do not slander other angels, mankind, or even evil, out of reverence to God and His judgment. In stark contrast, however, the false teachers slander the celestial beings. They have no self-control, “like irrational animals—creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroy.” They think of themselves as knowledgeable and wise, and yet, Peter knows that they are foolish. We can see David writing something similar in Psalms 14:1, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There’s no God.’ They are corrupt; they do vile deeds. There is no one who does good.” Solomon, David’s son, also reciprocates the same point in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” These false teachers have made false claims with clever myths, slandering God and Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, deciding to reject Christ and His message of salvation leads to “their destruction, [and] they too will be destroyed.” They sealed their own destruction because of their slanderous accusations. There are those that scoff at the existence of Satan and his demons. They ignore their existence and their influence. Satan is not a figment of imagination. He is here in this world and his goal is to conquer and destroy. His power to deceive is unrivaled. “For Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no great surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). This is why, we who live by faith should pray to God and ask Him to help us not to give “into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13). “For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand” (Ephesians 6:13).
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
Comments