The Lord Knows How to Rescue

Peter warns that false teachers will arise among the believers, just as false prophets arose among the people of Israel. They will secretly bring in destructive teachings, even denying the Master who bought them. Many will follow them, and the way of the truth will be maligned. In greed they will exploit people with deceptive words.

Peter gives examples from Scripture to show that God judges wrongdoing and rescues the righteous. He did not spare angels who sinned. He did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others. He judged Sodom and Gomorrah, but rescued righteous Lot. So the Lord knows how to deliver the godly from trials.

The false teachers are bold and self-willed, and they speak evil of things they do not understand. They have left the right way and followed the way of Balaam, who loved the wages of wrongdoing. They are wells without water. They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, for a person is enslaved to whatever overcomes him.