AND IN THEIR GREED: kai en pleonexia:
(2Peter 2:14;15 Isa 56:11; Jer 6:13; 8:10; Ezekiel 13:19; Micah 3:11;
Mal 1:10; Ro 16:18; 1Ti 3:3,8; 6:5; Titus 1:7,11; 1Pet 5:2; Jude 1:11)
In (en)
- in the sphere of (the atmosphere of, the influence of) Peter describes
the atmosphere as it were that surrounds and governs the aims and
actions of the false teachers.
Greed
(covetousness)
(4124) (pleonexia
[word study]
from pleon = more +
echô = have) literally means to have more and is thus strong
desire to acquire more and more material possessions, especially that
which is forbidden. It is a
desire to have more irrespective of one's need and is always used in
bad sense. It describes an insatiable selfishness.
Pleonexia -
10x in 10v - Mark 7:22; Luke 12:15; Rom 1:29; 2 Cor 9:5; Eph 4:19; 5:3;
Col 3:5; 1 Thess 2:5; 2 Pet 2:3, 14. NAS = covetousness(1), deeds
of coveting(1), greed(7), greediness(1).
Contentment is the
opposite of covetousness. Attacking covetousness lays the ax to a root
cause of sin because pleonexia is the root of the other sins
listed in this verse. When contentment replaces covetousness, the
latter cannot give rise to the process that culminates in an act of sin.
Greed is
what you desire and what you desire more of becomes your ''god'' and you
end up serving (latreuo) that ''god.'' In God's sight, greed is
worshipping the god mammon, and "you cannot serve God and mammon" (Mt
6:24-note)
Pleonexia always has a bad sense and
depicts an insatiable craving and grasping for more of something which
one does not have a just right. It has been described as ruthless
self-seeking and is thus a sin with a very wide range. If it is the
desire for money, it leads to theft. If it is the desire for prestige,
it leads to evil ambition. If it is the desire for power, it leads to
sadistic tyranny. If it is the desire for a person, it leads to sexual
sin. It has been defined as the spirit in which a man is always ready to
sacrifice his neighbor to his own desires. Greed is the sin of always
wanting more, whether it be more things or more pleasures.
Later in this chapter Peter uses
pleonexia to explains that these men have
a heart trained in greed (2Pe 2:14-note).
Peter had encountered somewhat of a similar heart attitude in Simon
Magus in (Acts 8:18-20).
Now when Simon saw that the Spirit
was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered
them money, saying, "Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone
on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." But Peter said to
him, "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could
obtain the gift of God with money!
Paul in contrast
to these false teachers defended the integrity of his ministry in his
letter to the Thessalonian church stating that
we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext
for greed --God is witness" (1Th 2:5-note).
Similarly he
reminded the Ephesian elders that he had
coveted no one's silver or gold or
clothes." (Acts 20:33)
Thus we see a dramatic contrast in the heart of a false and true teacher
in the area of
greed.
Scripture recognizes that the Christian worker has the right to
financial support from his labors (eg Mt 10:10, Gal 6:6, 1Ti 5:17, 18),
but it condemns a mercenary spirit that turns the ministry of the Word
into a pleasant way of personal gain!
A great
illustration of greed is shown by a trick natives use to catch monkeys
-- first the natives hollow out a coconut with an opening just large
enough for the monkey’s paw. Then they fill the coconut with some
appetizing bait like fruit or nuts and tie it to a tree. At night the
monkey reaches into the coconut for the bait, only to find he cannot
pull his paw out the opening because his fist is filled with delectable
goodies. Of course, he could let go and escape quite easily—but he
doesn’t want to forfeit the prize and so in the end he is captured
because of his greed. In the same way a covetous person is never
satisfied with what he has, and he is usually envious of what other
people have. This is idolatry, for covetousness puts things in the place
of God. Thou shalt not covet is the last of the Ten
Commandments (Ex 20:17).
Yet this sin can make us break all of the other nine! A covetous person
will dishonor God, take God’s name in vain, lie, steal, and commit every
other sin in order to satisfy his sinful desires. And such is the heart
of these evil false teachers.
THEY WILL EXPLOIT YOU WITH FALSE WORDS: humas emporeusontai [FMI] plastois logois:
How will the false teacher's greed be manifest? Peter describes their
deception and it begins with what they "say".
The New Living
Translation although a paraphrase is quite blunt stating that
they will make up clever
lies to get hold of your money
Young's Literal
says that
with molded words of you
they shall make merchandise
Exploit
(1710) (emporeuomai
from en = in +
poreúomai = to go, to trade from poros = a passing) literally means
to go in, then to travel about and
so to travel about as a merchant or trader on a large scale. It means to
do business or to trade involving either buying and/or selling. The KJV
translates it to "make merchandise".
Emporeuomai
was used in secular
Greek both in the sense of travel and of traveling for business reasons.
Here in 2 Peter, the verb is clearly used in a negative sense to refer
to doing business by "misrepresenting the merchandise" so to speak. In
this figurative use in verse 3
emporeuomai
pictured the deceiving of others for one's own advantage.
James uses it in this sense to describe one who
would seek to
engage in business and make a profit. (Jas 4:13)
In
keeping with the cheating that often attended such trading,
emporeuomai readily
came to denote commercialization or deceptive exploitation.
There
are 11 uses of emporeuomai in the
Septuagint (LXX)
(Ge 34:10, 21; 42:34; 2 Chr. 1:16; 9:14; Prov. 3:14; 31:14; Ezek. 27:13,
21; Hos. 12:1; Amos 8:6)
These false teachers skillfully use their fabricated ("plastic")
arguments as counterfeit coinage so to speak in order to make a
profitable bargain. They seek to make a personal profit out of their
unwary devotees. They are not concerned one whit for the well being of
the sheep, but only desire to fleece the sheep and shear their "wool"!
And they are masters at this shady "commerce"! As they carry out their
nefarious trade, they turn God's house into a marketplace or an ''emporium" (a large and often ostentatious retail shop
offering for sale a wide variety of merchandise!).
These
hucksters commercialize Christianity and exploit the deceived masses
(remember many
will follow them). Do we not see this deadly "virus" of greed and
deception on so-called "Christian" television spreading like an out of
control forest fire, destroying everything and everyone in it's path. The amazing thing is that people will support these false
teachers but won't give a penny to legitimate ministries! The
people supporting these charlatans are doing so because they think that
if they give, they are going to get something back. Whatever happened to
doing everything solely for the purpose of glorifying our Heavenly
Father? Peter is sounding a trumpet call for the church to wake up: "Oh
saints stand fast in the truths in chapter 1 so that you might be able
to recognize and resist in the evil day!" The "evil day" has arrived.
As you might well imagine,
false teachers
use False
words
False (4112)
(plastos
from plasso = to form, fashion or mold any soft substance such as
wax or clay) refers
to words that are false in view of the fact that they are made-up or
fabricated. These words are mentally constructed by these liars without
any basis in fact.
BDAG
writes that plastos means "to being mentally constructed without
a basis in fact, fabricated, false"
Plastos was used in the papyri of a
forged contract and by Josephus for falsified documents.
In other words
(no pun intended) the words of these deceivers are carefully fabricated
and molded to achieve their purpose - exploitation. These words are
"artificially formed" specifically for the purpose of deceiving and
leading the hearer astray. Their words are twisted like "plastic"
so that the
meaning is not orthodox. As someone has well said these false
teachers use our Christian vocabulary but they do not use our
theological dictionary!
The modus
operandi of these spiritual charlatans is as old as the garden of
Eden where we see their father's (cf John 8:44) technique. First Satan questioned God's Word
and His commandment (as an aside, do you not see why serious Bible study
including verbatim memorization of the Word of Truth is so vital for
believers? Are you memorizing Scripture? If not, you must begin - your
spiritual life depends on it!)...
Hath God truly said? (Genesis 3:1)
Then the Liar denied God's Word
of warning...
You shall not surely die! (Genesis 3:4)
Finally the
Deceiver slipped in the fabricated lie (plastic words)...
You shall be as
God. (Genesis 3:5)
Just as Satan
spoke "Christianeze" using the accepted "evangelical vocabulary", false
teachers will also use orthodox words like "Jesus" (but Peter says they
actually "deny"
Him), “salvation,” “inspiration,” etc, but they do not mean what true
teachers mean when they use these words.
The exploitation comes when the immature and
untaught hear these preachers and teachers or read their books and think
that they are proclaiming sound doctrine when they are really speaking
"plastic" deception.
Remember that if
you don't stand on the truth of God's word, you
may fall for anything that sounds good.
THEIR JUDGMENT
FROM LONG AGO IS NOT IDLE: hois to krima ekpalai ouk argei (PAI):
(2Peter 2:1; 2:9 Dt 32:35; Isa 5:19; 30:13,14; Hab 3:3; Lk 18:8; 1Thes
5:3; 1Peter 2:8; Jude 1:4 ,7. 15)
It is only fitting that
Peter concludes this opening description of the false teachers with a
description of their true doom. Peter has more to say about these evil
men but first he assures them on their certain judgment.
Judgment
(2917) (krima) denotes the result of the action produced by the
verb krino which means "to judge". In Greek the suffix –ma indicates the result of judging. The judicial action has
already taken place against these sinister men and the "result of the
judging" or the verdict has been rendered as "Guilty as charged!". Their
judgment and doom has been announced long ago (cf. Ps1:4, 5, 6-note).
Krima - 27x
in 27v - Matt 7:2; Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47; 23:40; 24:20; John 9:39; Acts
24:25; Rom 2:2f; 3:8; 5:16; 11:33; 13:2; 1 Cor 6:7; 11:29, 34; Gal 5:10;
1 Tim 3:6; 5:12; Heb 6:2; Jas 3:1; 1 Pet 4:17; 2 Pet 2:3; Jude 1:4; Rev
17:1; 18:20; 20:4. NAS = condemnation(8), judgment(15), judgments(1),
lawsuits(1), sentence(1), sentence of condemnation(1), way(1).
Not idle -
The Greek word for "not" conveys the sense of absolutely no way! Delay
is not denial!
Idle
(691) (argos)
(only found here in the NT) means "not" working
but is modified by the absolute negative (ou) in the Greek
and literally reads their judgment is "not not working". In other words
it is "working" and states categorically that the divine verdict, unlike
some of the sentences of earthly judges (that are occasionally reversed
or overturned by a higher court) has not become inert so to speak.
J B Phillips
picks up the idea paraphrasing it as
judgment has been for some time
hard on their heels
AND THEIR DESTRUCTION
IS NOT ASLEEP: kai he apoleia auton ou nustazei (PAI):
(See
Torrey's topic
Punishment
of the Wicked)
And just in
case these deceived deceivers thought clemency was just around the
corner, Peter tightens the proverbial noose irrevocably by adding that
their executioner "Mr. Destruction" is not dosing off.
Destruction
(684)
(apoleia
[word study])
refers to destruction of persons, objects, or institutions. Apoleia
in this context refers to eschatological (future events) judgment, a
judgment which is not as some falsely teach extinction or annihilation
but ruination. In other words apoleia does not depict loss of
one's being but a loss of well being, separation from God, and an
utterly hopeless ruin and loss of all that gives worth to one's
existence. Imagine existing forever and never being able to fulfill the
purpose for which you were created! This tragic thought should motivate
all believers to undertake radical evangelism lest any of those we have
conduct would suffer such a dire, eternal fate!
Apoleia - 18x in 17v - Matt 7:13; 26:8; Mark 14:4; John 17:12; Acts
8:20; Rom 9:22; Phil 1:28; 3:19; 2 Thess 2:3; 1 Tim 6:9; Heb 10:39; 2
Pet 2:1, 3; 3:7, 16; Rev 17:8, 11. NAS = destruction(13),
destructive(1), perdition(1), perish(1), waste(1), wasted(1).
The
"doctrine" of the false teachers is potentially deadly as pictured the
same word apoleia (2Pe 2:1-note)
And here in verse 3, Peter
personifies destruction (apoleia)
as the very "executioner" of those who introduce destructive (apoleia)
heresies. They will literally reap what they sow! And this
"executioner" will not doze off or nod asleep, oblivious to his duty to
vindicate the truth and holiness of God. This "executioner" is wide
awake and waiting for the orders to "drop the guillotine" which produces
a physical and spiritual separation of the false teachers from God
forever and ever.
In the introductory remarks to
chapter 2, Peter writes that...
false prophets also arose among the
people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will
secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who
bought them, bringing swift destruction (apoleia) upon
themselves. (see note
2 Peter 2:1)
The New English Bible
paraphrases it
Perdition waits for them with
unsleeping eyes
What a picture! Parenthetically the
certainty of judgment is a good reminder for both saints and sinners for
God is an impartial Judge and
he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he
has done, and that without partiality."
(Col 3:25-note)
Saints of course will not be judged for sins for the blood of Christ has
paid for them in full, but Paul reminds us that saints
must
all
appear
before the
judgment
seat of
Christ,
so that
each
one may be
recompensed for his deeds in the
body,
according to
what he has
done,
whether
good
or
bad.
(phaulos = worthless,
good for nothing) (2Cor 5:10-note,
Ro 14:10, 11, 12-note
cf
1Cor 3:11, 12, 13, 14, 15).
The unsaved including these false
teachers will appear at another judgment, the Great White Throne
Judgment (one that follows the
Millennium)
11 And I saw a great white
throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven
fled away, and no place was found for them.
12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the
throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the
book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were
written in the books, according to their deeds.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades
gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of
them according to their deeds.
14 And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the
second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he
was thrown into the lake of fire. (See notes
Revelation 20:11;
12;
13;
14;
15)
As Peter said in his first epistle
If you address as Father the One Who
impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in
fear during the time of your stay on earth
(1Pe 1:17-note)
Asleep (3573)
(nustazo) means to almost be asleep, to become drowsy, to
slumber, to doze off or to nod off.
Destruction
is not slumbering or dozing off
so as to miss its appointment with these men! When wicked men are
successful and the coffers are overflowing with their ill gotten gains,
and these evil deeds are seemingly unrequited (unrecompensed), these
deceived deceivers tend to imagine that the Judge of all men is asleep.
Wrong!
Solomon reminds us of the deception of "delay" in punishment writing
that
because the sentence against an evil deed is
not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them
are given fully to do evil." (Eccl 8:11).
Postponed punishment only makes evil people think they can get away with
more and more evil but Peter says the executioner sleepeth not!
><>
><> ><>
Plastic Words: A New York City couple received through the mail two tickets to a smash
Broadway hit. Oddly, the gift arrived without a note, and they wondered
who had sent it. But they still attended the show and enjoyed it
immensely.
Returning to their apartment, they discovered that their bedroom had
been ransacked. Valuable furs and jewels were missing. On the pillow was
this simple note: "Now you know."
Like that nameless thief, a false teacher knows what people want and
appeals to their desires (2Peter 2). He doesn't wear a lapel pin to
warn of his lies, but he comes disguised as a representative of the
truth. He claims he will enrich lives, but those who follow him often
learn at a high cost that they have been deceived.
Jesus, however, is a Teacher we can
trust completely. He offers us the gift of eternal life because He truly
loves us. Accepting His gift of salvation is the first step in
protecting ourselves from the deceptive gifts that false teachers offer.
But even believers can be deceived by false teaching. That's why God's
Word exhorts us to study the Scriptures (1Pe 2:2-note), test what we hear
(1Jn 4:1), and grow in the faith (2Pe 1:5, 6, 7, 8, 9-see notes
2Pe 1:5;
1:6;
1:7;
1:8;
1:9). That way, we won't
suddenly discover that our spiritual life is in disarray. --H W Robinson
(Our
Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by
permission. All rights reserved)
Since savage wolves, consumed with greed,
Seek simple sheep on which to feed,
Wise are those wary lambs who graze
Close by their Shepherd's watchful gaze.-Gustafson
Not all gifts are free...some have hidden price tags.
