2 Peter 2:12-13 elaborates on the future deserved punishment of the false teachers. These teachers are like irrational animals acting only on their instincts to sin, which leads to slavery and destruction. They will reap what they sow with their sin.
In 2 Peter 2:12, Peter continues to describe the attributes of the false teachers he opposes, saying they are like unreasoning animals.
In previous verses, Peter described the false teachers as “those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority,” as well as being “self—willed” or prideful (2 Peter 2:10). Now he continues, saying But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong (vv 12-13a).
Peter asserts these false teachers who promote immorality will not escape God’s judgment. But these (v. 12) introduces a contrast between the immoral actions of a) the false teachers with b) the unrighteous in the time of Noah together with the wicked men of Sodom (2 Peter 2:5-6). He infers that these false teachers are even worse. That these false teachers are like unreasoning animals means their mental reasoning capacity is more like the animals on earth who lack the capacity to think rationally like humans (Jude 10).
This would indicate that their corruption has become severe. We see in the progression of Romans 1:24, 26, 28 that God’s wrath against unrighteousness is to give us over to our desires. First, we are given over to lust, then vile passions (addictions) then finally a “depraved mind.” These false teachers have reached the point of having a depraved mind in that they are likeunreasoning animals.
They are controlled by their appetites, having become the slave of their passions. It is noteworthy that Paul asserts in Romans 1:18 that God’s “wrath”—turning us over to become slaves of our lusts—applies to “all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men who suppress the truth.” The “all” indicates that anyone who suppresses the truth is liable to be judged by going through the progression that leads to a “depraved mind” (Romans 1:28). This could apply to a believer as well as an unbeliever.
This reconciles how these “false teachers” who arose within the ranks of the church are also said to have been “bought” by “the Master” who is Jesus (2 Peter 2:1). Believers who choose to walk in the flesh produce the fruits of the flesh, which disqualifies them from possessing the inheritance of God’s kingdom as a reward for faithful living (Galatians 5:19-21). As Paul claims, those who obey the flesh reap the reward of the flesh, which is slavery/addiction and death or separation from our design (Romans 6:16, 23).
In further comparison to unreasoning animals, Peter says these false teachers were born as creatures of instinct, referring to animals following an inborn nature, to be captured or killed. A possible outcome of wild animals can be captivity or death. So too is the outcome of these false teachers. In their case, they will be held captive to the sinful nature. They will also be separated from their true design, which will also separate them from possessing the reward of their inheritance (Colossians 2:23-24). This separation is a form of death.
Returning to the subject of reviling of angelic authorities raised in the prior verses (2 Peter 2:10-1), Peter comments that these false teachers were reviling where they had no knowledge. To have no knowledge means they were oblivious to the consequences of such actions. Given the description of the deterioration of their mind to the point of being like unreasoning animals, it would seem that the description of having no knowledge refers to having no capacity to logically reason and ascertain consequences of cause—effect.
Regardless of their level of cluelessness, there will be consequences, that in the destruction of those creatures they will also be destroyed. This destruction will be as suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. Since these are believers, having been “bought” by the “Master” (2 Peter 2:1) the destruction being referred to would not refer to being consumed in the fire of God’s judgment.
Rather, it would be the complete destruction of the rewards of their inheritance. We see this concept throughout the New Testament. Two examples follow:
1 Corinthians 3:11-17 explains that some believers will have their deeds done on earth “burned up” in the fire of Christ’s judgement.
Since they are believers they will “be saved” but it will be “so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:15).
1 Corinthians 3:17 says that those who destroy the temple of their body will be destroyed as a consequence. Actions have consequences.
Revelation 2:11 says “He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.”
The “second death” is the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14).
As with 1 Corinthians 3:11-17, this verse indicates that the fire of judgement that consumes unbelievers is the same judgment that refines believers.
Believers will suffer loss of rewards, which is a great and lasting loss. Hebrews 3 likens those who lose their inheritance through lack of faithfulness as being like the first generation of Israelites out of Egypt who did not possess the inheritance of the Promised Land because of unbelief. They died in the wilderness without possessing their inheritance.
Peter uses a play on words to describe the fate of these false teachers. Destruction translates the Greek word “phthoro” meaning a breakdown of organic matter like decay or corruption. It is like the decay and corruption of dead animals. These false teachers will also be destroyed, a word from the Greek “phtheiro,” which means to come to ruin (1 Corinthians 3:17,Jude 10).
2 Peter 2:12
12 But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed,
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2 Peter 2:12 meaning
In 2 Peter 2:12, Peter continues to describe the attributes of the false teachers he opposes, saying they are like unreasoning animals.
In previous verses, Peter described the false teachers as “those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority,” as well as being “self—willed” or prideful (2 Peter 2:10). Now he continues, saying But these, like unreasoning animals, born as creatures of instinct to be captured and killed, reviling where they have no knowledge, will in the destruction of those creatures also be destroyed, suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong (vv 12-13a).
Peter asserts these false teachers who promote immorality will not escape God’s judgment. But these (v. 12) introduces a contrast between the immoral actions of a) the false teachers with b) the unrighteous in the time of Noah together with the wicked men of Sodom (2 Peter 2:5-6). He infers that these false teachers are even worse. That these false teachers are like unreasoning animals means their mental reasoning capacity is more like the animals on earth who lack the capacity to think rationally like humans (Jude 10).
This would indicate that their corruption has become severe. We see in the progression of Romans 1:24, 26, 28 that God’s wrath against unrighteousness is to give us over to our desires. First, we are given over to lust, then vile passions (addictions) then finally a “depraved mind.” These false teachers have reached the point of having a depraved mind in that they are like unreasoning animals.
They are controlled by their appetites, having become the slave of their passions. It is noteworthy that Paul asserts in Romans 1:18 that God’s “wrath”—turning us over to become slaves of our lusts—applies to “all unrighteousness and ungodliness of men who suppress the truth.” The “all” indicates that anyone who suppresses the truth is liable to be judged by going through the progression that leads to a “depraved mind” (Romans 1:28). This could apply to a believer as well as an unbeliever.
This reconciles how these “false teachers” who arose within the ranks of the church are also said to have been “bought” by “the Master” who is Jesus (2 Peter 2:1). Believers who choose to walk in the flesh produce the fruits of the flesh, which disqualifies them from possessing the inheritance of God’s kingdom as a reward for faithful living (Galatians 5:19-21). As Paul claims, those who obey the flesh reap the reward of the flesh, which is slavery/addiction and death or separation from our design (Romans 6:16, 23).
In further comparison to unreasoning animals, Peter says these false teachers were born as creatures of instinct, referring to animals following an inborn nature, to be captured or killed. A possible outcome of wild animals can be captivity or death. So too is the outcome of these false teachers. In their case, they will be held captive to the sinful nature. They will also be separated from their true design, which will also separate them from possessing the reward of their inheritance (Colossians 2:23-24). This separation is a form of death.
Returning to the subject of reviling of angelic authorities raised in the prior verses (2 Peter 2:10-1), Peter comments that these false teachers were reviling where they had no knowledge. To have no knowledge means they were oblivious to the consequences of such actions. Given the description of the deterioration of their mind to the point of being like unreasoning animals, it would seem that the description of having no knowledge refers to having no capacity to logically reason and ascertain consequences of cause—effect.
Regardless of their level of cluelessness, there will be consequences, that in the destruction of those creatures they will also be destroyed. This destruction will be as suffering wrong as the wages of doing wrong. Since these are believers, having been “bought” by the “Master” (2 Peter 2:1) the destruction being referred to would not refer to being consumed in the fire of God’s judgment.
Rather, it would be the complete destruction of the rewards of their inheritance. We see this concept throughout the New Testament. Two examples follow:
Peter uses a play on words to describe the fate of these false teachers. Destruction translates the Greek word “phthoro” meaning a breakdown of organic matter like decay or corruption. It is like the decay and corruption of dead animals. These false teachers will also be destroyed, a word from the Greek “phtheiro,” which means to come to ruin (1 Corinthians 3:17, Jude 10).