What is a false teacher?

False teachers:

Will be among the believers... and appear to be believers:
- "For there are certain men crept in unawares" Jude
- "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:" Timothy
- "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you" Peter
- "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:" Philippians
- "Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Acts
- "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matthew
Will be in it for the money:
- "Woe unto them! for they [...] ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward" Jude
- "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous" Timothy
- "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you" Peter
- "whose God [is their] belly" Philippians, "I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel." (in context) Acts
- OT: Micah - The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, [Is] not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
Or to justify themselves:
- "Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain" Jude
- "boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, [...] false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good" Timothy
- "despise government [note: "lordship"]. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities [note: holy ones]. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not;" 2 Peter
- "[whose] glory [is] in their shame", Philippians
Or for the glory:
- "Woe unto them! for they have [...] perished in the gainsaying of Core. [...] and their mouth speaketh great swelling [words], having men's persons in admiration because of advantage." Jude
- "boasters, proud, [...] heady, highminded," Timothy, "they speak great swelling [words] of vanity," Peter
- "who mind earthly things." Philippians
- "speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them" Acts
They will live after the flesh:
- "turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [...]" Jude
- "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [...] For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts," Timothy
- "who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. [...] While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them." Peter
- "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matthew
- "enemies of the cross of Christ" Philippians
They will seduce...
- "For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, [...] But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." 2 Timothy
- "beguiling unstable souls: [...] For when they speak great swelling [words] of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, [through much] wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption:" 2 Peter
- "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:" Philippians
- "grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them." Acts
...and will draw many believers away
- Jude 3,4,21 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares [...] Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
- 2 Tim 3:1,7,13,14 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [...] For [some] men shall be [...] Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. [...] But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
- 2 Peter 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
- 2Pe 3 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know [these things] before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
- Philippians 3 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
- Acts 20 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
- Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
They were warned of by Christ and all the Apostles and others (with tears and great diligence)
- "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares [...] I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, [...] And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard [speeches] which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. [...] remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit." Jude
- "be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts..." 2 Peter 3
- "of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping," Philippians
- "Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." Acts 20
- Mat 10:17, Mat 16:6, Mar 12:38, Luk 12:15, Mat 24, Mar 13
They are to be rebuked (with hope of restoration / warning of those that might be seduced)
- "And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Jude
- "Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." 1Ti 5:20
- "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." 2Ti 4:2
- 1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all [men].
- Col 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
- Tts 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. [...] Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; [...] They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
- Titus 2 - entire chapter
- OT: Lev 19:17 - Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.
- Pro 27:5 Open rebuke [is] better than secret love.
They make the body of Christ dirty / defiled. Believers are to (with effort) keep themselves from them / their teaching
- Jude These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds [they are] without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
- 1Jo 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
- 2 Tim 3 from such turn away.
- 2 Peter 2 Spots [they are] and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray,
- Philippians 3 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
- Acts 20 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
- Matt 5:7 Beware of false prophets
- OT: Isa 9:16 For the leaders of this people cause [them] to err; and [they that are] led of them [are] destroyed
Their judgment / condemnation (death?) is quick
- "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction [...] whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell, and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [them] an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;" 2 Peter 2
- "But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all [men], as theirs also was." 2 Timothy 3
- Phil 3 Whose end [is] destruction
- Matt 7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
- OT: Deu 13, Eze 13:16ff, Isa 9:15ff, Jer 14:14ff, 23:13ff, 28:15ff, 29(esp21,32),

Germane passages not covered thus far: Mark 12, Acts 15, Galatians, Colossians 2, Rom 16, 2 Cor 11, Titus 1, Eph 4(14), Revelation 2

Fine Print: In the context of current discussion, this is not a post about any specific member... this is a post about the idea of false teachers as presented in the Bible.

There has been a long and ongoing series of threads that climaxed with a rather controversial rebuke (controversial to some, I agree with the rebuke, but others found it "legalistic" and "proud") laid out from scripture by "basething" to another member "Andy'sDad," basically stating that the latter was using a teaching technique ("accusing the righteous") that is a mark that Jesus, the Apostles, and Jude used to identify false teachers... and for Andy'sDad to cease from doing it lest he be identified by these (Jude, Peter, "the Apostles," Paul, Jesus... and probably Isaiah, etc) as a false teacher.

Most of the points here (in this post) are / were not covered in theses other threads. As far as I can tell warning / rebuke was only given as regards the (important) idea of accusing the righteous... but not any of the other items listed in this post.

OK, so this teaching is general... not specific.

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