Bible Notes

False Prophets

In the early Church, prophecy was considered a charism that was given for the building up of the community of the faith (cf. 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11). In fact, Paul and Barnabas and even Silas were numbered among these (Acts 13:1; 15:32). That Jesus himself will be warning his disciples about false prophets (Mt. 7:15) is interesting in that by the time the synoptic Gospels were being written (70-90 AD), such false prophets have arisen to deceive many (Mt. 24:11). In Matthew 24:24, "False Christs" are even mentioned with "false prophets."

In Acts 13:7-8, one finds the case of a false prophet from among the Jews who tried prevent the conversion of a high official to Christianity. But in 2 Peter 2:1, it is clear that the false prophets will be coming from within the community of faith itself. In 1 Jn. 4:1ff, John says that the false prophets will "go out"; and these are mentioned together with the anti-christs who have gone out from the community of faith itself. By the time the Apocalypse was completed the false prophet has become the ally of all that goes against the Lamb and His own (cf. Rev. 16:13; 19:20;20:10)

In Matthew 7:16, Jesus tells his disciples the way to distinguish false prophets: by their fruits ye shall know them. The "fruit" referred to here are fruits of righteousness that correspond to Paul's "fruits of the Spirit" (cf. Gal. 5). In 2 Peter 2:1ff one finds a list of the kind of fruits these false prophets bear:

But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there shall be among you lying teachers who shall bring in sects of perdition and deny the Lord who bought them: bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their riotousness, through whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you.

... And especially them who walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government: audacious, self willed, they fear not to bring in sects, blaspheming. ...But these men, as irrational beasts, naturally tending to the snare and to destruction, blaspheming those things which they know not, shall perish in their corruption: Receiving the reward of their injustice, counting for a pleasure the delights of a day: stains and spots, sporting themselves to excess, rioting in their feasts with you: Having eyes full of adultery and of sin that ceaseth not: alluring unstable souls: having their heart exercised with covetousness: children of malediction.

Leaving the right way, they have gone astray, ... These are fountains without water and clouds tossed with whirlwinds, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved. For, speaking proud words of vanity, they allure by the desires of fleshly riotousness those who for a little while escape, such as converse in error: Promising them liberty, whereas they themselves are the slaves of corruption.

For by whom a man is overcome, of the same also he is the slave. For if, flying from the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they be again entangled in them and overcome: their latter state is become unto them worse than the former. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of justice than, after they have known it, to turn back from that holy commandment which was delivered to them. For, that of the true proverb has happened to them: The dog is returned to his vomit; and: The sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.