What does it mean to despise authority (2 Peter 2:10)?

In 2 Peter 2:9–10, the apostle Peter says that God rescues godly people from trials and keeps the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment. This especially applies to “those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority” (ESV). In this context, despising authority means rejecting authority, as shown partly by the false teachers’ arrogant words about spiritual beings. These teachers also rejected Christ’s authority and encouraged others to live immoral lives (2 Peter 2:1–2). Rejecting God’s truth and authority leads to sinful behavior and finally to His judgment.

The passage condemns the false teachers for their arrogant behavior. Peter describes them as “bold and willful” people who “do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones.” By contrast, angels “do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord” (2 Peter 2:10–11, ESV). The “glorious ones” appear to be spiritual beings. They may refer specifically to fallen angels, or demons. Peter contrasts the false teachers’ reckless words with the behavior of holy angels, who leave judgment to God.

Peter’s teaching parallels a passage in Jude. Jude describes how the archangel Michael disputed with the devil over Moses’ body. Even then, Michael “did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment” against him. Instead, Michael said, “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 9, ESV). Although Michael was a powerful angel, he did not condemn Satan on his own. He left the rebuke to the Lord. This shows how wrong it was for the false teachers to speak so recklessly about spiritual powers.

The false teachers described in 2 Peter encouraged others to follow sinful behavior. Peter later calls the apostle Paul “our beloved brother.” He also warns that “the ignorant and unstable twist” Paul’s writings to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15–16, ESV). Peter says that the false teachers promised people freedom while they themselves were “slaves of corruption” (2 Peter 2:19, ESV). They may have twisted Christian freedom into an excuse for immoral behavior. Paul strongly rejected this kind of thinking, especially in matters of sexual sin (1 Corinthians 6:12–20).

Rejecting God’s truth and authority brings harmful results. Peter repeatedly connects the false teachers with sexual immorality. He says they have “eyes full of adultery” and tempt others through “sensual passions of the flesh” (2 Peter 2:14, 18, ESV). Scripture gives many examples of sexual sin causing serious harm to people and communities (2 Samuel 13; 1 Corinthians 5). By encouraging immorality, the false teachers led people away from obedience to God and toward destruction.

Paul gives another example of how rejecting truth leads to judgment in 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12. He describes the coming “man of lawlessness,” who will use “false signs and wonders” and “wicked deception” (ESV). Those who follow him will be judged because they “refused to love the truth and so be saved.” Paul is speaking about a different situation from the false teachers in 2 Peter. Still, both passages show the same truth—rejecting God’s truth leaves people open to deception and judgment.

By embracing sinful behavior, the false teachers showed that they rejected Christ’s authority. They not only practiced immorality themselves but also led others astray. Peter describes them as greedy, adulterous, and deceptive (2 Peter 2:3, 14–15). Their behavior also harmed the reputation of the Christian faith. Peter warns that because of them “the way of truth will be blasphemed” (2 Peter 2:2, ESV).

The false teachers condemned in 2 Peter 2 also rejected authority through their arrogant words about spiritual beings. Believers, however, have been delivered from the power of darkness through Christ (Colossians 1:13). They should not copy the false teachers’ reckless attitude toward spiritual powers. Scripture instead tells believers to submit to God and resist the devil (James 4:7). Recognizing God’s authority means trusting Him to deal with evil rather than boasting in our own power. The false teachers’ attitude toward spiritual beings was part of their larger rejection of God’s truth and authority.