2 Peter 2:11: Whereas Angels, Though Greater In Might And Power, Do Not Pronounce A Blasphemous Judgment Against Them Before The Lord.

Bold and willful, they do not tremble gas they blaspheme the glorious ones

2 Peter 2:11

[11] Whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. (ESV)

Peter is continuing in describing the brazen actions of the false teachers who had infiltrated the church. In order to fully understand verse 11, let's just add the last words of verse 10. This extra bit of context will help us greatly.  It says, "Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones." Who are the glorious ones? These are actually fallen angels.

So, if the angels in question here are fallen, should we not feel free to blaspheme them? After all, they rebelled against God himself. They will ultimately be judged and punished eternally. The issue here is about the boldness of these teachers. They are not greater than the fallen angels in might and power, yet they boldly and brazenly act as if they have authority over them.

It is God who has authority over these beings that are described as "glorious ones." Even today you can hear many false teachers acting as if they have all kinds of authority over all spiritual beings and realities. This is foolishness. It speaks to the extreme arrogance that these immoral spiritual leaders possess. We will look at one more verse that will shed some more light.

Jude 9: "But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” One of the primary ways you can identify a person as a false teacher is that they have an overblown understanding of their own authority, while they refuse to submit to any authority over them.

Be wary of leaders who act in bold and arrogant ways. You will know a godly leader by their resemblance of the one they claim to serve. Jesus' servants lead with humility.