Great Swelling Words (Brag loudly)

Jude 16 “These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly (swelling words) about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.“

This picturesque phrase, “great swelling words,” is the King James Version translation of huperonkos, which literally means “super-massive,” with the implied noun “words” added because of the context.

The word is used only one other time in the New Testament, in the parallel passage in

2 Peter 2:18“They brag about themselves(great swelling words) with empty, foolish boasting. With an appeal to twisted sexual desires, they lure back into sin those who have barely escaped from a lifestyle of deception.”

Both apostles, in context, are warning against false teachers who, after somehow obtaining positions of influence among the spiritually immature believers in the body, would then seek to lead them back into worldly ways of thinking and acting. Peter compares those who heed such words to washed sows going back to wallow in the mire.

2 Peter 2:22They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” Prov 26:11 And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

Such teachers may appear very intellectual and charismatic, with their “feigned words” promises of “liberty”and flatteries

2 Peter 2:3In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed

1 Peter 2:16For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

but it is a deadly mistake to follow them. Both Peter and Jude give various ways by which to recognize them. They may actually deny the redemptive work of Christ

2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves.

or seek to undermine those whom God has placed in authority

2 Peter 2:10He is especially hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desire, and who despise authority.

These people are proud and arrogant, daring even to scoff at supernatural beings[a] without so much as trembling.

Perhaps most commonly, they are interested in worldly gain or prestige for themselves

2 Peter 2:14They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied. They lureunstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed. They live under God’s curse.

Jude 1:11What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.

They also may practice and encourage carnal lifestyles .

Jude 1:4 I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Other characteristics of these deceptive teachers are given in these two key chapters and, by all means, young believers need to be alert to this danger, staying close to God’s Word and obedient to His will.