Differences and Similarities Between Old and New Testament Ministries

1 Peter 2:1

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.

I note both similarities and differences between this era and the former. 

The difference is between prophets and teachers. 

My own spiritual bent prefers preacher to teacher but there is nothing wrong with either the word or the position. In the old age the man of God spoke as a profit. His message flowed from a vision or dream or some other supernatural means employed by God to give him that message. 

In our age either the preacher or the teacher receives his message from the Bible. We are illuminated, to be sure, by the Spirit of the Lord, but our authority is the Bible. We preach the Bible. We teach the Bible. Anything else is wasted speech no matter how well received. 

The similarity is falsehood. 

Peter' point emphasizes this difference rather than the similarity. Whether Old Testament or New there are those who bring a false message. They are so good at their work that it is challenging to discern the true from the false. Their deception is so convincing that they often lead the majority.  

But then we find a further similarly. They both face swift and final destruction. They can convince the largest crowds to follow them but they cannot deceive the Lord and neither can their followers prevent their eventual demise.

The Old Testament prophet would give a sign to support the authority of his message. If the sign did not come to pass he was a false prophet. The New Testament preacher and teacher appeals to the written Word of God. He asks his hearers to "see for themselves". The responsibility rests upon the hearer then to do that very thing.