2 Peter 2:1

1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves.

In this first verse Peter mentions that there were both false prophets and false teachers. The emphasis in this book is on false teachers, but there were both. And I think the main distinction is that prophets are those who preach the word with supposed inspiration from God, and teachers are those who teach the bible as a teacher (or instructor). Nonetheless, Peter wants us to know mainly about false teachers. And they aren’t just those who are careless or ignorant in their teaching; they actually will teach wrong doctrine purposely and secretly for some selfish reason—reasons that are Satanic, and are destructive heresies. These heresies deny the Master’s true teachings, and in the end will bring swift destruction upon themselves. This destruction may come as a result of some sin in the body that will inflict the body with disease (1Cor. 6:12, 18); or Peter may be referring to death or judgement at the return of Christ.