What does 2 Peter 2:11 mean?

In the previous verse, Peter revealed evidence of the conceit of the false teachers. For starters, they were not afraid to speak arrogantly about angelic beings. This might have meant insulting them, ignoring the influence of spiritual beings, or even telling lies about what such beings could or would do. In other words, they were speaking of these beings with great disrespect. Contempt leads to carelessness; speaking rudely of spiritual beings not only makes a person less cautious, it can invite unwanted attention.

We do not know what, specifically, these false teachers were saying, but we get a clue in this verse that they may have been saying it about fallen angels. Peter tells us that even angels—apparently non-fallen angels speaking for God—would never speak so disrespectfully of fallen angels. Even when pronouncing God's judgment, they would not "heap abuse" on these rebellious angels.

Peter says that, clearly, the angels are far more powerful than these false teachers. If anyone had the moral authority to speak disrespectfully about the fallen celestial beings, the angels that remain loyal to God would. And yet, they don't. They won't. The fact that the false teachers do such a thing demonstrates both their arrogance and ignorance.