The early church
Balaam and the Wages of Wrongdoing
Peter mentions Balaam, son of Beor, who left the right way and loved the wages of wrongdoing. He was rebuked for his sin when a mute donkey spoke with a human voice and stopped the prophet's madness. Peter uses this as a warning against false teachers who follow the same path.
2 Peter 2,15-16
15They have left the straight road and gone astray, following the way of Balaam son of Bosor, who loved the wages of wickedness.
⸀καταλιπόντες εὐθεῖαν ὁδὸν ἐπλανήθησαν, ἐξακολουθήσαντες τῇ ὁδῷ τοῦ Βαλαὰμ τοῦ ⸀Βοσὸρ ὃς μισθὸν ἀδικίας ἠγάπησεν
16But he was rebuked for his transgression: a mute donkey spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.
ἔλεγξιν δὲ ἔσχεν ἰδίας παρανομίας· ὑποζύγιον ἄφωνον ἐν ἀνθρώπου φωνῇ φθεγξάμενον ἐκώλυσεν τὴν τοῦ προφήτου παραφρονίαν.