Ed Urzi

“speaking of these things in all his letters. Some things in these letters are hard to understand, things the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they also do to the rest of the scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16 NET).

Despite the understated nature of this passage, our text from 2 Peter 3:16 contains a pivotal statement regarding the Word Of God. We can begin unpacking that statement with a definition of the word “scriptures” as it appears within this verse…

“The word translated ‘Scriptures’ here is graphe, a word that occurs fifty-one times in the New Testament and that refers to the Old Testament Scriptures in every one of those occurrences. Thus the word Scripture was a technical term for the New Testament authors, and it was used only of those writings that were thought to be God’s words and therefore part of the canon of Scripture. But in this verse, Peter classifies Paul’s writings with the ‘other Scriptures’ (meaning the Old Testament Scriptures). Paul’s writings are therefore considered by Peter also to be worthy of the title ‘Scripture’ and thus worthy of inclusion in the canon.” ₍₁₎

This tells us that Peter the Apostle recognized Paul the Apostle’s New Testament letters as “Scripture” right from their inception. Of course, Paul recognized the God-inspired nature of those messages as well…

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

What’s more, “Peter thus puts Paul’s Epistles on the same plane with the O.T., which was also misused (Mt 5:21-44; 15:3-6; 19:3-10 ).” ₍₂₎ This has led one source to make the following statement…

“It is also very significant that Peter refers to Paul’s letters and groups them with ‘the rest of the Scriptures’ (2 Pet 3:16), and Paul quotes a passage from the Gospel of Luke, introducing it with the phrase, ‘For the Scripture says’ (1 Tim 5: 18). It is abundantly clear, therefore, that most, if not all, the NT writers claimed divine authority for themselves and their writings, sometimes even authenticating each others’ writings as such. What can explain this except their being convinced that Jesus had promised them the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, so that their teachings-both verbal and written-would be divinely inspired?” ₍₃₎

(1) Grudem, W. A. (2020). Systematic Theology, Second Edition: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic). pg.17

(2) 2 Peter 3 – Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament – Bible Commentaries – StudyLight.org. (n.d.). StudyLight.org. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/rwp/2-peter-3.html

(3) Cowan, S. B., & Wilder, T. L. (2013). In Defense of the Bible: A Comprehensive Apologetic for the Authority of Scripture. B&H Publishing Group. pg 459

“As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16 KJV).

This reference to “wresting” or “twisting” the Scriptures contains an illustrative word-picture that sheds light on the efforts of those who intentionally distort Biblical truth. In the original language of this passage, this word conveys the following idea: “to distort the limbs on a rack… to wrench, distort, pervert.” ₍₁₎ So much like a sinister henchman who wrenched the limbs of a prisoner on a medieval torture rack, there are some who attempt to twist the Scriptures in a similar manner.

For his part, Paul the Apostle was clearly familiar with such efforts. In fact, Paul likely faced numerous attempts to distort his teachings from those who sought to discredit him. The Biblical books of Romans and Galatians appear to document several of those attempts…

“Why not say, then, ‘Let us do evil so that good may come’? Some people, indeed, have insulted me by accusing me of saying this very thing! They will be condemned, as they should be” (Romans 3:8 GNT).

“Well then, shall we keep on sinning so that God can keep on showing us more and more kindness and forgiveness?” (Romans 6:1 TLB).

“What does all this mean? Does it mean we are free to sin, because we are ruled by God’s wonderful kindness and not by the Law? Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15 CEV).

“But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not!” (Galatians 2:17).

Paul addressed those efforts with reasoned responses in each instance (see Romans 3:7-26, Romans 6:1-11, Romans 6:15-23, and Galatians 2:18-21).It seems that Peter was similarly aware of those who adopted this approach, and that apparently led him to issue this cautionary message. This has brought one commentary to the following conclusion…

“The false teachers intentionally misused Paul’s writings by distorting them to condone lawlessness. No doubt this made the teachers popular, because people always like to have their favorite sins justified, but the net effect was to totally destroy Paul’s message. Paul may have been thinking of teachers like these when he wrote in Rom_6:15: ‘Since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!’ …the better we know Jesus, the less attractive false teaching will be.” ₍₂₎

(1) G4761 strebloo. Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament. https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/strebloo

(2) Life Application Study Bible [2 Peter 3:15-18] Copyright © 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2004 by Tyndale House Publishers Inc., all rights reserved.

“as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16 ESV).

2 Peter 3:16 focuses on another important concern- the “…ignorant and unstable [who] have twisted [Paul’s] letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture” (NLT). This reference to “the ignorant” doesn’t necessarily refer to those who are uneducated. Instead, this designation implies that those individuals opted to rely on their own Biblical interpretations rather than seek God’s guidance in understanding His Word. That led to a distorted perception of the Scriptures that skewed their meaning and application.

One source identifies this second reference to the “unstable” in the following manner: “The ‘unstable’ (Gr. asteriktoi) are those who were not always consistent in their allegiance to God or the world, namely, double-minded, fence-straddling compromisers. These types of people misunderstood and, in some cases, deliberately misrepresented the meaning of Paul’s writings. However, this only added to their own guilt before God.” ₍₁₎

This also reminds us that context is important whenever we encounter those who seek to use a Biblical text to support their views. The word “context” refers to “the part of a text or statement that surrounds a particular word or passage and determines its meaning.” ₍₂₎ In other words, the chapters and verses that surround a Biblical text help determine the meaning of that text. When verses are quoted outside their context, it is sometimes possible to make the Bible say some very unbiblical things.

For instance, it is possible to take an isolated portion of Scripture and quote it in a manner that makes it appear to support an erroneous position. Much like the false teachers chronicled here in 2 Peter chapter two, cultic organizations that claim an affinity with Christianity are widely recognized for this approach. Our text from 2 Peter 3:16 thus serves as a cautionary message, for those who intentionally follow that path are headed for certain destruction.

Finally, it’s important to recognize that this passage does not address various non-essential elements of the Christian faith. For instance, there are many areas where Christians of good conscience may reach different (but Biblically valid) conclusions on secondary aspects of belief and practice. Instead, this warning is directed toward those who deliberately twist, wrest (KJV), or distort (GW) Biblical truth. We’ll explore what it means to corrupt the truth in such a manner next.

Image Credit: Brett Jordan, Hermeneutical basics Context, context, context.  https://www.flickr.com/photos/x1brett/page97 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

(1) Dr. Thomas L. Constable, Notes on 2 Peter 2024 Edition. https://soniclight.com/tcon/notes/html/2peter/2peter.htm

(2) context. (n.d.) American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. (2011). Retrieved October 4 2024 from https://www.thefreedictionary.com/context

“He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16 NIV).

By highlighting some of the challenging aspects of Paul the Apostle’s Biblical letters, Peter directs our attention to a practical application from this passage. For example, some may justify their reluctance to read the Bible by claiming that it is too difficult to understand. But today’s age of technological advancement has made it increasingly difficult to rationalize that argument.

For instance, there are Biblical translations that cater to readers of all levels. Audio Bibles with skilled voiceover artists are widely accessible, with some online versions available at no charge. These advancements can help virtually anyone gain access to God’s Word in a manner that he or she can understand, remember, and apply.

So if we eliminate this objection, we may be left with a brutally honest truth: we don’t engage with God’s Word because we choose to prioritize other things. Some may not wish to invest the effort it takes to grasp and apply certain Biblical truths. Others may be hesitant to embrace the lifestyle changes that might accompany a better understanding of the Scriptures. In the alleged words of American humorist Mark Twain, “Some people are troubled by things in the Bible they can’t understand. What troubles me are the things I can understand.”

In such instances, honesty is the best policy. This means acknowledging our reluctance to read the Scriptures and humbly asking God to cultivate that desire within us. Good things in life rarely come easily, and our text from 2 Peter 3:16 alludes to the fact that we are likely to encounter Scriptural truths are are difficult to grasp. Nevertheless, God will surely reward the diligent student who faithfully attends to His Word.

A prayerful effort to understand God’s Word will yield several other important benefits. First, we will be well positioned to understand what we believe and why. A familiarity with the Bible will also help us identify and avoid the false teachers Peter discussed earlier in chapter two. Finally, we have an opportunity to discover fresh spiritual truths or new applications of familiar truths whenever we open the Scriptures.

Thus, in the wise words of one commentator, “…let us seek to have our minds prepared for receiving things hard to be understood, by putting in practice things which are more easy to be understood.” ₍₁₎

Image Credit: Pete unseth, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

(1) Matthew Henry: Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible – Christian Classics Ethereal Library. (n.d.). https://ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhcc/mhcc.liii.iii.html

“as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures” (2 Peter 3:16).

We can begin our look at this passage by highlighting a few important observations. First, we can say that the Apostle Peter recognized and validated the divine origin of Paul the Apostle’s Biblical letters. Peter affirmed the God-inspired of nature those epistles when he acknowledged “…our dear brother Paul [who] also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him” (NIV) earlier in verse fifteen.

But Peter was not simply aware of those texts; either he had read those letters himself or he possessed enough knowledge about them to assert with confidence that Paul wrote “using the wisdom God gave him” (GW). Next, Peter associated those letters with “…the rest of the Scriptures” in the passage quoted above. This detail offers some insight into the origin of the New Testament canon of Scripture.

This word “canon” means “rule” or “rod of measurement.” Over time, this term came to represent the assembly of Biblical texts that were acknowledged to possess divine authority. For example, Biblical authors like Peter and Paul communicated by writing letters to a specific church or person, or for general distribution among many churches. Those recipients saved the letters they received and copied them for circulation among other churches. In fact, Paul endorsed this practice in one of his epistles when he said, “After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea” (Colossians 4:16).

We can also take comfort in Peter’s acknowledgment that Paul’s letters contained some things that were difficult to understand. This does not mean that Peter had difficulty understanding Paul’s epistles. However, he recognized the fact that it was no easy task to comprehend some of the spiritual truths contained within those letters. Of course, Peter understood such challenges all too well, for there were multiple instances when he and his fellow disciples struggled to grasp the meaning of Jesus’ teachings (see Mark 8:13-21, Mark 9:30-32, and John 16:16-18 for some examples).

Nevertheless, “hard to understand” is not the same as “impossible to understand.” We should not be deterred by the challenging nature of the some of the truths we encounter in the Scriptures, but instead seek God’s help in understanding and appropriating those truths in our lives.

“and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation–as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you” (2 Peter 3:15).

A look at the original language of this passage defines “longsuffering” in the following manner: “Longsuffering is that quality of self restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger, and is associated with mercy, and is used of God…” ₍₁₎ On those difficult days when we long to see God bring forth “…a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells,” it is comforting to know that longsuffering is an emotional quality that God shares with His people.

Nevertheless, the Apostle Peter tells us that God’s longsuffering has a purpose: “the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.” The following commentary brings an important perspective to this idea…

“The imperative of verse 15, account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation, encourages believers to recognize the fact that just because God’s day hasn’t come yet, they shouldn’t follow the false teachers in believing that it’s not going to come; they should think of it in God’s way: the longer He delays it, the more people can be saved.” ₍₂₎

This passage then moves on to a subject that will occupy our attention for much of our remaining time in this chapter. That subject involves the man who is better known to us today as the Apostle Paul. Peter’s depiction of Paul here in 2 Peter 3:15 serves to establish an important foundation for many of the observations that will follow.

Notice that Peter identified Paul as a “beloved brother” in this verse. This signals the absence of a competitive rivalry between these two great apostles. Instead, Peter publicly recognized Paul’s calling, as well as “…the wisdom given to him.” This may also account for the sudden shift in focus to a discussion of Paul’s writings in this passage.

You see, Paul echoed a similar sentiment regarding the purpose behind God’s longsuffering in the Biblical book of Romans. In one portion of that epistle, Paul asked the following question…

“Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).

However, we’re about to find that there is considerably more to this verse (and those that follow) as we continue our exploration of this passage.

(1) makrothumia (G3115) Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words with Topical Index, W.E. Vine, © 1996, Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee. All rights reserved.

(2) Edward E. Hindson and Woodrow Michael Kroll, eds., KJV Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1994), 2627.

“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (2 Peter 3:14).

The New Testament book of Hebrews points us to another contemporary application of our text from 2 Peter chapter three: “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14 ESV). So much like a traveler who sees the end of his or her journey in the distance, these passages encourage us to focus upon our eternal destination as we live for Christ in this transitory world.

In addition to what we read in Hebrews 13:14, the Biblical book of Philippians offers a similar reminder:

“…our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

As we seek to represent Jesus faithfully in the course of our daily lives, we should live with the recognition that God’s people are sojourners (1 Peter 2:11) on the road to another destination. In view of the fact that our citizenship resides in heaven, we should conduct ourselves in a manner that exemplifies the ideals and principles of our true home. Thus, we should “…make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight” (NLT).

Since the world we inhabit now is not like the world that lies ahead, this passage reminds us of the need to prioritize our relationships, occupations, material possessions, and other affairs of life with a view towards eternity. Consider the following counsel from the Biblical book of 1 Timothy…

“Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:18-19).

Finally, we have a descriptive turn of phrase that closes this verse: “without spot and blameless.” This serves to highlight the attributes that should characterize the people of God. Unlike the false teachers of the previous chapter (who were neither spotless nor blameless), our author encouraged his readers to pursue these qualities with diligence. 1 Peter 1:19 made use of a similar phrase in reference to Jesus, and thus recalls the words of Matthew 10:24-25…

“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters…” (NIV).

“But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13 NIV).

In Matthew 5:6, Jesus offered the following assurance: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (ESV). Those who will inhabit the new heavens and earth referenced here in 2 Peter 3:13 can thus look forward to the fulfillment of that promise from the Gospel of Matthew. However, our text from 2 Peter also presents us with a contemporary application as well.

When this world is eventually replaced by “…a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells,” the wisdom that characterizes our world is destined to crumble alongside it. For instance, our world places great value on the things we possess. If a person has great athletic ability, physical attractiveness, or financial wealth (to name a few examples), then society often views that person as someone who possesses worth.

However, 2 Peter 3:13 tells us that the value system of the new heavens and earth will be very different. There, the focus will be on who we are and not on what we possess. Those who choose to build their lives on the moral philosophies of this “adulterous and sinful generation” (to use Jesus’ terminology from Mark 8:38) will thus be left with no recourse.

As long as this world remains in its current state, there are sure to be many who view its wisdom as something practical, sensible, and expedient. But when this world is succeeded by “…a world filled with God’s righteousness” (NLT), the wisdom that reflects the priorities of our world will collapse as well. Therefore, those who live for Christ and follow His example today will be blessed and satisfied with the world He will establish then.

While the reasoning of this world presents a semblance of wisdom, that type of wisdom often fails to account for the eternal consequences of our decisions. One commentary addresses this shortcoming in the context of our passage from 2 Peter 3:13…

“The old cosmic system will then give way to a new heaven and a new earth and this is what believers are looking forward to (cf. 2Pe_3:12, 2Pe_3:14), not to the earth’s destruction. The new heaven and new earth, given by the promise of God, will finally be the home or dwelling place of righteousness (lit., ‘in which righteousness dwells permanently’). It will be the home of righteousness because the Righteous One will be there (Jer_23:5-7; Jer_33:16; Dan_9:24; Rev_21:1, Rev_21:8, Rev_21:27). What a contrast this will be to the world’s unrighteousness.” ₍₂₎

(1) John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Bible Knowledge Commentary, note on 2 Peter 3:13

“Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13).

Matthew Henry, the great 17th century commentator, posed a thought-provoking question regarding this passage: “What will become of us, if we set our affections on this earth, and make it our portion, seeing all these things shall be burned up? Therefore make sure of happiness beyond this visible world.” ₍₁₎ Since God promises to establish a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells, we would do well to prepare for that future today.

However, 2 Peter 3:13 is not the only Biblical passage that speaks of this future reality. For instance, the book of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 65:17, Isaiah 66:22) and the New Testament book of Revelation (Revelation 21:1) also reference this promise of a new heavens and earth as well. This word “new” does not simply refer to the latest or most recent version of something. Instead, this word expresses the idea of something fresh and unworn.

So, unlike the unscrupulous advertiser who markets a “new” product that is little more than an old product dressed up in a different package, the new heavens and new earth will be pristine and unspoiled. If we were to employ some technical jargon to describe this future event, we might say that God will not simply “power off” the current universe and “reboot” it. Instead, He will completely rewrite its operating system.

Since these new heavens and earth will be a place where righteousness dwells, it will be completely uncorrupted by anything that is wrong, dirty, or impure. The Biblical book of Romans contrasts our present reality with this future reality in the following manner: “Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay” (Romans 8:20-21 NLT). Thus, we can look forward to a time when God will make all things as they should be once again.

Finally, two commentators remind us of the need to maintain the right perspective regarding Biblical passages (such as 2 Peter 3:13) that reference future events…

“Christians need to remember the ultimate, ‘bottom-line,’ purpose of biblical eschatology [the study of future end times things]: to make us better Christians here and now.” _[a]

“The purpose of prophetic truth is not speculation but motivation…” _{[b] (2)}

Image Credit: Neji, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

(1) Matthew Henry: Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible – Christian Classics Ethereal Library. (n.d.). https://ccel.org/ccel/henry/mhcc/mhcc.liii.iii.html

(2) [a] Douglas J. Moo, 2 Peter and Jude, p. 202. [b] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, 2:466. Quoted in Notes on 2 Peter 2024 Edition, Dr. Thomas L. Constable https://soniclight.com/tcon/notes/html/2peter/2peter.htm

“looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:12).

There are several ways we can approach the various themes within this passage. The first is relatively simple and clear: God’s people should look for Christ’s return in advance of this coming day of God. However, this does not mean we should seek to associate a date with Jesus’ return. As Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 24:36, “Now concerning that day and hour no one knows–neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son–except the Father only” (HCSB). Instead, every generation should wait expectantly for Jesus’ second advent.

Next, we have this reference to “…hastening the coming of the day of God.” “Hastening” conveys several related ideas including “to urge on,” “impel,” or “to be eager for the arrival” of something. ₍₁₎ While some may view this approaching day of God with a sense of dread, Jesus’ followers should eagerly embrace its arrival. For instance, Jesus once explained the underlying differences between those mindsets…

“…everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:20-21).

We can also view this reference to “hastening” from a different perspective. As we’ve already seen, the word “hasten” is used to describe an attempt to expedite an action or activity. In light of this, our text from 2 Peter 3:12 underscores the need to avoid a passive mindset in anticipation of that day. Instead, we should actively employ the talents, skills, abilities, gifts, and opportunities that God has graciously given us for use in His service today.

As one source observes, “…[Its] not that God’s eternal appointment of the time is changeable, but God appoints us as instruments of accomplishing those events which must be first before the day of God can come.” ₍₂₎

Finally, this reference to “the day of God” invites a comparison to Jesus’ experience in the Garden of Gethsemane. When Jesus was seized in Gethsemane, He said to those who came to arrest Him, “…Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:52-53). So even though Jesus’ enemies had their hour in the waning days of His earthly life, 2 Peter 3:12 tells us that God will have His day in the future.

Image Credit: Opportunity by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0Alpha Stock Images

(1) G4692 speudo. Mounce Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament https://www.billmounce.com/greek-dictionary/speudo

(2) Jamieson, F. &. B. (2000, February 19). Commentary on 2 Peter 3. Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/jfb/2Pe/2Pe_003.cfm