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2 Peter 3:16

in 2 Peter 3

He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV

ASV

as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

KJV

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.

This verse in 2 Peter 3

Commentary

18 notes on this verse

A commentator

Cyril of Alexandria

CATENA · Written before 444.

It seems that some people find Paul hard to understand, no doubt because he speaks about the wisdom which comes from above, for in him Christ himself is speaking.

This site's exposition

some things hard to be understood

Verse 16 is the letter's canon-consciousness verse: Paul's epistles contain some things hard to be understood, dysnoeta, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, strebolousin, twist as on a rack, as they do also the other scriptures, tas loipas graphas. Paul's letters are named in the same breath and the same category as the writings Peter has already called scripture earlier in this letter, an apostle placing another apostle's letters inside the same authoritative body he has spent two chapters defending, the clearest statement in the letter of the New Testament's own self-consciousness as scripture in formation. The wresting ends unto their own destruction, apoleian, the identical word used of the false teachers throughout chapter 2, difficulty in a text becoming an occasion for ruin only in hands already unstable.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers5 voices

A commentator

Hilary of Arles

INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER · Written before 449.

proposed

Peter says this because he himself was overwhelmed by Paul's brilliance.

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

EIGHT QUESTIONS OF DULCITIUS 1 · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

If it is both true and clear that those lacking in good works will be thrown into the fire, without doubt another interpretation of Paul's sayings must be sought and his teaching must be adapted in those matters which the apostle Peter says are difficult to understand but ought not to turn people to their own destruction, so that, contrary to the most obvious testimony of Scripture, they make the most wicked confident of obtaining salvation, although they most stubbornly cling to their sin and are not changed by correction or penance.

A commentator

Tertullian

The Prescription Against Heretics · Written before 220.

proposed

Now, unquestionably, the Divine Scriptures are more fruitful in resources of all kinds for this sort of facility. Nor do I risk contradiction in saying that the very Scriptures were even arranged by the will of God in such a manner as to furnish materials for heretics, inasmuch as I read that "there must be heresies, which there cannot be without the Scriptures.

A commentator

Tertullian

On Fasting · Written before 220.

proposed

But all these (instances) I believe to be unknown to those who are in a state of agitation at our proceedings; or else known by the reading alone, not by careful study as well; in accordance with the greater bulk of "the unskilled" among the overboastful multitude, to wit, of the Psychics.
False religious systems, therefore, have been attacked by more sagacious men, because they perceived their falsehood; but the true religion was not introduced, because they knew not what and where it was. They therefore so regarded it as though it had no existence, because they were unable to find it in its truth. And in this manner they fell into a much greater error than they who held a religion which was false. For those worshippers of fragile images, however foolish they may be, inasmuch as they place heavenly things in things which are earthly and corruptible, yet retain something of wisdom, and may be pardoned, because they hold the chief duty of man, if not in reality, yet still in their purpose; since, if not the only, yet certainly the greatest difference between men and the beasts consists in religion. But this latter class, in proportion to their superior wisdom, in that they understood the error of false religion, rendered themselves so much the more foolish, because they did not imagine that some religion was true. And thus, because it is easier to judge of the affairs of others than of their own, while they see the downfall of others, they have not observed what was before their own feet. The sum of the matter is this: The unlearned and the foolish esteem false religions as true, because they neither know the true nor understand the false. But the more sagacious, because they are ignorant of the true, either persist in those religions which they know to be false, that they may appear to possess something; or worship nothing at all, that they may not fall into error, whereas this very thing partakes largely of error, under the figure of a man to imitate the life of cattle. To understand that which is false is truly the part of wisdom, but of human wisdom. […]
11 more voices on this verse

The Church Fathers1 voice

A commentator

Oecumenius

Commentary on 2 Peter · Written before 550.

proposed

Just as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, speaking in almost all his letters about these things: among which are some things hard to understand, which the unlearned and unstable distort, as they do the other …

The Medieval Church4 voices

A commentator

Symeon the New Theologian

DISCOURSES 15.2 · Written before 1022.

proposed

It is not divine Scripture which suffers from those who twist it according to their own desires and who corrupt themselves in their own passions but rather those who disfigure it.

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on the Catholic Epistles · Written before 735.

proposed

In which there are some things hard to understand, etc. All the Scriptures are corrupted by heretics. For there is no book of either the New or the Old Testament in which they have not understood many things perversely. But they have often perverted the …

A commentator

John Damascene

BARLAAM AND IOASAPH 16.134 · Written before 749.

proposed

The enemy of our souls has made some people turn away from the straight road and divided them by strange teachings and taught them to interpret certain sayings of the Scriptures falsely. But the truth is one, and it is that which was preached by the glorious apostles and inspired Fathers and which shines in the universal church.

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on 2 Peter · Written before 1107.

proposed

He says "hard to understand," which the ungodly preach in a distorted sense, for this means "they twist." Let us present one example from all their false interpretations. The Apostle Paul said: "where sin abounded, grace abounded much more" (Rom. 5:20). The distorters gave the …

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

Nor was he at all disgusted by what St. Paul had written concerning him in the Epistle to the Galatians. Speaking of these things - Namely, of the coming of our Lord, delayed through his longsuffering, and of the circumstances preceding and accompanying it. Which things the unlearned - They who are not taught of God.
As also in all his epistles,....

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

proposed

To quicken and excite us to a serious minding and firm adhering to what God has revealed to us by the prophets and apostles, we are told that there will be scoffers, men who will make a mock of sin, and of salvation from it. God's way of saving sinners by Jesus Christ is what men will scoff at, and that in the last days, under the gospel.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things - Paul, in all his epistles, says Dr. Macknight, has spoken of the things written by Peter in this letter. For example, he has spoken of Christ’s coming to judgment; 1Th 3:13; 1Th 4:14-18; 2Th 1:7-10; Tit 2:13. And of the resurrection of the dead, 1Co 15:22; Php 3:20, Php 3:21. And of the burning of the earth; 2Th 1:8. And of the heavenly country; 2Co 5:1-10. And of the introduction of the righteous into that country; 1Th 4:17; Heb 4:9; Heb 12:14, Heb 12:18, Heb 12:

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

The oldest manuscripts read the feminine relative (hais); not as Received Text (hois), "in which things." some things hard to be understood--namely, in reference to Christ's coming, for example, the statements as to the man of sin and the apostasy, before Christ's coming.
As also in all his epistles - Not only in those which he addressed to the churches in Asia Minor, but in his epistles generally. It is to be presumed that they might have had an acquaintance with some of the other epistles of Paul, as well as those sent to the churches in their immediate vicinity. Speaking in them of these things - The things which Peter had dwelt upon in his two epistles. The great doctrines of the cross; of the depravity of man; of the divine purposes; of the new birth; of the consummation of all things; of the return of the Saviour to judge the world, and to receive his people to himself; the duty of a serious, devout and prayerful life, and of being prepared for the heavenly world. These things are constantly dwelt upon by Paul, and to his authority in these respects Peter might appeal with the utmost confidence. In which - The common reading in this passage is ἐν οἷς en hois, and according to this the reference is to the “subjects” treated of - “in which things” - referring to what he had just spoken of - “speaking of these things.” This reading is found in the common editions of the New Testament, and is supported by far the greater number of mss., and by most commentators and critics. It is found in Griesbach, Tittman, and Hahn, and has every evidence of being the genuine reading. Another reading, however, (ἐν αἷς en hais,) is found in some valuable mss., and is supported by the Syriac and Arabic versions, and adopted by Mill (Prolegomena 1484), and by Beza. According to this, the reference is to the “epistles” themselves - as would seem to be implied in our common version. The true construction, so far as the evidence goes, is to refer it not directly to the “epistles,” but to the “things” of which Peter says Paul wrote; that is, not to the style and language of Paul, but to the great truths and doctrines which he taught. […]

The words behind it

31 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Philippians 3:19

    Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things.

    it leads to

    • Romans 16:18

      For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Romans 8:5–7

      Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

  • Through

    James 1:8

    He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

    it leads to

    • 1 Kings 18:21

      Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did…

    • Matthew 6:24

      No one can serve two masters: Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and…

    • James 4:8

      Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

    • Isaiah 29:13

      Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught…

    • 2 Peter 2:14

      Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.

  • Through

    2 Peter 2:14

    Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed.

    it leads to

    • 2 Peter 2:3

      In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

Where this verse is studied

About 2 Peter

The Judas Kiss, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
The Judas Kiss, Gustave Doré, 1866. Public domain.
This page draws on 17 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Augustine of Hippo, EIGHT QUESTIONS OF DULCITIUS 1; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Cyril of Alexandria, CATENA; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Damascene, BARLAAM AND IOASAPH 16.134; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius, The Divine Institutes, Book 2, Chapter III; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 2 Peter; Symeon the New Theologian, DISCOURSES 15.2; Tertullian, The Prescription Against Heretics; Tertullian, On Fasting and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Peter.