2 Peter 3 16

2 Peter 3:16 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.

2 Peter 3:16 nkjv

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 niv

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 esv

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 nlt

speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.

2 Peter 3 verses

2 Peter 3 16 Meaning

Second Peter 3:16 serves as a significant testimony to the divine inspiration and authority of Paul's epistles within the early church. Peter notes that his fellow apostle, Paul, wrote concerning the very matters Peter himself addresses, such as the coming of the Lord, judgment, and the new heavens and earth. He acknowledges that some aspects of Paul’s writings contain truths that are challenging to grasp, a difficulty exploited by unlearned and unstable individuals who distort these teachings, along with other sacred Scriptures, leading themselves to destruction.

2 Peter 3 16 Context

Chapter 3 of 2 Peter focuses heavily on the certainty of Christ's second coming and the day of judgment, which the false teachers Peter confronts were scoffing at or denying. Peter argues that the present heavens and earth are being reserved for destruction by fire, just as the former world was destroyed by water in the flood (2 Pet 3:5-7). He reminds his readers that God's perception of time differs from ours (2 Pet 3:8) and that the Lord's seeming delay is a demonstration of His patience, desiring all to come to repentance (2 Pet 3:9). In this context, Peter then refers to Paul’s letters, underscoring the consistency of apostolic teaching regarding these weighty eschatological matters. The historical setting is Peter, nearing the end of his life (2 Pet 1:14), addressing early Christian communities susceptible to internal and external threats, especially from antinomian false teachers who denied divine judgment and Christ's return, leading to immoral living. These teachers often twisted true doctrines to justify their licentious behavior.

2 Peter 3 16 Word analysis

• And also (καὶ ὡς): The Greek kai hos ("and just as" or "and likewise") connects Peter's discussion of end times to Paul's teachings, signifying consistency and corroboration between the two apostles' messages. It validates Paul's teachings.
• our beloved (ὁ ἀγαπητὸς ἡμῶν): The use of agapetos "beloved" emphasizes deep affection and respect within the apostolic community, countering any suggestion of division between Peter and Paul. This personal affirmation lends authority and legitimacy to Paul's writings from Peter's perspective.
• brother Paul (Παῦλος): Identifying Paul as "brother" solidifies their collegiality in Christ. Peter’s recognition of Paul's standing as a fellow apostle and brother in faith is significant, given past disagreements (Gal 2:11-14).
• according to the wisdom (κατὰ τὴν σοφίαν): Sophia implies God-given understanding, insights, and divine revelation bestowed upon Paul for his teaching ministry. This means Paul's difficulty is not from his lack of wisdom but from the divine depth and magnitude of the wisdom he expresses.
• given to him (δοθεῖσαν αὐτῷ): Highlights that Paul's wisdom is not self-acquired but divinely imparted (a gift from God), emphasizing the supernatural source of his authoritative teaching. This underpins the inspired nature of his writings.
• has written to you (ἔγραψεν ὑμῖν): Confirms that Paul’s letters, familiar to Peter's audience, indeed addressed the same topics Peter was discussing, such as eschatology and ethical conduct.

• in all his epistles (ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐπιστολαῖς): This sweeping phrase, en pasais tais epistolais ("in all the letters"), denotes the entire corpus of Paul's known writings. This broad declaration indicates that Peter considers all of Paul's letters as authoritative and consistent in their teachings.
• speaking in them of these things (λαλῶν ἐν αὐταῖς περὶ τούτων): "These things" refers to the themes Peter has been discussing throughout the chapter: the Day of the Lord, Christ's return, judgment, the new heavens and earth, and living in godliness. Paul consistently spoke on these matters.
• some things hard to understand (δυσνόητά τινα): Dysnoēta means "difficult to comprehend" or "hard to understand." Peter acknowledges that certain doctrines or passages in Paul are genuinely challenging. This implies a complexity not due to error, but profound depth, requiring diligent study, spiritual maturity, and humility to grasp. Examples include predestination, election, and certain aspects of the Law and grace.
• which the unlearned and unstable (ἅ οἱ ἀμαθεῖς καὶ ἀστήρικτοι): Amatheis (unlearned) denotes a lack of biblical knowledge or theological education. Asteriktoi (unstable) implies those who are not firm in faith or character, easily swayed or lacking spiritual resolve. These are dangerous spiritual conditions making one prone to misinterpreting Scripture. This refers to their spiritual immaturity and moral deficiency.
• twist (στρεβλοῦσιν): The strong verb streblousin means "to twist," "to torture," or "to pervert." It indicates a deliberate, malicious distortion of the original meaning of the text, often to suit one’s own agenda, typically for false teaching or licentious behavior. It suggests a violent wrenching of meaning.
• as they do also the other Scriptures (ὡς καὶ τὰς λοιπὰς γραφάς): This is a crucial statement. Tas loipas graphas refers to the rest of the divinely inspired writings (Old Testament and likely other apostolic writings known at the time). Peter directly equates Paul's letters with "the other Scriptures," affirming their status as divinely inspired, authoritative, and canonical in the same way as the Old Testament, even at this early stage. This is a powerful endorsement of the canonicity of Paul's epistles.
• to their own destruction (πρὸς τὴν ἰδίαν ἀπώλειαν): Pros tēn idian apōleian refers to spiritual ruin, eternal damnation, or perishment. The outcome of deliberately distorting Scripture is grave, leading not just to theological error but to personal and eternal catastrophe for those who twist the Word and those they lead astray. The phrase emphasizes the ultimate, severe consequences.

2 Peter 3 16 Bonus section

This verse provides invaluable insight into the early recognition of New Testament writings as inspired Scripture. Peter, one of the foremost apostles, explicitly confirms the inspired status of Paul's epistles, a crucial piece of evidence for the New Testament canon's formation. It shows that even in the apostolic age, certain teachings were already being misused or misrepresented by false teachers. The severity of the language ("twist," "destruction") indicates that misinterpretation driven by perverse motives is not merely an intellectual mistake but a spiritually fatal error. The warning implies that proper handling of Scripture requires both intellectual diligence (to understand what is difficult) and spiritual stability (to avoid manipulation). This passage reinforces the consistency of apostolic teaching across different writers, illustrating that God’s truth is unified even if expressed differently.

2 Peter 3 16 Commentary

In 2 Peter 3:16, Peter offers a profound statement regarding the authoritative nature of Paul's letters and issues a solemn warning. His affirmation that Paul writes "according to the wisdom given him" underscores the divine inspiration behind Paul's apostleship and teachings. The acknowledgement that some parts of Paul's epistles are "hard to understand" reveals Peter's honesty regarding theological complexity, not Paul's error. However, this complexity becomes dangerous when approached by the "unlearned" (those lacking foundational knowledge) and "unstable" (those lacking spiritual fortitude and character), who "twist" Paul’s words—a term implying deliberate distortion or perversion for malicious purposes, often to justify sinful lifestyles. Crucially, Peter places Paul's letters on par with "the other Scriptures" (a direct reference to the Old Testament and possibly other emerging New Testament writings), signifying their full canonical status. This willful distortion, whether of Paul's writings or any Scripture, leads inevitably "to their own destruction," a stark reminder of the eternal consequences for those who corrupt God's truth. This verse thus emphasizes the unity of apostolic teaching, the inspired nature of all Scripture, and the severe judgment for those who willfully manipulate it.Examples: Twisting grace for antinomianism, misinterpreting prophecy to set dates, or altering truths for personal gain.