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Read Introduction to 2 Peter

 

“…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”

 

as also in all his epistles

Peter says that Paul wrote about the same things in all his “epistles.” “All his epistles” refers to the collection of the Pauline epistles already placed into the canon by Peter’s time. Thus, the collection of canonical Scripture did not begin with the post-apostolic fathers but with the apostles themselves.

speaking in them of these things

Paul spoke about the subject of 2 Peter in his epistles.

in which are some things hard to understand

The Greek word for “hard to understand” occurs this one time in the New Testament. Other literature used this word for something obscure. Peter had difficulty understanding some of Paul’s teaching.

This ought to be an encouragement to some of us since we find some things difficult to understand. Keep at it; it will come. Only “some” things are difficult to understand, not most of what Paul wrote. Though Peter did not have a formal education, he understood most of what Paul wrote. Keep in mind that we will never understand everything about God; if we did, we would have to be as smart as He is.

Principle:

Most of the Bible is clear and gives instructions for the improvement of our souls.

Application:

The Bible is the only book inspired by God. All other books contain the inspiration of men, and therefore, contain error. But because God inspired the Bible, it is inerrant, infallible, and unalterable.

We will have to wait until we get to heaven to understand some things in the Bible. However, it is not the Scripture passages that I cannot understand that disturb me, but those passages that I do understand. We read Scripture to critique our souls. We may not like this process, but it is crucial to our spiritual growth.

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

If we allow the Bible to work in our souls, we will be better for it. If the Bible does not change us, it is because of our unwillingness to listen. We think the poignant passages of the Bible are for someone else: “Oh, that is something that Mrs. Jones needs to hear.”

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