In the context of 2 Peter 3:14-18, Peter says Paul's letters "contain some things that are
hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort." Then Peter uses a
phrase that is not only remarkable, but its implications are profound! The people about
whom he writes, not only distort Paul's letters, but they do the same thing to "the other
scriptures" (tas loipas graphas). (v.16)
First, Peter implies that Paul's letters are scripture. He said ignorant people distort Paul's
letters, "as they do also the other scriptures." (ASV-1901) The word "other"(Grk.loipos)
connotes "rest of." So, the uninformed distorted Paul's letters as they did the rest of
the scriptures. No human council or legislative body determines what does and does
not constitute scripture. God has made that determination. When an apostle and others
who were "carried along by the Holy Spirit," (2 Peter 1:21) put "pen to paper" in
revealing truth from the mind of God (1 Corinthians 2:13), they were writing scripture!
Second, since the apostles and other supernaturally guided men wrote scripture, their
writings are authoritative, and serve as an inerrant guide in all religious matters. Paul told
the Corinthians, "The things I am writing to you are the command of the Lord."
(1 Corinthians 14:37) He even commended them for "maintaining the traditions" as he had
delivered them. Traditions refers to apostolic instructions. Paul informed the Thessalonians
that when they heard the word from him, it was not "the word of men," they received,
but "the word of God" that was at work in them.(1 Thessalonians 2:13) He told the
believers in Rome that they would be judged by the message of good news that he
preached. (Romans 2:16)
Third, therefore, inasmuch as there is a body of literature that has been "breathed
out by God" ( 2 Timothy 3:16), it is not only futile but also eternally disastrous for people
to distort it. Those who twist the scriptures, do so to "their own destruction!"
(2 Peter 3:16) We are to remain in the teaching of Christ (2 John 9). The faith, that is,
the body of eternal truth has been "once for all delivered to the holy people." (Jude 3)
God has supplied mankind with "all things that pertain to life and godliness." (2 Peter 1:3)
No other written message will be given. We have the mind of God verbalized in
Paul's writings and "the other scriptures."
R. Daly
Copyright 2015
hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort." Then Peter uses a
phrase that is not only remarkable, but its implications are profound! The people about
whom he writes, not only distort Paul's letters, but they do the same thing to "the other
scriptures" (tas loipas graphas). (v.16)
First, Peter implies that Paul's letters are scripture. He said ignorant people distort Paul's
letters, "as they do also the other scriptures." (ASV-1901) The word "other"(Grk.loipos)
connotes "rest of." So, the uninformed distorted Paul's letters as they did the rest of
the scriptures. No human council or legislative body determines what does and does
not constitute scripture. God has made that determination. When an apostle and others
who were "carried along by the Holy Spirit," (2 Peter 1:21) put "pen to paper" in
revealing truth from the mind of God (1 Corinthians 2:13), they were writing scripture!
Second, since the apostles and other supernaturally guided men wrote scripture, their
writings are authoritative, and serve as an inerrant guide in all religious matters. Paul told
the Corinthians, "The things I am writing to you are the command of the Lord."
(1 Corinthians 14:37) He even commended them for "maintaining the traditions" as he had
delivered them. Traditions refers to apostolic instructions. Paul informed the Thessalonians
that when they heard the word from him, it was not "the word of men," they received,
but "the word of God" that was at work in them.(1 Thessalonians 2:13) He told the
believers in Rome that they would be judged by the message of good news that he
preached. (Romans 2:16)
Third, therefore, inasmuch as there is a body of literature that has been "breathed
out by God" ( 2 Timothy 3:16), it is not only futile but also eternally disastrous for people
to distort it. Those who twist the scriptures, do so to "their own destruction!"
(2 Peter 3:16) We are to remain in the teaching of Christ (2 John 9). The faith, that is,
the body of eternal truth has been "once for all delivered to the holy people." (Jude 3)
God has supplied mankind with "all things that pertain to life and godliness." (2 Peter 1:3)
No other written message will be given. We have the mind of God verbalized in
Paul's writings and "the other scriptures."
R. Daly
Copyright 2015
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