The Meaning of 2 Peter 3:16 Explained

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.

YLT: as also in all the epistles, speaking in them concerning these things, among which things are certain hard to be understood, which the untaught and unstable do wrest, as also the other Writings, unto their own destruction.

Darby: as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; among which some things are hard to be understood, which the untaught and ill-established wrest, as also the other scriptures, to their own destruction.

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 Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 2 Peter 3:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

If Peter wrote this epistle in A.D67 or68 , it is possible that he could have read every one of Paul"s13inspired epistles. It is somewhat comforting to learn that even the Apostle Peter found some of what Paul wrote hard to understand! Peter also wrote some things in his two epistles that tax our understanding. The "untaught" (Gr. amatheis) are those who had not received teaching concerning all that God had revealed. 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.
"The verb "distort" (streblousin), occurring only here in the New Testament, means "to twist or wrench," specifically, "to stretch on the rack, to torture" [1]. They take Paul"s statements and twist and torture them, like victims on the rack, to force them to say what they want them to say." [2]
Note that Peter regarded Paul"s writings as having equal authority with the Old Testament Scriptures. This statement reiterates what he said previously about the apostles" teaching being equal with the (Old Testament) prophets" writings ( 2 Peter 1:12-21; 2 Peter 3:2).
"That an Apostle should speak of the writings of a brother-Apostle in the same terms as the books of the Old Testament-viz, as Scripture-need not surprise us, especially when we remember the large claims made by St. Paul for his own words (1Thess. ii13; 2Thess. ii15; Eph. iii3-5. Comp. Acts xv28; Rev. xxii18 , 19)." [3]
"In attempting to destroy the Bible men destroy themselves." [4]

Context Summary

2 Peter 3:10-18 - "holy Living And Godliness"
How quickly the great European convulsion broke upon the world in the summer of 1914! Who expected such a sudden burst of the great storm! We are evidently near some vast change in the history of mankind, which may fitly be compared to the coming of new heavens and a new earth, as mentioned in 2 Peter 3:13. The condition of the world calls on each of us to be holy, as the virgins in their pure dresses, with burning and well-filled lamps. See Matthew 25:1-13. This is the manner in which we may hasten the coming of the day of God. It is not enough to say, "Thy kingdom come." Each day we should move some pebble from its pathway!
In twenty-four hours God can do as much as all His servants at home and abroad could not accomplish in a thousand years. According to God's chronology, it was on the morning of yesterday that Jesus died. Be watchful. Christ's coming is certain, but not the hour. If we are blameless now, we shall be faultless presently. See Judges 1:24 [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Peter 3

1  He assures them of the certainty of Christ's coming to judgment;
8  warning the godly, for the long patience of God, to hasten their repentance
10  He describes also the manner how the world shall be destroyed;
11  exhorting them to all holiness of life;
16  and again to think the patience of God to tend to their salvation, as Paul wrote to them in his epistles

Greek Commentary for 2 Peter 3:16

As also in all his epistles [ως και εν πασαις επιστολαις]
We do not know to how many Peter here refers. There is no difficulty in supposing that Peter “received every one of St. Paul‘s Epistles within a month or two of its publication” (Bigg). And yet Peter does not here assert the formation of a canon of Paul‘s Epistles. [source]
Speaking in them of these things [λαλων εν αυταις περι τουτων]
Present active participle of λαλεω — laleō That is to say, Paul also wrote about the second coming of Christ, as is obviously true.Hard to be understood (δυσνοητα — dusnoēta). Late verbal from δυς — dus and νοεω — noeō (in Aristotle, Lucian, Diog. Laert.), here only in N.T. We know that the Thessalonians persisted in misrepresenting Paul on this very subject of the second coming as Hymenaeus and Philetus did about the resurrection (2 Timothy 2:17) and Spitta holds that Paul‘s teaching about grace was twisted to mean moral laxity like Galatians 3:10; Romans 3:20, Romans 3:28; Romans 5:20 (with which cf. Romans 6:1 as a case in point), etc. Peter does not say that he himself did not understand Paul on the subject of faith and freedom.Unlearned Old word (alpha privative and μαντανω — manthanō to learn), ignorant, here only in N.T.Unsteadfast (αστηρικτοι — astēriktoi). See note on 2 Peter 2:14.Wrest Present active indicative of στρεβλοω — strebloō old verb (from στρεβλος — streblos twisted, στρεπω — strephō to turn), here only in N.T.The other scriptures (τας λοιπας γραπας — tas loipas graphas). There is no doubt that the apostles claimed to speak by the help of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:27; Colossians 4:16) just as the prophets of old did (2 Peter 1:20.). Note λοιπας — loipas (rest) here rather than αλλας — allas (other). Peter thus puts Paul‘s Epistles on the same plane with the O.T., which was also misused (Matt 5:21-44; Matthew 15:3-6; Matthew 19:3-10). [source]
Hard to be understood [δυσνοητα]
Late verbal from δυς — dus and νοεω — noeō (in Aristotle, Lucian, Diog. Laert.), here only in N.T. We know that the Thessalonians persisted in misrepresenting Paul on this very subject of the second coming as Hymenaeus and Philetus did about the resurrection (2 Timothy 2:17) and Spitta holds that Paul‘s teaching about grace was twisted to mean moral laxity like Galatians 3:10; Romans 3:20, Romans 3:28; Romans 5:20 (with which cf. Romans 6:1 as a case in point), etc. Peter does not say that he himself did not understand Paul on the subject of faith and freedom. [source]
Unlearned [αματεις]
Old word (alpha privative and μαντανω — manthanō to learn), ignorant, here only in N.T.Unsteadfast (αστηρικτοι — astēriktoi). See note on 2 Peter 2:14.Wrest Present active indicative of στρεβλοω — strebloō old verb (from στρεβλος — streblos twisted, στρεπω — strephō to turn), here only in N.T.The other scriptures (τας λοιπας γραπας — tas loipas graphas). There is no doubt that the apostles claimed to speak by the help of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:27; Colossians 4:16) just as the prophets of old did (2 Peter 1:20.). Note λοιπας — loipas (rest) here rather than αλλας — allas (other). Peter thus puts Paul‘s Epistles on the same plane with the O.T., which was also misused (Matt 5:21-44; Matthew 15:3-6; Matthew 19:3-10). [source]
Unsteadfast [αστηρικτοι]
See note on 2 Peter 2:14. [source]
Wrest [στρεβλουσιν]
Present active indicative of στρεβλοω — strebloō old verb (from στρεβλος — streblos twisted, στρεπω — strephō to turn), here only in N.T.The other scriptures (τας λοιπας γραπας — tas loipas graphas). There is no doubt that the apostles claimed to speak by the help of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:27; Colossians 4:16) just as the prophets of old did (2 Peter 1:20.). Note λοιπας — loipas (rest) here rather than αλλας — allas (other). Peter thus puts Paul‘s Epistles on the same plane with the O.T., which was also misused (Matt 5:21-44; Matthew 15:3-6; Matthew 19:3-10). [source]
The other scriptures [τας λοιπας γραπας]
There is no doubt that the apostles claimed to speak by the help of the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:27; Colossians 4:16) just as the prophets of old did (2 Peter 1:20.). Note λοιπας — loipas (rest) here rather than αλλας — allas (other). Peter thus puts Paul‘s Epistles on the same plane with the O.T., which was also misused (Matt 5:21-44; Matthew 15:3-6; Matthew 19:3-10). [source]
Hard to be understood [δυσνόητα]
Only here in New Testament. [source]
They that are unlearned and unstable [οἱ ἀμαθεῖς καὶ ἀστήρικτοι]
Both words are peculiar to Peter. On the latter, see on 2 Peter 2:14. [source]
Wrest [στρεβλοῦσιν]
Only here in New Testament. Meaning, originally, to hoist with a windlass or screw; to twist or dislocate the limbs on a rack. It is a singularly graphic word applied to the perversion of scripture. [source]
The other scriptures [τὰς λοιπὰς γραφὰς]
Showing that Paul's epistles were ranked as scripture. See on Mark 12:10. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Peter 3:16

2 Peter 1:12 Established [ἐτηριγμένους]
See on 1 Peter 5:10. Perhaps the exhortation, “strengthen thy brethren,” may account for his repeated use of this word and its derivatives. Thus, unstable ( ἀστήρικτοι ); steadfastness ( στηριγμοῦ ) 2 Peter 3:16, 2 Peter 3:17. [source]
Jude 1:4 Set forth [προγεγραμμενοι]
Perfect passive participle of προγραπω — prographō to write of beforehand, for which verb see Galatians 3:1; Romans 15:4.Unto this condemnation (εις τουτο το κριμα — eis touto to krima). See 2 Peter 2:3 for κριμα — krima and εκπαλαι — ekpalai Παλαι — Palai here apparently alludes to Judges 1:14, Judges 1:15 (Enoch).Ungodly men Keynote of the Epistle (Mayor), in Judges 1:15 again as in 2 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 3:7.Turning (μετατιτεντες — metatithentes). Present active participle of μετατιτημι — metatithēmi to change, for which verb see Galatians 1:6. For the change of “grace” (χαριτα — charita) into “lasciviousness” (εις ασελγειαν — eis aselgeian) see 1 Peter 2:16; 1 Peter 4:3; 2 Peter 2:19; 2 Peter 3:16.Our only Master and Lord For the force of the one article for one person see note on 2 Peter 1:1. For δεσποτην — despotēn of Christ see 2 Peter 2:1.Denying (αρνουμενοι — arnoumenoi). So 2 Peter 2:1. See also Matthew 10:33; 1 Timothy 5:8; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:22. [source]
Jude 1:4 Ungodly men [ασεβεις]
Keynote of the Epistle (Mayor), in Judges 1:15 again as in 2 Peter 2:5; 2 Peter 3:7.Turning (μετατιτεντες — metatithentes). Present active participle of μετατιτημι — metatithēmi to change, for which verb see Galatians 1:6. For the change of “grace” (χαριτα — charita) into “lasciviousness” (εις ασελγειαν — eis aselgeian) see 1 Peter 2:16; 1 Peter 4:3; 2 Peter 2:19; 2 Peter 3:16.Our only Master and Lord For the force of the one article for one person see note on 2 Peter 1:1. For δεσποτην — despotēn of Christ see 2 Peter 2:1.Denying (αρνουμενοι — arnoumenoi). So 2 Peter 2:1. See also Matthew 10:33; 1 Timothy 5:8; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:22. [source]
Jude 1:4 Turning [μετατιτεντες]
Present active participle of μετατιτημι — metatithēmi to change, for which verb see Galatians 1:6. For the change of “grace” (χαριτα — charita) into “lasciviousness” (εις ασελγειαν — eis aselgeian) see 1 Peter 2:16; 1 Peter 4:3; 2 Peter 2:19; 2 Peter 3:16. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Peter 3:16 mean?

as also in all the letters speaking them concerning these things among which are difficult to be understood some things which the ignorant and unestablished distort the other Scriptures to the own of them destruction
ὡς καὶ ἐν πάσαις ‹ταῖς› ἐπιστολαῖς λαλῶν αὐταῖς περὶ τούτων ἐν αἷς ἐστιν δυσνόητά τινα οἱ ἀμαθεῖς καὶ ἀστήρικτοι στρεβλοῦσιν τὰς λοιπὰς γραφὰς πρὸς τὴν ἰδίαν αὐτῶν ἀπώλειαν

καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἐπιστολαῖς  letters 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Plural
Root: ἐπιστολή  
Sense: a letter, epistle.
λαλῶν  speaking 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀπολαλέω 
Sense: to utter a voice or emit a sound.
περὶ  concerning 
Parse: Preposition
Root: περί 
Sense: about, concerning, on account of, because of, around, near.
τούτων  these  things 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
δυσνόητά  difficult  to  be  understood 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: δυσνόητος  
Sense: hard to be understood.
τινα  some  things 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Neuter Plural
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ἀμαθεῖς  ignorant 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀμαθής  
Sense: unlearned, ignorant.
ἀστήρικτοι  unestablished 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀστήρικτος  
Sense: unstable, unsteadfast.
στρεβλοῦσιν  distort 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: στρεβλόω  
Sense: to twist, turn awry.
λοιπὰς  other 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: λοιπός  
Sense: remaining, the rest.
γραφὰς  Scriptures 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: γραφή  
Sense: a writing, thing written.
ἰδίαν  own 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἴδιος  
Sense: pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, belonging to one’s self.
αὐτῶν  of  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἀπώλειαν  destruction 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀπώλεια  
Sense: destroying, utter destruction.