2 Peter 3:15 Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. 16 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 (unfixed) people distort (pervert), as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction (ruin or damnation). 17 Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard not to be carried away by the deceit of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.
1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect, exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
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I will not live long enough to address all the ways man uses to avoid the Divine Truth of God. One I have heard on occasion is: “Well… Paul said it, not God.” There are many ways to deal with this dance, but I think Peter did it best. Peter pulls no punches; he says those who try to discount Paul’s writings are “ignorant and unstable people” and that they “distort” Paul’s words. Perhaps a little more translation will add further definition. The Greek word “amathēs” means ignorant or “unlearned.” In other words, those who don’t know what they are talking about. Then the Greek word “astēriktos” means unstable or “unfixed.” In other words, those not fixed or standing firm in God. Lastly, the Greek word “strebloō” means to distort or pervert, but even more to “torture.” In other words, these people do not just exaggerate or slightly change, but they go to great lengths, torturous lengths, to change or ignore his words. Let’s put this back together with the rest of Peter’s words: The lawless who are not fixed in God will torture the words of Paul, as they do the rest of the Word of God. Watch out for these deceitful people, they do so at their own peril, to go along with them will mean the fall from your secure stranding (favor) in God.
No one can discount Paul unless they also discount Peter, because Peter says Paul wrote with the “Wisdom God gave him.” If you’re able to discount Paul and Peter, then you must also discount Timothy, who was taught by Paul. And, of course, if you discount Paul, Peter and Timothy then… do you see where this is going? Those who would attempt to minimize, pervert or discredit Paul prove Peter right; they pervert all Scripture to their own lawless, worldly ends and to their own destruction.
Another we’ve all heard is: “Well… Paul was just talking to Corinth or Rome or…” Peter helps us with this torturous attempt as well. As you can see above, we show Peter’s map, not Paul’s, even though Paul taught far outside these boundaries. We do this because of this argument. Yes, Paul wrote to Corinth, but to whom did Peter write? “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.” And what did he say? Paul wrote to you previously about such matters, and, therefore, you already know these things. Peter is saying that Paul’s writings apply not only to those they were directly written, but to all the “Exiles,” the chosen of God.
As we said in “Truth Is,” Truth is simple: Truth is… Truth Is. Whether we like it or not, understand it or not or thoroughly believe in it or not, it doesn’t matter; it Just Is! “Truth Is” the Word declared by God and documented in the Scriptures by the prophets under the “Divine Influence” of God. To stand anywhere else would be to deny not just Paul, but God Himself.
© Scott A Caughel 12/21/2017