📜 Background, Setting & Purpose

✍️ Author:

Peter the Apostle

👥 Written To:

Jewish believers scattered throughout Asia Minor (1 Peter 1:1), who had come to believe that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God—according to the gospel of the kingdom.

⏲️ When:

Around AD 64–66, shortly before Peter’s martyrdom.

🌍 Setting & Purpose of 2 Peter:

Peter writes this final letter as a farewell exhortation to strengthen Jewish believers in the faith and warn against false teachers. Chapter 3 specifically addresses the Second Coming, mockers who deny it, and the longsuffering of the Lord in delaying judgment.

In verses 15–16, Peter points his readers to Paul, acknowledging the unique wisdom given to him and validating his epistles as authoritative Scripture—even though they contain truths that are difficult and often twisted by the unlearned.

This passage stands as a powerful confirmation of Paul’s distinct apostleship and message—coming from Peter himself.

🔍 2 Peter 3:15–16

“and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 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.”

✨ Phrase-by-Phrase Breakdown

“And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…”

• God’s delay in judgment (Second Coming) is not slackness (v. 9), but grace and mercy—giving more time for salvation.
• Peter urges readers to interpret God’s patience as a window for people to be saved, not as a sign of indifference.

“…as also our beloved brother Paul…”

• Peter affectionately refers to Paul as “beloved,” despite their earlier confrontation (Galatians 2:11).
• This is not only an affirmation of Paul’s ministry but a public endorsement of Paul’s unique role in God’s plan.

“…according to the wisdom given to him…”

• This affirms that Paul received divine revelation—not man-made ideas.
• Paul’s gospel was not taught by Peter or the Twelve, but received directly from the risen Christ (Galatians 1:11–12).
• The “wisdom” here includes Paul’s insight into the mystery, the gospel of grace, and doctrines not revealed to the other apostles.

“…has written to you…”

• Peter acknowledges that Paul also wrote to Jewish believers, likely referencing epistles like Hebrews or possibly Romans, which included strong theological exposition about Israel, law, and grace.
• This confirms Paul’s letters were circulating among the same audience as Peter’s and were intended to be understood alongside their kingdom understanding.

“…as also in all his epistles…”

• Paul wrote many letters—to churches and individuals.
• Peter affirms the breadth and authority of Paul’s writings.

“…speaking in them of these things…”

• “These things” refers back to salvation (v. 15) and the longsuffering of God.
• Paul’s letters repeatedly emphasize salvation by grace, the delay in judgment, and the calling of both Jew and Gentile.

“…in which are some things hard to understand…”

• Peter admits that some of Paul’s writings are theologically deep.
• Especially for those steeped in the Law, Paul’s doctrines of grace, freedom from the Law, and the mystery were difficult to grasp.

“…which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction…”

• A warning: just because truth is hard doesn’t mean it should be dismissed.
• False teachers and immature believers distort Paul’s writings, resulting in spiritual ruin.
• Peter holds them accountable for mishandling Scripture.

“…as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.”

• Peter places Paul’s letters on equal footing with the Old Testament Scriptures.
• This is a massive endorsement of Paul’s authority and inspiration.

❌ What This Passage Does Not Mean

• It does not imply Paul’s gospel is secondary or inferior.
• It does not suggest that Peter taught the same message but was just less detailed.
• It does not excuse twisting Scripture because it’s difficult.

✅ What It Does Mean

• Peter publicly affirms Paul’s unique wisdom and divinely inspired message.
• Paul’s writings include hard truths—but they are Scripture.
• God’s delay in judgment is salvation, and Paul’s gospel of grace explains that delay.
• Twisting Paul’s words is dangerous and destructive.

🙏 Summary

In Peter’s final words, he doesn’t point back to his own authority—he points forward to Paul’s.

Paul’s gospel, given by the risen Christ, revealed salvation by grace through faith. This message was radically different from the Law-based system many Jewish believers knew. Peter not only affirms Paul’s ministry but urges his readers to study his letters.

He even warns that twisting Paul’s message leads to destruction.

If Peter calls Paul’s writings Scripture, we must treat them with the same reverence.

This passage destroys the false claim that Peter and Paul preached the same gospel. It highlights the grace of God, the patience of God, and the distinct apostleship of Paul.

When even Peter tells his readers to understand Paul—we should too.

“And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation…”