I can’t seem to find any early (200AD and earlier) christian writings / commentaries on this piece of scripture 2 Peter 3:16:17:
15 And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation; as also our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you: 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, brethren, knowing these things before, take heed, lest being led aside by the error of the unwise, you fall from your own steadfastness.
I believe Peter was uniquely positioned
Peter knew better than almost anyone the teachings of Jesus
Peter knew Paul personally, and could adjust for his personality and writing style
Peter had read Paul’s writings
Peter knew (better than any later reader) the intended audiences well and the errors Paul was targeting
Peter declares them hard to understand (so we can easily develop a different understanding to the one Paul intended, if we think Paul is easy to understand we may have the wrong understanding)
Peter directly witnessed mis-use of Pauls writings so much so that inspired by the Holy Spirit he wrote this warning to all believers
Peter gave no such warning for any other scripture
Would it be fare to assume from Peter’s perspective that unlearned meant people who were not aware of scripture? I doubt he meant being taught by Pharisees, or other forms of learning like Greek / Roman philosophy.
Based on Peter’s warning, it seems wise that we should first have a strong understanding of the rest of scripture (which have no documented warning from Peter) before diving too deeply into Paul’s letters.
I have only started my journey looking into the early christian writings, but have already spotted very heavy leaning on scriptures just found in Paul’s writings by Jerome (CHURCH FATHERS: Letter 75 (Augustine) or 112 (Jerome)), so now I’m trying to find if any consideration was given to Peter’s warning, so far I can’t find any?! I may be wrong, happy to be corrected, it could just be my lack of searching skills.
It is way more complex I even realized nobody has interpreted Genesis 3 right like “the man has become like one of Us” See God knows Good and Evil, God has the Knowledge of Good and Evil but humans gained it and it enabled us to sin.
Peace to all,
Logically what Saint Paul is saying is:
All mankind and angels souls are created from the Power of The Holy Spirit and mankind is greater manifested from spirit power becoming through the Flesh In the Christ.
Saint Paul defines the Soul as, A soul is created, conceived at conception from the power of the Spirit blood and water born through the flesh becoming One Body.
The Souls of The Holy Family exised before creation was ever created was even created explaining The Virgin Birth of Jesus becoming The Christ in all mankind. And from the Cross the blood and water did flow for all from rebirth through salvation back to Heaven from where The Holy Family Came, now through Two Natures in One Family Body.
The angels are speaking from choice from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and because of the effects creating of the ability to sin now, man has to be removed from the Tree of Life to preserve Heaven, remaining undefiled, nothing is allowed in Heaven but undeflied through both natures, spirit and life becoming One Body through the Christ for all mankind.
Even the angels know of the becoming power of Flesh in Heaven.
Along with mankind, even the angels became spirit defiled and corrupt and through the flesh mankind will save the Angels through the Christ from Holy Spirit incorruption through The Baptized Immaculate Flesh of the New Eve becoming immortality for all through both natures, spirit and life becoming from Sacrifice in the New Adam through The Christ in all mankind in Penance becoming forgiven in all becoming again for all glorified and transfigured in One Holy Sprit Family One God in being, OMNiLogically.
Saint Paul wrote 53.8% of The NewTestament, I believe,
When infinite disciplines become in question OMNiLogic always weighted the logic over finite disciplines, I believe. The logical formulas of The Wondrous Mysteries of the Faith from Abraham always follow the undefiled logical intelligence pattern unfailingly becoming from the OMNiLogic “What would Jesus do in all cases of the fulfilled faith and morality becoming through the Christ becoming again for all in One Family,” trusted and verified through OMNiLogic, I believe.
I personally would not assume that. Maybe “unlearned” simply referred to a lack of spiritual knowledge. Maybe they were aware of Scripture but had not received thorough instruction. Although they had heard the Gospel preached, they possibly had not heard it all explained in detail and in the context of the Old Testament. I’ve been hearing the Gospels and hearing them preached and explained for many decades, and I’m still learning.
Still, you may be right, and all your other points make sense.
The most common “wresting” of Paul’s words involves his statements on the Mosaic Law.
Antinomianism (Lawlessness): Some misinterpret Paul’s teaching that “you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14) as a license to ignore moral laws. Peter specifically warns that this distortion leads to the “error of the lawless”.
Abolition of the Law: Critics and some modern movements argue Paul completely abolished the Torah. However, theologians clarify that Paul often spoke of being free from the curse or ceremonial/ritual requirements of the law (like circumcision) while still upholding its moral essence.
Peace to all,
So true, I believe.
The New Baptism is an example, circumcision is no longer required, because the New Covenant Baptism is acceptance into the Church of Christ, from the living waters, I believe.
