Yes—Peter himself says that Paul’s letters contain hard-to-understand things, and the unlearned and unstable twist them to their own destruction.
In 2 Peter 3, the apostle Peter, writing near the end of his life, acknowledged that Paul’s writings contained difficult matters. Les Feldick explains that Peter himself struggled to comprehend God saving Gentiles by grace, and that people who are unlearned and unstable have twisted these same passages ever since.
2 Peter 3:16 — This is the specific verse where Peter explains that unlearned and unstable people twist Paul’s writings, along with the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
2 Peter 3:15 — Peter says Paul wrote with God-given wisdom, setting up his warning about the difficult parts in Paul’s letters.
In 2 Peter 3, Peter refers to the apostle Paul as “our beloved brother,” saying that Paul wrote “according to the wisdom given unto him.” He then goes on to say that in all of Paul’s epistles there 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” (2 Peter 3:15–16). Peter had previously written, “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (2 Peter 1:20). This means Scripture is not meant to be reshaped according to one person’s private opinion; it is to be understood as a whole.
Les Feldick points out that 2 Peter 3 was written by Peter near the end of his life, shortly before his martyrdom. At that time Paul’s letters had already been written for the most part. Les says this is why Peter could honestly say that in Paul’s writings there are some things hard to be understood—even for a man like Peter. Les explains that Peter was steeped in Judaism, legalism, temple worship, and the covenant promises of the Old Testament. It was very hard for him to comprehend that God would save Gentile sinners by grace alone, without requiring circumcision, law-keeping, or the Mosaic system. Les says that even thirty years after Paul’s gospel was on the scene, Peter still had problems with it, though he agreed Paul was on the right track. Les teaches that the “unlearned and unstable” are the ones who twist these difficult passages. He warns that they do it to their own destruction, and that everyone under their teaching is also affected. He points out that people become masters at twisting Scripture, and that is where cults come from. Les says the answer is to search the Scriptures, compare Scripture with Scripture, and build doctrine on all of Scripture from Genesis through Revelation rather than on isolated verses.
Les explains that Peter had a Jewish background, steeped in legalism, temple worship, and Old Testament covenant promises. The idea that God was now bringing salvation to the whole human race, including pagan Gentiles, was unthinkable to him. Peter had a hard time accepting that God would save people by grace plus nothing, without their coming into the Mosaic system. Les says even at the end of his life, Peter still had to admit there were things in Paul’s writings he could not fully comprehend.
Peter calls them “unlearned and unstable.” Les says these are people who twist Paul’s letters into another gospel, and they can become masters at it. He points out that this is where cults come in—people who do not let the Scriptures speak for themselves but reshape them according to their own thinking. Les says this twisting has been going on ever since Peter wrote.
Peter says those who twist the Scriptures do so “unto their own destruction.” Les emphasizes that this is not just a small matter—it is hard language. He adds that when someone twists the Scriptures, they bring destruction not only on themselves but also on all the people who are under their teaching. Les also says that when people make another gospel by twisting Paul’s writings, the anathema of a righteous God rests on them.
Les says we have to come back and search the Scriptures, and Peter tells us to get back to the writing of Paul. He also teaches that no Scripture is a private interpretation, meaning you cannot build a doctrine on one isolated verse. Instead, the believer’s prerogative is to use all Scripture from Genesis through Revelation and see that it all fits together; seeming contradictions fade away when compared properly.
Peter’s Final Ministry Context
Les places 2 Peter near the end of Peter’s life and ministry, with Paul’s letters already written, so Peter is speaking with late apostolic perspective.
Twisting Brings Destruction
Les explains that those who twist Paul’s writings make another gospel and bring God’s judgment on themselves and their listeners.
Peter Could Not Comprehend Gentile Salvation
Les says even Peter couldn’t comprehend God saving a multitude of Gentiles apart from Israel, and that cults arise from people masterfully twisting Scripture.
Peter’s Jewish Background
Les describes Peter as steeped in Judaism, legalism, temple worship, and covenant promises, which made it hard for him to grasp grace-centered salvation.
Still Struggling Thirty Years Later
Les notes that Peter still had problems understanding Paul’s gospel years later, yet he agreed Paul was right; leaving legalism for grace is very hard.
A Neglected Yet Crucial Verse
Les says he rarely sees teachers refer to 2 Peter 3:15–16, where Peter identifies the long-suffering of the Lord as salvation.
Comparing Scripture With Scripture
Les teaches that no Scripture is a private interpretation, so doctrine should be built by comparing all Scripture rather than isolated verses.
Peter’s Struggle With Grace Alone
Les says Peter still had difficulty accepting that God would save pagan heathen without requiring the Mosaic system, which is why Paul’s writings contained hard things for him.
2 Peter 3:15: And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
Peter acknowledges Paul’s God-given wisdom right before warning about the difficult parts of Paul’s letters.
2 Peter 3:16: 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.
This is the key verse that says unlearned and unstable people twist Paul’s writings and the other Scriptures to their own destruction.
2 Peter 1:20: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Peter teaches that Scripture is not a matter of private interpretation, which Les uses to encourage comparing Scripture with Scripture.
Peter says Paul’s letters contain some things hard to be understood, and those who are unlearned and unstable twist them as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Les says Peter found it hard to comprehend that God would save Gentiles by grace apart from the Mosaic system, circumcision, and law-keeping. Peter was steeped in Judaism and legalism, so this was a difficult concept for him.
Les identifies them as people who twist Paul’s writings into another gospel. He says people can become masters at this, and that is where cults come in.
Les says we should search the Scriptures, compare Scripture with Scripture, and build doctrine on all of Scripture from Genesis through Revelation rather than on isolated verses.
Watch the Teaching: Why Acts 2 Is NOT the Birth of the Church — Explained