Yes — Peter himself says Paul's letters contained things that were hard for him to understand.
Peter was steeped in Judaism, legalism, Temple worship, and the covenant promises, so Paul's revelation that God was saving Gentiles without the Jewish system was almost unthinkable for him. More than thirty years after Paul's conversion, Peter still admitted by inspiration that Paul's epistles had some things hard to be understood. His final, brief confrontation with Paul in Antioch shows the same difficulty in practice.
2 Peter 3:16 — Peter explicitly wrote that Paul's epistles contained some things hard to be understood, which is the direct scriptural statement behind the question.
In 2 Peter 3:15-16, the Apostle Peter writes about Paul: "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; 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." Peter not only acknowledges Paul's wisdom but also places Paul's writings alongside "the other scriptures." Earlier, Galatians 2:11-13 records Paul confronting Peter at Antioch. Paul says, "I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed." The passage explains that before certain Jewish visitors came from James, Peter ate with Gentile believers, but when those visitors arrived he withdrew and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. That passage shows a concrete moment when Peter found it hard to live out the freedom Paul proclaimed.
Les emphasizes that Peter's problem was his background. He was steeped in Judaism, legalism, Temple worship, Christ's earthly ministry, and all the covenant promises of the Old Testament. Suddenly he had to admit that God was no longer dealing with Israel on those covenant promises but was bringing salvation to the whole human race. To Peter, that was unthinkable. Les points out that this was not just an early reaction. Thirty years after Paul's conversion, shortly before his martyrdom, Peter wrote 2 Peter and still had to say by inspiration that Paul's epistles contained things hard to be understood. Peter still could not quite put everything together that Paul had brought on the scene. Les also connects this to the Galatians 2 confrontation, where Peter withdrew from Gentile believers when Jews came from Jerusalem, because he was afraid of what they would say. Peter was not yet convinced that Paul was on the right track.
According to Galatians 2, it was a confrontation. Paul says, "I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed." Peter's problem was that he could not recognize that he was no longer under the law and was free to eat with Gentiles. Even though he had been eating with Gentile believers at Antioch, when some Jews came up from Jerusalem he withdrew, fearing what they might say. Les comments that Peter was not yet convinced Paul was on the right track.
At the end of his life, about thirty years after Paul's conversion, Peter wrote 2 Peter shortly before his martyrdom. By inspiration he still admitted that Paul's epistles contained some things hard to be understood. Les says Peter still couldn't quite put everything together that Paul had brought on the scene. The Bible does not record Peter reaching a full comprehension of Paul's unique apostleship.
Les says people have the same difficulty leaving legalism behind. Peter was in the same boat as people today who are not used to the freedom of grace. Peter also warned that unlearned and unstable people twist Paul's writings, just as they twist the other Scriptures. Les notes that people become masters at this — that is where cults come from — and their end result is destruction.
Peter's Admission Thirty Years Later
Les shows that Peter, writing shortly before his martyrdom about 30 years after Paul's conversion, acknowledged Paul's writings — setting up Peter's own admission that parts were hard to understand.
A Spirit-Filled Apostle Still Struggled
Peter had preached from Pentecost filled with the Holy Spirit, yet by inspiration admitted there was much in Paul's revelation that he could not comprehend.
Peter's Jewish and Legalistic Background
Les explains that Peter was steeped in Judaism, legalism, Temple worship, Christ's earthly ministry, and covenant promises, making Paul's Gentile-salvation message almost unthinkable.
The Antioch Confrontation
Les recounts Galatians 2, where Paul withstood Peter because Peter withdrew from eating with Gentiles when Jewish believers arrived from Jerusalem.
Salvation Without the Jews
Les says Peter could not comprehend that God would save a multitude of Gentiles without the Jews — that was Paul's message.
The Problem From Early On
Les shows that if Peter could still call Paul's writings hard to understand near the end of his life, imagine how difficult they were early on.
Peter's Inspired Endorsement
Peter, by inspiration, called Paul 'our beloved brother' and acknowledged the wisdom given to him, while still finding some things in Paul's letters difficult.
Still Not Fully Put Together
At the end of his life, Peter still could not quite put everything together that Paul had brought on the scene, according to Les.
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 identifies Paul as a beloved brother and acknowledges the wisdom given to him.
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.
Peter explicitly states that Paul's epistles contain things hard to be understood.
Galatians 2:11: But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
This records the confrontation in which Paul confronted Peter directly.
Galatians 2:12: For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
This demonstrates Peter's practical struggle with accepting Gentile believers apart from the Jewish system.
Yes. In 2 Peter 3:16, Peter wrote that Paul's epistles contain 'some things hard to be understood.' Les points out that Peter wrote this by inspiration near the end of his life, roughly thirty years after Paul's conversion.
Even in his final letter, written shortly before his martyrdom around 66–67 A.D., Peter still had difficulty. Les says Peter still couldn't quite put everything together that Paul had brought on the scene.
Les compares it to people today who have been steeped in legalism and find it hard to accept grace. Peter's struggle shows that even a Spirit-filled apostle needed time to grasp the new message of salvation to the Gentiles.
Watch the Teaching: Why Paul's Gospel Is Different From Peter's — Acts 9 & Galatians 1