Examining the Scriptures one Passage at a time.
Scripture authenticates Paul’s epistles as holy writ and acts as a living judge, destroying unlearned and unstable men who twist its words.
Reasoning from the Scripture
Peter establishes the self-authenticating authority of God’s written word by equating Paul’s epistles with the other scriptures. Because the word of God is a living, two-edged sword discerning heart motives, it judges the reader. Those who are doctrinally unlearned and morally unstable wrest these difficult passages to their own ruin. God actively answers insincere men according to their inward idols, sending strong delusion to those who reject truth. Thus, Scripture not only conveys salvation to the believer but also functions as an instrument of divine judgment against dishonest men.
The Argument
-
A: Scripture self-authenticates Paul’s epistles as the inspired written word of God.
-
B: The word of God actively judges the thoughts and intents of man’s heart.
-
C: God answers dishonest hearts with delusion according to their own idols.
-
D: The unlearned and unstable twist difficult scriptures due to inward spiritual defects.
-
E: Therefore, wresting the self-authenticating word of God brings divine judgment and personal destruction upon dishonest men.
Wide Margin Note
Wresting self-authenticating scripture brings divine judgment upon dishonest men.
(cf. 2 Pet. 3:15-16; Heb. 4:12-13; Heb. 5:12-14; Ezek. 14:4; 1 Kgs. 22:19-23; 2 Thess. 2:10-12; John 12:48; Luke 16:29-31; 1 Tim. 4:16; Eph. 4:13-14; Jas. 1:8; 2 Pet. 2:14; 2 Tim. 2:15)