Charles Spurgeon Commentary 2 Peter 3:15-16

"And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you; as also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction." — 2 Peter 3:15-16 (ASV)

And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given unto him, has 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 those who are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

The Scriptures are given for our learning; and, rightly used, guide us to the Saviour; yet, alas! some "wrest" them "unto their own destruction." Let none of us ever be found committing such fatal folly as that.

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.

If Peter here alluded to the doctrine of election, and the great doctrines that spring out of predestination, that is no argument why they should not be preached. For if they are not to be preached because men wrest them, then nothing is to be preached, since we are here told that they also wrest other Scriptures unto their own destruction. Any rope will do for a man to hang himself with, and any doctrine will suffice for a man to ruin himself with if he wishes to do so. The doctrine of divine mercy has been twisted into a reason why we should live in sin. The doctrine of human capability has been wrested into this falsehood, "I can repent when I like, or believe when I like; and therefore I may leave it to the very last."

There is no form of opinion which cannot be rendered mischievous.

Our business is to study the Word, and preach it as we find it; and if men will wrest it, we cannot help that. Is it not true that the truth will always be a savor of life unto life to those who believe, and a savor of death unto death to those who perish?