“…our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you… in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest [twist], as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.”
Peter points directly at Paul’s writings on grace, law, and salvation as the tricky part.
Paul’s Teachings Most Often Twisted
1. Romans 3:20, 28 – Justification by Faith Apart from the Law
Paul’s intent: No one is justified by law-keeping; salvation comes by faith in Christ.
Twist #1 (Antinomianism): “Law is void — we don’t need to obey anything.”
Twist #2 (Legalism): “Paul only means rituals; salvation still requires strict Torah-keeping.”
Balanced view: Justification is by faith, but this faith establishes the law (Romans 3:31).
2. Galatians 2:16 – Not Justified by Works of the Law
Paul’s intent: Circumcision and ritual observances don’t justify; only faith in Christ does.
Twist #1: Some conclude all obedience is unnecessary.
Twist #2: Others reject Paul altogether, saying he contradicts Moses.
Balanced view: Salvation is by faith, but obedience remains the fruit of faith (Galatians 5:6).
3. Galatians 3:2, 5 – Spirit by Faith, Not by Law
Paul’s intent: The Spirit was received through faith, not rituals like circumcision.
Twist #1: “Since law doesn’t matter, holiness doesn’t matter either.”
Balanced view: Faith brings the Spirit, and the Spirit produces holy living (Galatians 5:22–23).
4. Galatians 3:10 – Curse of the Law
Paul’s intent: Those who rely on law for justification fall under its curse (because no one keeps it perfectly).
Twist #1: “The law itself is a curse; God’s commands are bad.”
Balanced view: The curse is condemnation for breaking the law, not the law itself. Christ removes the curse, not the commandments (Galatians 3:13).
5. Romans 6:1–2 – Grace and Sin
Paul’s intent: Grace doesn’t give permission to sin; it frees us from sin’s power.
Twist: “Because of grace, we can live however we want.”
Balanced view: Grace gives new life; believers walk in righteousness.
6. Ephesians 2:8–10 – Saved by Grace, Created for Good Works
Paul’s intent: Salvation is God’s gift, but it leads to a life of good works.
Twist: Some quote vv. 8–9 (“not of works”) but ignore v. 10 (“unto good works”).
Balanced view: Works don’t save us, but they demonstrate that we are saved.
How This Relates to Peter’s Warning
Paul’s writings on law and grace are easily misunderstood.
The unlearned (those without grounding in Torah and Jesus’ teachings) and the unstable (those seeking loopholes) twist his words:
Into lawlessness (antinomianism).
Into legalism (demanding Torah observance for justification).
Peter says both distortions lead to destruction.
Big Takeaway
Paul’s true teaching:
Salvation = grace through faith alone.
Law = upheld, but as a guide for holy living, not as a ladder to climb into heaven.
Peter’s warning: Don’t confuse Paul’s rejection of the law for justification with a rejection of obedience itself.
In short
The verses we walked through are the exact spots Peter likely had in mind. They’ve been twisted in two opposite directions for 2,000 years — either toward “no law at all” or “law as salvation.” Paul sits in the middle: faith saves, but faith produces obedience by walking in the Spirit.