II Peter 3:17
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Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Ye--warned by the case of those "unlearned and unstable" persons (Pe2 3:16). knowing . . . before--the event. led away with--the very term, as Peter remembers, used by Paul of Barnabas' being "carried," Greek, "led away with" Peter and the other Jews in their hypocrisy. wicked--"lawless," as in Pe2 2:7. fall from--(grace, Gal 5:4 : the true source of) "steadfastness" or stability in contrast with the "unstable" (Pe2 3:16): "established" (Pe2 1:12): all kindred Greek terms. Compare Jde 1:20-21.
Open source ↗The apostle drawing towards the conclusion of his second epistle, begins this last chapter with repeating the account of his design and scope in writing a second time to them (Pe2 3:1-2). II. He proceeds to mention one thing that induced him to write this second epistle, namely, the coming of scoffers, whom he describes (Pe2 3:3-7). III. He instructs and establishes them in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to judgment (Pe2 3:8-10). IV. He sets forth the use and improvement which Christians ought to make of Christ's second coming, and that dissolution and renovation of things which will accompany that solemn coming of our Lord (Pe2 3:11-18).
Open source ↗3:17-18 Peter restates his purpose: to protect his readers from false teachers so that they can grow in grace. He ends with a doxology to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly to the end the assurance we had at first.
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.
How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
You too should beware of him, for he has vigorously opposed our message.