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I. AS ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE INSPIRED.

1. To those who reject the Bible on account of its difficulties. The Bible does not profess to be a book easily understood. Its difficulties are —

(1) Consistent with its character. It is a revelation of the Infinite directed to the finite.

(2) Consistent with its intention. The Bible is an educational book. The school book which the student has mastered ceases to be educational.

2. To those who arrogate a thorough comprehension of the Bible.

II. AS PERVERTED BY THE UNGODLY.

1. The perverters are here described. "Which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction."

2. The perversion is here indicated. "'They wrest' — pervert. The word here used occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It is derived from a word meaning a windlass, winch, instrument of torture (στρεβλή), and means to roll or wind on a windlass; then to wrench or turn away as by the force of a windlass; and then to wrest or pervert. It implies a turning out of the way by the application of force. Here the meaning is, that they apply those portions of the Bible to a purpose for which they were never intended."

3. Their destiny is here stated. "Their own destruction." What is spiritual destruction? The destruction of all the blessings that can make existence worth having — life, peace, hope, etc. Such is the perversion of those difficulties, but what is the proper use of them?

(1) They should superinduce humility. Before their majesty the intellect should fall prostrate.

(2) They should stimulate intellectual inquiry. They challenge thought — their oceans ask you to navigate them, their hills to climb their summit, their mines to dig and be made rich.

(3) They should point to a future life.

(D. Thomas, D. D.)

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KJV: 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;

WEB: Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you;