The Apostle Paul was given a new dispensation for the gentiles, those who were non-Jews. This Gospel of Grace was given to him by direct revelation of Jesus the Christ. God unveiled this body of truth that in His only begotten Son the world could be saved. He wants no one to perish without Him. All of creation was His not just His covenant people. It was hard for the Jewish believers in Christ to accept.
Ephesians 3:1-7 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
2 Timothy 1: 15 This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
At the end of Paul’s life he writes of his ministry. Many in Asia had left him and his teachings. The message of the Gospel of Grace and not of works fell on deaf ears. Jesus came to His chosen people and after His ascension He sent Paul preaching His Gospel of Grace to the rest of the world.
Galatians 2:6-10 But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
Paul preached the ascended Lord in glory.
2 Peter 3:15-18 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
To God alone be all glory. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life that through Him the world could be saved! (John 3:160-17) Carla
The scoffers regarded the delay in the Jesus’ return as evidence that He would not come after all. Believers should take the delay in Jesus’ return as evidence of His patient desire to save. The recipients of this letter knew Paul, and had received at least one letter from him. Paul expressed a similar view as Peter on the delay of Christ’s return (Romans 2:4; 9:22–24).
Even at this early stage of church history, Paul’s writings were being misrepresented (2 Pet 3:4–12). The comments about Paul’s writings suggest that their misuse was one of the problems underlying the heretical teachings. Like Peter, Paul regularly discusses Christ’s return and uses it to justify paying close attention to God’s work and living a life of integrity (1 Thessalonians 5:1–11). Based on the context, the false teachers were likely either exploiting one of Paul’s teachings on the return of Jesus or using Paul’s theology of salvation to argue that people could now do whatever they wished (Romans 6).
Peter expresses a high regard for Paul’s writings, classifying them as part of the sacred writings of the early church. Peter is exposing that ungodly people often attempt to justify their actions by twisting Scripture to suit their own purposes (Psalms 56:5; Jeremiah 23:36). The false teachers have moved from Christ to destructive heresy (2 Peter 2:20–22). Peter aims to caution his audience against this. The false teachers are characterized by their immorality; this same word is used of the people of Sodom in 2:7. Here, at the conclusion of the letter, it seems that 2 Peter returns to the material shared with Jude (Jude 24–25). Although Peter offers a shortened version of the hymn in Jude, the same terminology to describe God’s work is deployed—calling Jesus “Lord” and “Savior” and proclaiming His glory for all time. Like Jude, Peter then ends with “Amen.” Peter asserts that the best way to resist incorrect teachings is to grow in understanding of Christ and His work. Taken with 2 Peter 1:2, which mentions the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, this phrase acts as a type of literary bracketing to 2 Peter as a whole (an inclusion). This technique is likely deployed to indicate that the necessary knowledge that believers should grow in is contained in the body of the letter.
Peter also insists that they experience the unmerited gift of God, His grace (1:11). Although they have been in danger of being led astray, they can receive Jesus’ grace and live as people in right standing with God. The full honor belongs to Jesus (Romans 1:23). This is a fitting closing in light of Peter’s emphasis in this letter on the Day of the Lord. Glory is given to Jesus both now and on the day when He returns in glory. Faithlife Study Bible
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
2 Peter 3:1–2 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
2 Peter 2:14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children.
2 Peter 3:8–9 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
1 Corinthians 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall
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