Did you ever have a hard time understanding Romans or 1 and 2 Corinthians? Galatians? You are not the only one. Peter did, too. Even though Peter walked with Jesus, became an apostle in the early church, and wrote Scripture, he did not understand everything in Scripture.
In 2 Peter 3:15-16, in the middle of a discussion about the end times, Peter wrote:
Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
The warning here is don’t distort what you don’t understand. It’s okay to say you don’t know what a portion of Scripture means. Beware of those who take one obscure or difficult verse and confidently elevate it’s meaning above other portions of Scripture.
Don’t force or twist a Scripture to make it say what you want.
It’s okay to let some parts remain the hard parts.
Have conversation about them. Pray about them. Study the hard parts in conjunction with other Scripture and with commentaries of wise Christians that have gone before us. Seek to understand what the possible meanings could be, but avoid becoming dogmatic on minor issues.
Some hard parts of Scripture will just always be hard. If we had it all figured out, our God would be too small. Instead, we can keep seeking and keep studying the intricacies of God’s wisdom.
Like Paul says:
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
“Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.
What parts of the Bible are hard for you to understand? What hard parts of Scripture get elevated above other portions of Scripture? Please comment below!
Not only did you quote my absolute favorite passage (Romans 11), but you said some really important things here, like, “If we had it all figured out, or God would be too small.” So true. Also so necessary in these days of denominational controversy. We must hold these things loosely as God reveals more of Himself to us. Thank you for writing this. I will be sharing it.
What do I find hard to understand? I’m with Peter. Some of what Paul says is so complicated that I have a hard time untangling it. (I blame it on Greek grammar and Paul’s enormous intellect.)
I hadn’t really thought of Peter having trouble understanding Scripture, specifically Paul! It’s super encouraging to remember that after a morning of Bible study when I feel like my brain is so slow to understand. I definitely get overwhelmed sometimes when trying to understand the Law, but I’ve been listening to a podcast series about it that has helped a little. 🙂
Isn’t it comforting? That’s how I felt, too, when I read this verse. What is the podcast you are listening to?
I’ve been listening to the Bible Project podcast. Their YouTube videos and podcasts have helped me learn so much!
Oh, I didn’t know they had a podcast. I’ll have to check it out. I really like their videos, though.