Caller: Thank you. I have sort of an observation. In 2 Peter 3:3 it talks about scoffers in the last days.
Pastor Doug: Yes sir.
Caller: And I was wondering does that also apply to people who discredit the Scriptures, especially the writings of the Apostle Paul? I know there's a movement that's taking place now that sort of has a lot of disputes on Paul's writings, some of the epistles and also some discredit some of the teachings of Christ. Would that fall into the same category?
Pastor Doug: Well you know Jerome, I'm sure it would. Scoffers who turn away from the Word of God or mock the Word of God - Peter talks, if you read on in the very same chapter, I think we want to go to verse 15 and 16: 'Consider the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul according to the wisdom given to him has written to you.' 'As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught, unstable people twist to their own destruction.'
Peter admits that Paul writes on difficult things but he says it's not the problem with the writing. It's the problem with the readers. Unstable, untaught people twist the writings of Paul and I'm sure that would include discrediting his writings. Some people discredit Daniel. They say that it was all manufactured and - you know, critics of the Bible have been around for a long time. They are scoffers. That might be what Peter and Jude are both talking about when they talk about people who speak evil. Jude chapter 1 verse 10, 'these speak evil of what they do not know.' Okay?
Caller: Yes. Thank you so much.
Pastor Doug: Okay - you're on the right track.