2 Peter

[ajcstr]

In 2 Peter we find:

And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you, speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.

By using the phrase “other scriptures” does this imply that Paul’s letters are considered to be Scripture this early? Or does this give evidence for a later dating of the letter.

 

[Robbinson]

In 2 Peter we find:

And consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, also wrote to you, speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.

By using the phrase “other scriptures” does this imply that Paul’s letters are considered to be Scripture this early? Or does this give evidence for a later dating of the letter.

That is an interesting quesiton. I"ve checked numerous translations - some references “Scriptures” (capital S), some “scriptures” (lower case s), some “holy writings”. In any event, the clear implication is that they revered paul’s letters as writings and teachings of an apostle, presumably implying authority even then.

Blessings,

Brian

 

[Sirach2]

There were other scriptures or scrolls in existence prior to Paul’s epistle. Jesus himself made reference to them in this statement:

“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is these that bear witness of Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life.” (John 5:39,40).

 

[Cachonga]

The text used at the time 2 Peter was written (Greek and Hebrew/Aramaic) did not have any lower case letters (this was a later development, along with spaces between words and punctuation), so whether a translation capitalizes Scripture or not is not relevant. I notice 2 things here.

First, Peter acknowledges the letters (plural) of Paul. This tells me that many of his letters were being copied and passed around by this time.

Second, Peter places them in the same class as scripture. Since Paul tells us that “All scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim 3:16), it seems obvious to me that Peter recognized that Paul’s writings were, indeed, sacred scripture (at least the copies that were being copied and spread around).

This is how I understand this particular scripture. Hope this helps!

 

[ajcstr]

There were other scriptures or scrolls in existence prior to Paul’s epistle.

Yes, but everything I have read indicates “scripture” referred only to the Old Testament writings because they were the scriptures known by the 1st century Christians. In this case, Peter is referring to what would become part of the New Testament which had not even been assembled yet.

I guess my point is was Paul, for exemple, aware he was writing scripture or to his knowledge was he simply writing letters to churches which eventually were assembled as scripture.

 

[Sirach2]

12 [verse 16] Other scriptures: used to guide the faith and life of the Christian community. The letters of Paul are thus here placed on the same level as books of the Old Testament. Possibly other New Testament writings could also be included.
usccb.org/nab/bible/2peter/2peter3.htm

Your conclusion coincides with the USCCB’s footnote #12 on that particular verse; ie, that they referred to Paul’s letters. I don’t think any of us can know for certain whether Paul was aware he was writing the New Testament scriptures.

 

[NHInsider]

Yes, but everything I have read indicates “scripture” referred only to the Old Testament writings because they were the scriptures known by the 1st century Christians. In this case, Peter is referring to what would become part of the New Testament which had not even been assembled yet.

I guess my point is was Paul, for exemple, aware he was writing scripture or to his knowledge was he simply writing letters to churches which eventually were assembled as scripture.

Paul cites his apostolic authority fairly often in his letters, as do John and Peter. Paul is also careful to inform his reader/listener when something he says is “just his opinion.” As we saw in last Sunday’s readings from Acts (the Council of Jerusalem) and John (who hears you, hears Me) the Apostles were very aware that when they taught they did so in the voice of Jesus.