2 Peter 3:17

beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked Better, of the lawless ones, as in chap. 2 Peter 2:7. It is noticeable that while St Paul had used the word for being "led away" of Barnabas as being influenced by the Judaizing teachers at Antioch (Galatians 2:13), St Peter here applies it to those who were persuaded by teachers at the opposite pole of error. Comp. note on chap. 2 Peter 2:1. The word for "error" is prominent in the Epistles to which St Peter has referred in the preceding verses (Ephesians 4:14; 1 Thessalonians 2:3; 2 Thessalonians 2:11).

fall from your own stedfastness The "steadfastness" of the readers of the Epistle as contrasted with the unstableor unsteadfastof 2 Peter 3:16 is acknowledged; but they are warned that it requires care and watchfulness to preserve it. He does not assume any indefectible grace of perseverance. The tense of the verb in "lest ye fall" indicates that it would be a single and decisive act.