Bible Commentaries
2 Peter 1

Verses 1-2

Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: 2 Peter 1:1

It is interesting that some of the best manuscripts have not "Simon" here, but rather the Semitic "Symeon." This original name is used only in one other instance in the New Testament, at the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15:14. Schreiner sees this name as an indication that 2 Peter should have an early date of writing, rather than a later one.^(F1) It is also very doubtful that a false writer would dare to use the Semitic name of Peter.^(F2)

Of course, Simon Peter was the chief of the apostles. Since he, in a sense, held the "keys to the kingdom" (Matthew 16:19), we can understand why it was Peter who opened up the gospel to the Gentiles in Acts chapters 10 and 11. In both of his epistles Peter is continuing to minister to Gentile people, although he was primarily an apostle to the Jews (Galatians 2:7).

Peter calls himself a "servant" (doulos) of Jesus. This Greek word is often used of believers in the New Testament. The word really means "slave." Barclay says of this word, "To call the Christian the doulos of God means that he is inalienably possessed by God."^(F3) Jesus did say in Matthew 23:11, that the one who is greatest will be the servant. Peter also calls himself "apostle" (Gk. apostolos), or one "sent out" by the Lord.

We see here that our righteousness comes from God (cf. Jeremiah 23:6). It is a gift from God through Jesus, and in other places it is referred to as "imputed" or "credited" righteousness (Romans 4:11,23-24). We are instructed for our protection to always wear this righteousness of Jesus as a breastplate (Ephesians 6:14).

In this verse the expression "God and Savior Jesus Christ" is used. Schreiner says here, "The grammar clearly indicates that Jesus Christ is called 'God' in this verse."^(F4) There are several other places in scripture where Jesus is called God (cf. John 1:1,18; 20:28; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8).

We cannot help but notice that "faith" is also a gift from God (cf. Ephesians 2:8; Romans 12:3). We are like poor beggars reaching out to God who graciously gives us everything that pertains to life and godliness. Peter assigns great value to faith, calling it "precious." Fuller professor Everett Harrison asks, "and why not: It is the 'coin of the realm' in God's kingdom."^(F5) The word used here for "precious" is a Greek compound isotimos, and it means "of equal worth."^(F6) We must never forget that our Christian faith is precious. Like those to whom Peter wrote, most of us are Gentiles who suddenly find ourselves by faith elevated to the same level as Peter and many others in that early church. All of us, if we are mature in Christ, need to hold tight to this precious faith. The early Anglican commentator, John Trapp says, "A child may hold a ring in his hand, as well, though not as fast as a man."^(F7)

"Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord" (1:2). Peter uses a standard prayer or blessing here, wishing that his hearers be filled with an abundance of the Lord's grace and peace. Long ago Chrysostom (347-407) said, "Peace is the mother of all good things and the foundation of our joy."^(F8) It assures us that the long war between God and man is at last over.

Peter here begins to emphasize the knowledge of God. The Greek word is epignosis, and means a "full, perfect, precise knowledge of God."^(F9) Peter is no doubt beginning his attack on the Gnostic teachers who were promising a special hidden knowledge, which really turned out to be a false knowledge. College director and web commentator David Guzik says of this true knowledge:

Knowing God is the key to all things that pertain to life and godliness…We are willing to try almost anything except the knowledge of him. We will trust in the schemes and plans of men instead of the knowledge of him. We will try knowing ourselves instead of the knowledge of him…The Greek word knowledge doesn't refer to a casual acquaintance. It means an exact, complete, and thorough knowledge… It comes as we learn of him through his Word, through prayer, and through the community of God's people. It is true that we need God alone, but God does not meet us only in our "aloneness" but also in the community of his people….^(F10)

Once the Apostle Paul cried out that he might know the Lord better (Philippians 3:10). We can only say that if Paul needed to know the Lord better, then we certainly do. The great reformer John Calvin said, "For the more anyone advances in the knowledge of God, every kind of blessing increases also equally with the sense of divine love."^(F11) The great key to becoming a real Christian is to know God and have a personal relationship with him. In Matthew 7:23, we see some very busy supposed Christians appearing before the Lord, and we are surprised to hear him say, "…I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"

Verses 3-4

BEING FULLY EQUIPPED IN CHRIST

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3

We must not miss the fact that God has already given us everything we need to live highly successful spiritual lives. The Gnostics were looking down on these new Christians because they did not have their gnosis or "superior knowledge." In the Charismatic Movement of last century it was quite common for Christians to look down on other Christians who were supposedly not "baptized in the Holy Spirit." This created a lot of problems at the time, because it was basically judgmental and it violated a clear biblical principle found in Philippians 2:3. Now we know the truth, that we are complete in Jesus (Colossians 2:9-10). He has, in fact, blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens since we are now in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). The Lord has performed all this by his great power and might (Gk. dunamis). It has all come in the salvation package. This is an incredibly important concept and we do not want to miss it.

The understanding of this great biblical truth comes through our increasing knowledge of the Lord Jesus. American pastor, Bible teacher and writer, Warren Wiersbe, says here, "The false teachers claimed that they had a 'special doctrine' that would add something to the lives of Peter's readers, but Peter knew that nothing could be added."^(F12) This does not mean that we should spurn things like the filling of the Holy Spirit. We need to relax and allow the Spirit to fill us up and take over in our lives (Ephesians 5:18). This filling is part of the "everything" we have received in Christ. It does not mean that we should fail to progress and develop the things God has given each of us. Peter will talk much about this inverses 5-7.

All this reminds us of downloading a very large and wonderful computer program. Although it is now in our computer, and we own it, we still may be very slow in appropriating and using this wonderful download. To put this in religious terms, we are truly and gloriously saved if we have accepted Jesus, but the benefits of this salvation are often slow in coming and in our utilizing.

So, God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. This word godliness (eusebeia) is the nearest Greek word for "religion." It not only describes someone who correctly worships God but someone who correctly serves his fellow human beings. Scottish professor and author William Barclay says, "When a man becomes a Christian, he acknowledges a double duty, to God and to his fellow-men."^(F13) English Baptist Peter Pett says here, "In Christ we become partakers of the divine nature (Christ in you the hope of glory)…and this is in contrast with the false prophecy which introduces only degradation, corruption and decay (2 Peter 2:1-22)."^(F14)

"Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires" (1:4). Wiersbe suggests that Peter may have really liked the word "precious." He speaks of precious faith (2 Peter 1:1), precious promises (2 Peter 1:4), precious blood (1 Peter 1:19), precious stone (1 Peter 2:4,6), and precious Savior (1 Peter 2:7).^(F15)

Let us note that we have "precious promises" given to us. In a real sense, we believers are entering the Promised Land, and it is a land of promises. All we have to do is take these promises and make them a reality in our lives. We have to step out and find ourselves "standing on the promises of God," as the old hymn has it. Through these precious promises we will find ourselves partaking of the divine nature, or partaking of his holiness (Hebrews 12:10).

The church father Hilary of Arles (c. 403-449) has it, "Just as God stepped out of his nature to become a partaker of our humanity, so we are called to step out of our nature to become partakers of his divinity."^(F16) This does not mean that we will become some kind of little gods as New Age and other Eastern teaching would declare. Adam and Eve listened to this lie and brought about the fall of the human race. Pett says here, "The point is not that we become divine, but that the seed of the divine word has been implanted within us, so that we have been made one with the divine Christ (cf. John 15:1-6)."^(F17) Schreiner adds, "Believers will 'participate' (koinonoi) in the divine nature, but they will not becomegods."^(F18)

To fulfill this heavenly pattern we must escape the corruption of this world. The Greek word here is apopeugo, and it means to escape by flight.^(F19) The word "corruption" (Gk. phthora) has reference to the present evil age, and that age or world order is perishing.^(F20) We have only to look around us to verify this fact. Everything we see is decaying and perishing. The scripture verifies this in 1 John 2:17, where we read, "The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."

The world and all its corruption is all around us and is constantly beckoning us to join with it. As Strachan says, "Man becomes either regenerate or degenerate."^(F21) We must run away or take flight from these lusts.

Verses 5-7

THE LADDER OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 2 Peter 1:5

This section is often referred to as a ladder. Actually it is probably a memory device to help early believers remember these important virtues. Average people in Bible times did not have easy access to written materials as we do today and they had to commit much of the gospel teaching to memory. Although this section is called a ladder we should not think that it gives us a step-by-step approach to becoming a mature Christian. While faith comes first, and this is surely the beginning, love comes last. Obviously, we cannot leave Christian love for last. This list takes us to "where the rubber meets the road" as one old radio preacher used to say. Bunyan would add, "The soul of religion is the practical part."^(F22) It is surely "bad luck" to walk under this ladder. We need to start climbing it!

Peter tells us that we should make every effort to add these qualities to our lives. The Greek word he uses is spoudazo. It means "to make haste, be eager, give diligence, to do one's best, to take care, to exert one's self."^(F23) The picture is that we should give all diligence or in a sense "bring in a full supply." There is a very descriptive Greek word used here for "all." It is epichoregein. In Greek times this word described a wealthy civic minded person who equipped the chorus in the plays. This word described a lavish pouring out of effort and supplies in order to bring forth a noble performance. In time the word grew to describe one who was responsible for all kinds of equipment. It could even describe equipping an army or equipping the soul with the virtues of life.^(F24)

Peter's ladder begins with faith, of course. Faith is not just the first step on the ladder but it is like the engine on the train. Schreiner says, "Faith is the root of all the virtues, and love is the goal and climax of the Christian life. Otherwise, we should not press the order of the virtues listed, nor should we think Peter encouraged his readers to work first on one virtue before moving to the next one."^(F25)

To our faith we should add goodness or virtue (arete). It should be noted that this Greek word was very popular in the ancient world, although it is rare in the New Testament. The word means excellence. In New Testament times it described that thing which made a person a good friend and a good citizen. It described a person who had mastered the technique of living well. It even has a second meaning of courage.^(F26) Someone may ask why Peter would include a word which was popular in the pagan world. Ashland professor David A. DeSilva adds here; "The apostolic faith is indeed in keeping with the highest and most enlightened ideals celebrated in the Greco-Roman world."^(F27) By general revelation God revealed, even to pagan people, many good and wholesome concepts that would help preserve the human race.

Next, we should add knowledge (gnōsis). We note that this Greek word is somewhat different than the full-knowledge we mentioned earlier. This knowledge speaks of a faithful continuation in studies.^(F28) It is defined further as "seeking to know, inquiring, investigating."^(F29) It is tragic today that many Christians seem to forsake this pursuit of knowledge. By doing so we fall prey to Satan's many deceptions. It is interesting that Peter ends this little epistle by saying, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…" (2 Peter 3:18).

Peter continues up the ladder, "…and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;" (1:6). Self-control (Gk. egkrateia) is listed with the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:23. It is also a virtue much lacking in our western world. We see this fact displayed everywhere, in grossly overweight people, in excesses of entertainment, in uncontrolled temperament, etc. Barclay describes this virtue in a man saying, "…it envisages a situation in which his passions remain, but are under perfect control and so become his servants, not his tyrants."^(F30)

Peter now mentions perseverance (Gk. hupomonēn). This virtue displays the idea of steadfast endurance or patience. Barclay says, "It is the courageous acceptance of everything that life can do to us and the transmuting of even the worst event into another step on the upward way."^(F31) We must endure to the end to be saved (Matthew 24:13). However, we should not let this unnerve us. The theologian, Louis Berkhof, remarks, "It is, strictly speaking, not man but God who perseveres. Perseverance may be defined as that continuous operation of the Holy Spirit in the believer, by which the work of divine grace that is begun in the heart, is continued and brought to completion. It is because God never forsakes his work that believers continue to stand to the very end."^(F32)

The apostle then gives us the step of godliness or piety (eusebeia). He has already mentioned this word in verse 3, and there we defined it as the nearest word in Greek for "religion." It describes a person who serves God and man in a correct and proper manner. So eusebeia describes a very practical kind of religion.

Last, Peter says, "and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love" (1:7). For the first word here he has a familiar Greek word, at least for those who live in the US. The word is philadelphia and it means brotherly love. We have a major US city by this name. There is something seriously wrong with a religion that drives people apart or puts them in some kind of isolation. This brotherly love must be unfeigned and sincere (1 Peter 1:22). We must feel kind affection to one another in the church (Romans 12:10) and this brother love must continue (Hebrews 13:1).

Godby tells an early and interesting story that happened regarding William Penn and the Indians of America:

Meeting the Indian chiefs under the great elm trees, they were unutterably astonished, for the first time in their lives to see white men unarmed. Penn said, "We are all children of the same loving heavenly Father, who wants us to live together in peace. Now, where shall we found a settlement?" The savages break and weep, saying, "You are the very people we want to live with and teach us how to worship the Great Spirit as we ought. So our land is before you. Settle where you will." Penn choose that very spot and called it Philadelphia, the very Greek word used by the Holy Ghost in this passage and translated "brotherly love." It means the mutual love of the white man and the Indian in case of the Pennsylvania metropolis…Amid the dark, bloody massacres of the pioneer ages, not a drop of Quaker blood was shed by an Indian.^{,William Godbey's Commentary on the New Testament, 1896-1900, v. 1:7. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/ges/2-peter-1.html.">(F33)}

Last of all, Peter mentions that we should add love. This is the agape kind of love mentioned so much in the Bible. It is the kind of love that Jesus has for us all, the God kind of love mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13. It is a love that never stops, and never ends.

Verses 8-9

EFFECTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE WORKERS

For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:8

Obviously, we need to always increase in our Christian lives – to go forward, to make progress. It is a little like riding a bicycle. Either we go on or we go off Wiersbe tells us that God's divine genetic structure is already in us. We only need to go on and be conformed to the image of the divine Son of God (Romans 8:29). He says, "Spiritual growth is not automatic. It requires cooperation with God and the application of spiritual diligence and discipline, 'Work out your own salvation…For it is God which worketh in you (Philippians 2:12-13).'"^(F34)

It seems that in this verse Peter is directing us to look around at the fruitfulness of nature. Most of the other translations picture "unfruitful" (Gk. akarprous) rather than "unproductive" here. When we look at nature we are amazed at the constant drive for fruitfulness seen everywhere. This is surely a pattern the Lord would like to impress upon us. The birds are building nests in order to bring forth young; the flowers are producing nectar to attract bees, in order that their seed can be brought forth. The same pattern is everywhere in nature. Fruit-bearing must be the crowning achievement of living things. It seems that God desires "fruit," "more fruit," and "much fruit" as we see in John 15:1-5.

The human race is expected to be fruitful and multiply in the natural sense (Genesis 1:28). However, the modern and postmodern worlds are failing big-time here. Lou Dobbs relates, "There are more households across America with dogs than with children. Pets outnumber children across America by four to one."^(F35) When writing this section, I took my daily walk only to pass a young woman who was also walking, but she was pushing along 3 to 4 small dogs in what looked like an enclosed baby carriage. Hopefully, Christian people will not stop bringing forth children. The bright note is that today in America birth rates for religious people are running twice as high as birthrates among the secular.^(F36)

But there is more to this matter of reproduction. Redeemed humans are expected to bring forth an abundance of spiritual fruit as we see in Galatians 5:22-23 and in other places. These are things like love, joy, peace, longsuffering, and gentleness. We might pause to ask ourselves, "What kind of fruit is growing on our trees or vines?" Are we producing only crabapples and sour grapes?

God wants us to abound or even super-abound with good spiritual fruit. In ancient Israel it was always a disgrace for married folks to be without children. We can imagine how much more of a disgrace it is for a Christian to be without spiritual fruit. In Israel it was almost a curse to be barren just as it was a curse for a field to be unproductive (Hebrews 6:7-8). It is clear here that the more we know about the Lord the more fruitful will be our lives.

In speaking of the Christian qualities enumerated earlier Peter says, "But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins" (1:9). Nearsightedness is called myopia in the medical field. Peter here seems to be talking about a spiritual myopia. The Greek words he uses are tuphlos, meaning blind, and muopazon, meaning short-sighted with one's eyes screwed up because of the light.^{muopazon…This word can have either of two meanings. It can mean short-sighted…It can also mean blinking, shutting the eyes." (Barclay, vs. 8-11).">(F37)}

How tragic that so many modern and postmodern Christians have spiritual myopia. They see only the present earthly things but do not see distant or heavenly things. The twentieth century American commentator, James Burton Coffman, reminds us of two famous examples of spiritual myopia. Lot pitched his tent toward nearby Sodom and soon resided there (Genesis 13:10), while Demas became dazzled by the lure of the present age and forsook his service with Paul and the heavenly world (2 Timothy 4:10).^(F38)

Some commentators when speaking of the cleansing in this verse think that this is speaking of baptism. Pett points out that baptism never signifies cleansing, but that cleansing in the Bible always comes with the blood of sacrifice (cf. Exodus 29:36; 30:10; Nehemiah 12:45; Job 1:5).^(F39)

Verses 10-11

MAKING OUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 2 Peter 1:10

This verse clearly displays the tension that we see throughout the New Testament. Some have referred to it as "the already- and the not yet." We are already recipients of God's calling and election. Eternal life is ours. However, we have not yet received the fullness of God's kingdom. We must make our election sure by believing, receiving and continuing on in the Lord's program. We must never use "once saved- always saved," as an excuse to sit down and take it easy in our Christian lives. To do so is to deny the precious promises God has given us. The children of Israel did this very thing by not entering the Promised Land, although they were just a short distance from it. As a result their bones fell and were parched in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:5).

Wiersbe says here of the true Christian, "He will not always be on the mountaintop, but he will always be climbing higher…"^(F40) We must with diligence (Gk. spoudasate) confirm our upward calling. Today a lot of Christians are stumbling around in unbelief, doubting their salvation, and even falling into various sins. These are here commanded to make their salvation sure. When we are diligent to do the things Peter has mentioned we will neither stumble nor fall.

The apostle makes a great promise here saying, "…and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (1:11). We no doubt all want to go to Heaven, yet, we may want to ask ourselves just how will we enter that great and eternal kingdom? In 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, Paul speaks of Christians who have built with the wrong materials. He notes how their work will be tried by fire in the last days. He says some Christians will lose everything but still be saved. They will be like those escaping through the flames. Let me say that I don't want to enter Heaven after losing everything for which I have worked and having to arrive there with my shirttail on fire.

Peter says if we do the things he has suggested we can have a rich welcome in the eternal kingdom. I think here of some of our great military heroes. They do not just return home but they get a hero's welcome. They are even honored personally by the President of the United States as they receive from him the coveted Medal of Honor. Harrison says, "Here is an intimation that heaven's society will not be classless."^(F41) For sure, there will be heroes in heaven and we all have an opportunity to become some of them.

Verses 12-15

PETER'S SOON DEPARTURE

So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. 2 Peter 1:12

Some have called this the Holy Grail of instruction, "Tell them what you are going to tell them; tell them; and then tell them what you have told them." Peter seems to be applying this rule here. Actually, so much of our teaching is repetition and that was certainly the case in the days before an abundance of printed materials. We see this theme of "reminding" several places in scripture (cf. 2 Peter 3:1-2; Philippians 3:1; Jude 1:5,17).

It seems that Peter is giving a word of encouragement here. He is reminding them that they already know these things and assuring them, despite their troubles, that they are firmly established in the truth. In most cases we can do a lot more with encouragement than we can do with criticism.

"I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me" (1:13-14). Peter refers to his body as a tent (Gk. skēnos) just as Paul once did in 2 Corinthians 5:4. As long as he was in the tent of his body he was determined to teach. Long before, the Lord had commanded him, "feed my sheep" (John 21:15-17).

Peter's desire was to stir them up (Gk. diegeiro), to awaken them, to arouse their minds and render them active.^(F42) Someone once said (and now it's a book title), that we in today's church are no longer "standing on the promises," as the old hymn goes, but rather we are "sitting on the premises."

The great apostle knew that he would not be around for much longer. The Lord had given him that word long before, as he was being reinstated after his terrible fall. Jesus said to him, "Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go" (John 21:18). Tradition says that he was led to the cross and crucified in the reign of Nero. Trapp says, "What is this life, but a spot of time between two eternities? Our tents shall he taken down."^(F43) Long ago the Venerable Bede (c. 672-735) said, "Going to be with the Lord is like coming home from a journey and exchanging the tent for the comforts of home."^(F44)

Schreiner remarks that this statement about Peter's approaching death would have been an awkward statement coming from a pseudonymous writer.^(F45) So it only adds weight that Peter was in fact the author of this little book.

Peter promises, "And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things" (1:15). Quite an impressive number of scholars and interpreters feel that Peter is here referring to the Gospel of Mark. Church history and tradition tell us that Peter was in Rome in his later years and was martyred there by Nero. Prior to that event Mark was with Peter and became his interpreter.^(F46) He wrote his gospel with great care. Likely much of it came from Peter's notes and sermons. Some think this work was in progress and Peter was promising to speed it up.^(F47)

The apostle uses an interesting word for his departure or decease. It is the Greek word exodon meaning exodus. Albert Barnes, the nineteenth century American theologian says, "This is not the usual word to denote death, but is rather a word denoting that he was going on a journey out of this world."^(F48)

Verses 16-18

EYEWITNESSES OF HIS MAJESTY

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16

In the New Testament world there was no lack of clever and invented stories and myths relating to religion. In the first place, there were many false gods and goddesses, with names like Venus, Apollo and Diana, and they abounded everywhere. In addition, many false concepts of worship had been introduced from Babylon, as well as from the numerous mystery religions. These had their strange rites, initiations, and secret knowledge. Of course, Gnosticism was beginning to bud in its early stages and it too contained many clever, invented stories.

Peter is here remembering an event of which no false religion could ever boast. He had been one of the three human witnesses to the awesome Transfiguration of Jesus on that high mountain, which was probably Matthew Hermon. We remember how Jesus had promised the disciples that some of them would not die till they saw the kingdom of God come with power (Mark 9:1-2; Luke 9:27-28). The unbelievable experience of the Transfiguration is recorded in Matthew 17:1ff, Mark 9:2-8, and in Luke 9:28-36. Peter, James and John were privileged to see Jesus take on some of the splendor he had before the world began (John 17:5). His face and clothes became brilliantly white. They got to see Moses and Elijah there speaking with Jesus and they at last heard the very voice of God from the cloud declaring Jesus to be the beloved Son of God. It was unforgettable. Those cleverly invented stories could not remotely compare with eyewitness accounts.

It appears that Peter was relating the report of the Transfiguration to counter the false teaching of the Gnostics regarding the Second Coming or Parousia of Jesus. Apparently the Gnostics had discounted the Lord's coming (1:16; 3:3-7). The distinguished New Testament professor, Fred B. Craddock, says "The Transfiguration is not only a prophecy of the second coming but a clear demonstration of it."^(F49) Baptist professor Bob Utley sees the second coming as being a central theme of the whole book.^(F50)

"He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased' " (1:17). DeSilva says here, "The Transfiguration…thus becomes an historical proof of the fact that Christ would return as ruler and judge…a solid basis for refuting the teachers' claims…the Transfiguration also becomes God's personal confirmation of the Old Testament oracles that the early Christian leaders said applied to Christ's Second Coming (1:19-21)."^(F51) Schreiner adds, "In all three of the Synoptic Gospels the Transfiguration immediately follows the declaration that God's kingdom will come with power, suggesting that the Transfiguration represents and anticipates Christ's powerful coming (Mat 16:28-17:13; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:27-36)."^(F52)

"We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain" (1:18). Gregory the Great (c 540-604) says of this, "There used to be many people who thought that this letter was not written by Peter. But it is enough to read this verse, and you will soon see that it was Peter who stood with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration."^(F53) It was not just Peter who saw this glorious event. John was there too and he could never forget it. He says in John 1:14, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Verse 19

THE PROPHET'S WORDS MADE MORE CERTAIN

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19

It is amazing what Peter does here. He has just told of his great and magnificent experience in actually seeing the transfigured Lord. Yet, he turns us back to the written word of the prophets, which his vision only confirms. He directs his hearers not to his astounding vision but to the solid and eternal word of the prophets. Harrison states here, "It is an amazing assessment of the validity of Holy Scripture that Peter declares it to be more dependable than a voice from heaven heard with the natural ear."^(F54) Wiersbe tells us why this is true, for he says that experiences are merely subjective while the Word of God is objective.^(F55) We need to always remember not to trust in people's dreams and visions, or in our own spiritual experiences. On one occasion (Galatians 1:8), Paul said that even the word from a heavenly angel should not be allowed to distract us from the gospel.

It seems that this is one of the main points Peter is making, that people should put their trust in the word of God that endures forever (1 Peter 1:24-25).

He says that the word of the prophets is like a lamp shining in a dark place. A single lamp may not give off much light but it is a wonderful thing in a totally dark room. Renowned Greek scholar, A. T. Robertson says of the Greek words "dark place" (auchmērōi topōi), that it has reference to a parched, squalid, dirty, dark, murky, place.^(F56) This certainly describes the situation found with the Gnostic teachers.

The day star in ancient times was generally considered to be Venus. The Greek word is phōsphoros and it is from this Greek term that we get our English word "phosphorus."^(F57) The morning star or daystar reminds us of these verses in Revelation 2:28 and 22:16 where Jesus claims to be the "Morning Star."

Verses 20-21

NATURE OF THE PROPHETIC WORD

Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. 2 Peter 1:20

The Holy Scripture is not a private thing (Gk. idios), or one's own.^(F58) No prophet can claim it as his own revelation, but in a similar sense, no believer can make his or her own interpretation, or put a private spin on the word. It is given by God and given to the people of God. We see an ideal situation in the church of Berea. After Paul had preached there it is said of them, "Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true" (Acts 17:11). At Berea there was a whole church searching and interpreting the scripture for their common good.

This must not be understood to mean that the individual cannot read the Bible and interpret it with the Holy Spirit's help. The Bible declares that there is a priesthood of believers and that each one is capable of interpreting scripture. But still, that should involve us comparing our interpretation with others and seeing what the saints of God have believed about the verse through history.

I remember one pastor in my early years who was convinced that Jesus was born under an apple tree. So far as I can remember he never explained where he got such an idea but it certainly did not fit with all other interpretations. His name was Johnson, and he earned the nickname of Apple Tree Johnson. That is probably what Peter means by a private interpretation. We know today through the latest archaeological information that Jesus was probably born in a Bethlehem cave, a place where animals were often kept. One can see what was probably that cave displayed in the lower level of the Church of the Nativity at Bethlehem.

Today we see a renewed interest in prophecy and there are some people in the church who claim gifts of prophecy. However, much trouble has been caused by some of these prophets. They are often like "loose cannons" on the ship. We must understand that the same principles Peter mentions apply to modern prophets. Guzik says here, "There must be sober confirmation of any prophetic word, and that not through another prophetic word, but through the scriptures. In the gift of prophecy, God never speaks to only one person, and always provides confirmation."^(F59)

Craddock seems to describe our era well saying, "If the church in the time of 2 Peter had no pew Bibles, nor owned individual copies of sacred texts, and yet suffered from schisms crated by private interpretations, just think how much greater this problem became with the advent of the printing press."^(F60)

"For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (1:21). This verse brings us to the highly disputed concept of the Bible's inspiration. Peter says prophetic inspiration does not originate in individuals but it comes from God. Generally it is said in the church that prophecy as well as the whole Bible is "God-breathed." Writers spoke as they were "carried along by the Holy Spirit." The Greek word for "carried along" is pheromenos, and it means, "borne along, moved, influenced."^(F61)

Many Christians over the ages have believed in the verbal inspiration of scripture. By this it is felt that in the original Bible manuscripts were revealed by God's Holy Spirit, and that he has even chosen the correct wording from the writer's vocabulary. This is not to be seen as a mechanical thing where the writer is like a robot with no part in the matter. God does not override their individual personalities, but still he guides them in order to make an infallible record of his truth.^(F62)

Guzik describes this process saying, "'Moved' has the sense of carried along, as a ship being carried along by the wind or the current…It is as if the writers of scripture 'raised their sails' in cooperation with God and the Holy Spirit carried them along in the direction he wished."^(F63)

Schreiner also comments on this, saying, "Both human beings and God were fully involved in the process of inspiration. The personality and gifts of the human authors were not squelched or suppressed…Concursus means that both God and human beings contributed to the prophetic word. Ultimately, however, and most significantly, these human words are God's words… Evangelical theology rightly infers from this that the scriptures are authoritative, infallible, and inerrant, for God's word must be true."^(F64)