Send
Close Add comments:
(status displays here)
Got it! This site "creationpie.org" uses cookies. You consent to this by clicking on "Got it!" or by continuing to use this website. Note: This appears on each machine/browser from which this site is accessed.
2 Peter 1:16-21 eyewitness testimony and prophecy
1. 2 Peter 1:16-21 eyewitness testimony and prophecy
Peter, in 2 Peter chapter 1, says that he was an eye witness to what happened but that we have a "
more sure" word of prophecy.
Jesus affirms that on the Road to Emaeus in Luke 24 saying that one would need to be an "
idiot" not to believe all that the prophets wrote about him.
Peter goes on to say that the prophets did not write their own ideas but were told what to write by the Holy Spirit.
2. Brief: eyewitness testimony and prophecy
Peter: We were eyewitnesses, but you have a "more sure" word of prophecy. 2 Peter 1.
Jesus: One would be an "idiot" not to believe all that the prophets wrote. Luke 24.
Peter: Prophets did not write their own ideas. They were told by the Holy Spirit what to write. 2 Peter 1.
3. Eyewitness testimony
Peter was an eye witness to Jesus and the events concerning his life, death and resurrection. Peter says that prophecy is better evidence than his own eyewitness testimony at the "
holy mount" at the "
transfiguration".
2 Peter 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [kjv]
ου γαρ σεσοφισμενοις μυθοις εξακολουθησαντες εγνωρισαμεν υμιν την του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου δυναμιν και παρουσιαν αλλ εποπται γενηθεντες της εκεινου μεγαλειοτητος [gnt]
A Latin "
fable" or Greek "
myth" is a story that is more false than true.
4. 2 Peter 1:16
KJV: For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Greek: ου γαρ σεσοφισμενοις μυθοις εξακολουθησαντες εγνωρισαμεν υμιν την του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου δυναμιν και παρουσιαν αλλ εποπται γενηθεντες της εκεινου μεγαλειοτητος
5. Voice from heaven
6. 2 Peter 1:17
KJV: For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Greek: λαβων γαρ παρα θεου πατρος τιμην και δοξαν φωνης ενεχθεισης αυτω τοιασδε υπο της μεγαλοπρεπους δοξης ουτος εστιν ο υιος μου ο αγαπητος μου ουτος εστιν εις ον εγω ευδοκησα
7. 2 Peter 1:18
KJV: And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
Greek: και ταυτην την φωνην ημεις ηκουσαμεν εξ ουρανου ενεχθεισαν συν αυτω οντες εν τω ορει τω αγιω ορει
8. Better evidence
Peter says that "
prophecy" is better than "
eyewitness" testimony.
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [kjv]
και εχομεν βεβαιοτερον τον προφητικον λογον ω καλως ποιειτε προσεχοντες ως λυχνω φαινοντι εν αυχμηρω τοπω εως ου ημερα διαυγαση και φωσφορος ανατειλη εν ταις καρδιαις υμων [gnt]
Peter provides other prophecies in his epistles and this chapter is another prophecy on "
false teachers".
Jesus says something similar on the Road to Emaeus after the resurrection in Luke 24.
9. Not thinking about an idiot being a layperson
After the resurrection, on the road to Emaeus in Luke 24, Jesus could have showed his hands as an eye witness testimony. Instead, Jesus says the following.
Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: [kjv]
και αυτος ειπεν προς αυτους ω ανοητοι και βραδεις τη καρδια του πιστευειν επι πασιν οις ελαλησαν οι προφηται [gnt]
Is Jesus saying that to not know and believe
all that the prophets have said makes one an "
idiot"? The ancient Greek word used here in the
GNT (Greek New Testament) is
"ἀνόητος" ≈ "foolish, stupid, idiot" and means, literally "
not thinking".
10. 2 Peter 1:19
2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [kjv]
και εχομεν βεβαιοτερον τον προφητικον λογον ω καλως ποιειτε προσεχοντες ως λυχνω φαινοντι εν αυχμηρω τοπω εως ου ημερα διαυγαση και φωσφορος ανατειλη εν ταις καρδιαις υμων [gnt]
What is the "light"?
What is the "dark place"?
What is the "day dawn"?
What is the "day star"?
11. 2 Peter 1:19
KJV: We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Greek: και εχομεν βεβαιοτερον τον προφητικον λογον ω καλως ποιειτε προσεχοντες ως λυχνω φαινοντι εν αυχμηρω τοπω εως ου ημερα διαυγαση και φωσφορος ανατειλη εν ταις καρδιαις υμων
12. What to say
How did the prophets decide what to say? In discussions of the Bible, one often hears the following verse.
2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [kjv]
τουτο πρωτον γινωσκοντες οτι πασα προφητεια γραφης ιδιας επιλυσεως ου γινεται [gnt]
… propria interpretatione … [v]
A "
private interpretation" means "
one's own solution" to what is happening. Do pastors ever substitute their own meaning of what the Bible appears to otherwise say?
This verse is often used to say that one should not have their own interpretation of a scripture. This is true in principle. Is this what this verse is really saying? Of all the possible interpretations of a scripture, which one should be used? The implied but not explicitly stated guideline here is that one should use the interpretation already decided by the church? Let us investigate.
Here is the verse with the Greek and the Latin. Note that the Latin Vulgate was developed for use by the then developing Catholic Church.
13. 2 Peter 1:20
KJV: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Greek: τουτο πρωτον γινωσκοντες οτι πασα προφητεια γραφης ιδιας επιλυσεως ου γινεται
Latin: hoc primum intellegentes quod omnis prophetia scripturae propria interpretatione non fit
14. Latin
15. Greek
16. Meaning
What is the end of this verse basically saying about it - the prophetic writings?
it is not of any private interpretation
it is not one's own interpretation
it is not their (the prophet's) own interpretation
Note that it could mean more than one of the above since they are not mutually exclusive (nor collectively exhaustive - it could mean something else).
Let us check context of verses before and after this verse.
17. Holy Ghost
Some pastors will say that the prophets looked around and made comments about needed social change.
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. [kjv]
ου γαρ θεληματι ανθρωπου ηνεχθη προφητεια ποτε αλλα υπο πνευματος αγιου φερομενοι ελαλησαν απο θεου ανθρωποι [gnt]
Consider the before and after. What is verse 20 saying?
The "holy men of God spake as they were moved". By whom was it moved?
They "were moved by the Holy Ghost".
Discuss: Do pastors ever say that the prophets looked around and made comments about what they thought needed changed?
Discuss: Do pastors ever substitute their own meaning of what the Bible appears to otherwise say?
18. 2 Peter 1:21
KJV: For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Greek: ου γαρ θεληματι ανθρωπου ηνεχθη ποτε προφητεια αλλ ποτε αλλα υπο πνευματος αγιου φερομενοι ελαλησαν οι αγιοι απο θεου ανθρωποι
19. What did the prophet mean?
Daniel, as a prophet, was told what to write. At times, he, like other prophets, may not have understood what it was he was writing.
Daniel 12:8 And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? [kjv]
12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. [kjv]
Questions about what Daniel meant when he wrote such and such, in some cases, are meaningless. Not what Daniel wrote, but our questions about what Daniel meant.
20. Daniel 12:8
KJV: And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Hebrew: ואני שמעתי ולא אבין ואמרה אדני מה אחרית אלה׃
Greek: και εγω ηκουσα και ου συνηκα και ειπα κυριε τι τα εσχατα τουτων
21. Daniel 12:9
KJV: And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Hebrew: ויאמר לך דניאל כי סתמים וחתמים הדברים עד עת קץ׃
Greek: και ειπεν δευρο δανιηλ οτι εμπεφραγμενοι και εσφραγισμενοι οι λογοι εως καιρου περας
22. After the after
Verse 21 ends chapter 1, but it is always good to check the beginning of the next chapter since the chapter divisions were added in the Middle Ages long after the scriptures were written and later translated into Latin.
23. 2 Peter 2:1
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [kjv]
24. 2 Peter 2:1
KJV: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
Greek: εγενοντο δε και ψευδοπροφηται εν τω λαω ως και εν υμιν εσονται ψευδοδιδασκαλοι οιτινες παρεισαξουσιν αιρεσεις απωλειας και τον αγορασαντα αυτους δεσποτην αρνουμενοι επαγοντες εαυτοις ταχινην απωλειαν
25. False prophets
There were "false prophets". Did these have their own "solutions"?
There shall be "false teachers" (not prophets) who will "bring in damnable heresies". Will these heresies come from their own "solutions"?
26. Bereans
Paul tells the Bereans the following.
27. Acts 17:11
Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. [kjv]
28. Acts 17:11
KJV: These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Greek: ουτοι δε ησαν ευγενεστεροι των εν θεσσαλονικη οιτινες εδεξαντο τον λογον μετα πασης προθυμιας το καθ ημεραν ανακρινοντες τας γραφας ει εχοι ταυτα ουτως
29. Verify
We are told to check the scriptures to insure that what we are being told is what is really being said.
30. End of page
2 Peter 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. [kjv]
λαβων γαρ παρα θεου πατρος τιμην και δοξαν φωνης ενεχθεισης αυτω τοιασδε υπο της μεγαλοπρεπους δοξης ο υιος μου ο αγαπητος μου ουτοςεστιν εις ον εγω ευδοκησα [gnt]
1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. [kjv]
και ταυτην την φωνην ημεις ηκουσαμεν εξ ουρανου ενεχθεισαν συν αυτω οντες εν τω αγιω ορει [gnt]
2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. [kjv]
τουτο πρωτον γινωσκοντες οτι πασα προφητεια γραφης ιδιας επιλυσεως ου γινεται [gnt]
… propria interpretatione … [v]
