2 Peter 1:16-21

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Observation

• Peter was not following myths
• Peter did not come to the recipients of the letter with clever myths.
• Peter made known the power Jesus.
• Peter made known Jesus had come.
• Peter was an eyewitness of Jesus majesty.
• Jesus received honor and glory from God the Father.
• There was a voice that proclaimed Jesus Majestic Glory.
• The voice said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
• God the Father was pleased with Jesus.
• Jesus was the Son of God the Father.
• Peter heard the voice.
• The voice was from heaven.
• Peter was not the only one to hear the voice.
• Peter and others heard the voice when they were on a holy mountain.
• Peter had the prophetic word confirmed.
• The recipients of the letter would do well to pay attention to the prophetic word.
• The prophetic word is like a lamp shining in the dark.
• No prophecy of Scripture comes from someone personal interpretation.
• Prophecy is not produced by the will of man.
• Prophecy is spoken by men but comes from God.
• When men speak prophetically they are carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Interpretation

Peter was an eyewitness to the events in Jesus life. Therefore, he could say, emphatically, that these things were true. They were not made up stories. Peter had seen with his own eyes the glory of Christ.

We do not have the advantage of Peter. We did not witness Jesus on earth. We did not see Him baptized nor were we on the mount of Transfiguration. We did not see Jesus die on a cross. We did not see Him after He arose from the dead. But we have access to those who did. We have access to the firsthand accounts. In that regard we are no different than the ancients. The letter’s recipients did not experience these things either. But Peter was there. He saw it all. Taking my word for it is hearsay evidence. But reading Peter and the apostles we have firsthand testimony. That is why it is so important to read the bible ourselves. That way we have firsthand account of what happened.

Peter witnessed many memorable events with Christ. Peter chose this one event, on the mount of Transfiguration so summarize them all. The Father says “This is my beloved Son.” Christ’s glory shown through.

Peter then point to the prophets. We could ask was Peter deceived. Was Peter seeing things that were not real? Peter points to the prophets. God is consistent. Truth is not contradictory. Since God spoke through the prophets, and if Peter is telling the truth, then there should be a consistency between the prophets and what Peter is preach. Guess what, they match!

Scripture comes from God. Truth comes from God. And when men spoke from God they spoke by the Holy Spirit.

Application

We have the ability to read a firsthand account of what happened when Jesus walked on this earth. When we read the bible we read a firsthand account of what Jesus taught. We not only should but must pay attention to it.

Peter also outlined in this short paragraph a test for truth claims, consistency. When someone claims to have a word from God it must be tested with the scriptures. Is it consistent with what God has already said? If it is from God it must be consistent with the rest of scripture. This simply test alone will condemn many popular evangelical preachers today.