Introduction One of the key themes in the second letter of Peter is the apostle s exhortation for the saints to grow in the knowledge of God and the Scriptures. In the first chapter Peter proclaims the righteousness of God (vv.1-4); the virtues God made available to the saints (vv.5-9); the revelations to the apostle of God (vv.12-15); the transfiguration of the Son of God (vv.16-18) and now Peter declares the inspiration of the word of God (vv.19-21). How do we know we are really saved? How do we know the gospel of salvation is true? How do we know that Jesus is really the Savior of the world? Peter at the very end of his ministry; on death s door reminds the Christians that Jesus and the story of Jesus are not some product of an overactive imagination; the story of Jesus is not a fable or the wishful thinking of desperate disciples; but rather it is the power and coming of Christ (v.16). Peter was an eyewitness of Christ s majesty at the transfiguration (vv.16-18) and the Scripture itself provides a more sure account of the majesty, ministry, and message of Jesus (vv.19-21). Remember the Christian life begins in faith; faith in a person (vv.1-2); this faith involves God s power (v.3); but it also includes God s promises (v.4). The faith results in spiritual growth (vv. 5-7); and spiritual growth has personal and practical results (vv.8-11). We human beings are here for a short time; we die; but the Word of God lives. Experiences fade but the Word of God remains (vv.16-18). Now Peter reminds us that this world will fade and one day disappear, but the word of God shines in the darkness. What does the Word of God accomplish? The Word of God brings light and more. Who were it s authors? Clearly many men wrote the several prophecies but all the Scriptures came by the power of the Holy Spirit. Peter believes and attests to the Old Testament s authority, reliability and dependability by making three strong claims; (1) the Inspiration of the Scriptures; (2) the Illumination of the Scriptures; (3) and the Confirmation of the Scriptures. The Word of God is Sure; CONFIRMATION (v.19a) 2 Peter 1:19 (NKJV) And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, We can rephrase this; we have the prophetic word as a surer confirmation; In verses 16-18 Peter reminds the reader that they were giving eye-witness, firsthand accounts of an authentic message; things personally seen and heard while with Jesus. Now Peter declares we have the prophetic word confirmed. Clearly Peter finds value in his own personal witness of the majesty of Jesus; seeing with his own eyes and hearing with his own ears the VOICE of the Father; but now reminds the reader we have something even more valuable; the testimony and witness of the Old Testament Scriptures. 1
Peter would be the first to tell you that the Bible s declaration and explanation surrounding the Messiah; the Scriptures testimony concerning the birth, the life, the death and resurrection of the Messiah comprise an authentic attestation to the gospel of hope and salvation. Peter reminds the reader that the Scriptures are a more powerful and trustworthy source than the Apostles experiences. We live in a world where symbol is often valued over substance and experience is valued over truth. In WWII an American soldier was met by South Sea Islander coming from his hut. The Islander hoping to find some common ground with soldier brought out his Bible--given to him by a missionary. The Islander said, This is my most prized possession. The soldier looked down with a bit of disgust and disdain and said, we have out grown that book. The Islander-- brushing aside the slight said, It s a good thing we have not outgrown it here. Other wise we would be making every effort to eat you for dinner. The Bible confirms the ministry of Jesus. Someone has counted at least 300 prophecies in the Old Testament concerning Jesus. In the Book of Bible Lists H.L. Willmington gives 39 descriptions of Christ in the Old Testament; 1. Seed of the woman; Shiloh Gen. 3:15; 49:10 2. Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3; 3. Anointed High Priest Leviticus 4. Star of Jacob; brazen serpent Deuteronomy 5. Prophet like Moses, the great rock; Numbers 6. Captain of the Lord of Hosts Joshua 7. Messenger of the Lord Judges 8. Kinsman-redeemer Ruth 9. Great Judge 1 Samuel 10.Seed of David 2 Samuel 11.Lord God of Israel 1 Kings 12.God of the cherubim 2 Kings 13.God of our salvation 1 Chronicles 14.God of our fathers 2 Chronicles 15.Lord of heaven and earth Ezra 16.Covenant keeping God Nehemiah 17.The God of Providence Esther 18.Risen and Returning Redeemer Job 19.The anointed Son; the Holy One; the Good shepherd; the king of glory; PSALMS 20.The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8 21.The one above the sun Ecclesiastes 22.Chief among ten thousand; altogether lovely Song of Solomon 23. Virgin born Immanuel; wonderful, counselor, the mighty God ISAIAH 24.The Lord our righteousness Jeremiah 25.The faithful and compassionate God Lamentations 3:22-23; 31-33 2
26.The Lord is there Ezekiel 27.Stone Son of God, Son of Man Daniel 2:34; 3:25; 7:13 28.King of the Resurrection Hosea 13:9, 14 29.God of the Battle and the Giver of the Holy Spirit Joel 2:11, 28-32 30.God of hosts and the plumbline Amos 4:13 31.Destroyer of the Proud Obadiah 8, 15 32.The risen prophet, God of second choice; the Long suffering one Jonah 2:10; 3:1: 4:9-11 33.God of Jacob; the Bethlehem-born; the pardoning God; Micah 4:1-5; 5:2; 7:18-19 34.The avenging God; the bringer of Good Tidings; Nahum 1:2,15 35.The everlasting, pure, glorious and anointed one Habakuk 1:12-13; 2:14; 3:13 36.The king of Israel Zephaniah 3:15 37.Desire of all nations Haggai 2:7 and Zechariah 38.Branch; builder of the Temple; King of the triumphal entry; the pierced one king of the earth; 39. The Sun of Righteousness; Mal. 4:2 Carl F. H. Henry was fond of saying; There is only one real inevitability: It is necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled. The Word of God Shines; ILLUMINATION (v.19b) (NKJV)...which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; The word of God confirms the ministry of Jesus and the Old Testament documents provide light in darkness. Those who grope in darkness; blinded by sin; find light. The word translated dark can also mean dry or dirty. According to the Greek scholar Vincent the word was also associated with darkness, squalor, dryness or general neglect. We use words like gloomy, dismal, dreary, bleak, grim, heavy, joyless,cheerless, hopeless. We live in a world darkened by sin; clouded by rebellion; we look to the Scriptures for light; for illumination. But how can prophecies written thousands of years ago by people from another time and place and culture and language provide light for us, help for us, hope for us? The answer--the Old Testament answers questions about the presence of sin in the world; and they have much to say about the end of all things, the coming of the Messiah. They give us much information about the incarnation of Jesus in Bethlehem and many more prophecies about the second coming of the Messiah. They speak in specific terms about a terrible judgment, about great battles; and a glorious millennial kingdom. The expression until the day dawns is the Greek verb diagazo (only here in the NT) and literally means shine through. 3
The word day star is one word in the Greek language; phosphoros ; phos is light; pheros means to bear and so literally means bearing light or light bearing. The word was used of Venus; the morning star (NASB NIV); some suggest the reference is to the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; as the Morning Star or what we might say the first light of an eternal and everlasting shining; the eternal day that is to come. The Old Testament Scriptures shine through dark places and gives us exacting detail on how God views us as sinners; the Old Testament presents in glowing detail the holiness of God, and the majesty of God. The Old Testament tells in specific detail how we are sheep who have gone astray; how the prophets denounced mankind as sinful and depraved, in need of a Savior. We may live in a society far more advanced in specific information; in technology; in scientific discovery; but we still have not made much advances in character or virtue or moral integrity. We are still sinners. God is still holy. Jesus is still Lord. Peter warns us to pay attention; take heed to the prophets until the day dawn and the day star arises in our hearts. I believe these are references to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is called the Morning Star in the Book of Revelation (2:28; 22:16) and Luke s gospel calls Jesus the Dayspring from on high (Luke 1:78). Take heed to obey. A lady was putting a Bible in the mail for a relative. The post office clerk asked if there was anything in the package that could be broken. Nothing except the Ten Commandments. Since the rising takes place in your hearts the emphasis is on what takes place inside of a person s soul. The second coming is not an event that takes place inside our hearts but in time and space and history. I think Peter is pointing to the transformation of the heart, the mind the life as the prophetic Scriptures are heard or read and believed. Peter is making a remarkable statement. The truth in the Bible will continue to point people to the ultimate source of truth; the Lord God Himself; the Lord Jesus Christ; until Jesus returns in glory. Look lay the world in sin and error pining Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth A Thrill of Hope a weary world rejoices and yonder breaks a new and glorious morn The Word of God is Spirit Given; INSPIRATION (vv.20-21) 2 Peter 1:20 (NKJV) knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, The verb (action word) in the passage is ginetai (knowing); means becomes or comes about. The word private translates hidias literally one s own (115 times in the NT). The noun for interpretation of epilysis from the verb epilyo loose, solve, explain, and so translated interpretation. In Mark s gospel (4:34) it is translated expounded (KJV); in the book of Acts (19:39) it is translated be determined ; in the sense of a judicial pronouncement (like a court of 4
law). Some feel (DeHaan) it should be translated no prophecy of Scripture is of its own unfolding. Scholars have long debated the meaning of this passage. Some believe Peter s focus is on the interpretation of Scripture; while others are convinced he is speaking of the origination of the Scripture. The scholars who believe Peter is referring to interpretation of Scriptures points to the context of false teachers in the very next verses. The correct translation in my view is probably no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet s own interpretation (NIV). The very next verse demands this meaning. Peter is clear that the Holy Spirit is the true author of the Scriptures and is therefore the true interpreter of the Scriptures. Peter believed the men who wrote the Old Testament Scriptures were recording the Word of God--not their own ideas. The men wrote by inspiration of the Holy Spirit which guaranteed that what they wrote was both accurate and true. John Calvin said in his commentary on 2 Peter they (the prophets) did not blab their inventions of their own accord or according to their own judgments. They were carried--moved--enabled to put His thoughts into human communication. This is of course is contrasted with the false prophets who made up what they would say out of their own foolish and fallen imagination. Ezekiel points out the difference between the true prophet and the false prophet when he wrote; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing! (Ezek. 13:3). If the passage refers to the origination or the interpretation of the Bible; in either instance the bottom line remains the Old Testament is indeed God s inspired, authentic, reliable, communication from God. Whether you are reading the first eleven chapters of Genesis on the origin of the universe, or the lamentations of Jeremiah, or the tender Psalms, or the tragic story of of sin and rebellion in the book of Judges; you can be sure you are reading God s Word. Some suggest that no individual Christian may pick up her Bible and interpret it for herself. Peter makes it clear that God speaks for Himself and it is not the credentials of the person reading but rather the God who is the source who interprets. There is no private source, or secret source or human source for the Bible. The Bible is God s Word. 2 Peter 1:21 (NKJV) for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. The Old King James translates this but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In ancient times the word moved was used to describe a ship in the water; in full sail. In a sense in a figurative sense this is what happened to the Old Testament writers; they hoisted their sails and the Spirit of God blew them in the direction necessary for the journey. 5
In Major Bible Themes Lewis Sperry Chafter and John Walvoord write; As the New Testament was written, the writers were conscious that they were guided by the Spirit of God and freely claimed that the New Testament was inspired equally with the Old. Just as David wrote by the Spirit (Matt.22:43) and as the psalmist was inspired (Heb.3:7-11; cf. Ps. 95:7-11), so the New Testament likewise claims inspiration. In 1 Timothy 5:18, both Deuteronomy 25:4 and Luke 10:7 are quoted as equally inspired Scripture. In 2 Peter 3:15-16, the epistles of Paul are classified as Scripture which should be received as the Word of God like all other Scripture. The New Testament obviously claims to have the same inspiration as the Old Testament (see p. 21). The text in Greek for the last sentence literally reads But being borne along (pheromenoi) by the Holy Spirit, men spoke from God (cf. NASB, NIV). Charles Bigg translates this was borne and explains came from heaven to man (ICC, Epistles of St. Peter and Jude, 270). This is perhaps the strongest statement in the New Testament about the divine origin and authority of the Old Testament Scriptures. Clearly another strong statement is made by Peter s fellow servant Paul; 2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, Here the word translated inspiration of God is theopneustos which means God-breathed. That means that it proceeds from God with all the perfections that characterize the nature of God. It would be impossible for God to be the author of error. The inspiration does not so much extend to the human authors but rather to the record of the human authors; to the Word of God. Human beings are subject to error and fallibility; but by divine power and guidance the Holy Spirit directed the human authors to write; and what they wrote was indeed the infallible Word of God. Because it is the Word of God it has supreme authority in the area of doctrine, reproof, teaching, correction, instruction in righteousness. How does God inspire Scripture; allowing for human individuality, authorship and at the same time produce a document as inspired Word of God without error? When we ask the question of how God accomplishes miracles, the supernatural, we are left with a certain measure of mystery and inscrutability. Peter s explanation includes for the prophecy did not come in old time by the will of man: but Holy men of God spoke as they were Moved by the Holy Spirit. In a sense the men carry a burden; they carry the burden to the destination that is approved by God. Just like a boat carries passengers to their final destination; and just like people are free to move about the boat; the freedom can only extend to the dimensions of the boat; and they are carried to their ultimate destination by the boat. 6
Clearly that explanation is not complete; the work of inspiration is beyond comprehension or explanation at least by me. We might define inspiration of the Bible this way; God personally guides or directs the human writers without destroying their individual personality, individuality, literary style or personal interests. God s complete and connected thought toward human beings was recorded. Inspiration includes the ideas that God guided the human author so that they wrote precisely what God intended for them to write; the result a Bible that is the Word of God. Although passages of the Bible may differ greatly in their character or purpose; every word of Scripture is equally inspired of God. Bible scholars use a specific phrase; verbal, plenary inspiration. By verbal inspiration it is meant that the Spirit of God guided the choice of words used in the original writings. The word plenary means full; that is in spite of human vocabulary or human limitations, or cultural or linguistic or intellectual limitations; God directed that all words are equally inspired by God. This is the view that the Bible is fully inspired or full inspiration as opposed to partial inspiration. Peter writes and the early church believed no mere mortal chose to utter his own thoughts as though they were God s. On the contrary--holy men (set apart) were selected by God to be His spokespeople; who wrote thoughts given to them by the Holy Spirit. Conclusion D.L Moody s favorite sermon was one given by RA Torrey; Ten Reasons Why I believe the Bible is true. The sermon is posted at RA Torrey Archive and is well worth reading. Torrey gave these reasons why he believed the Bible is the Word of God. (1) The testimony of Jesus Christ (2) Fulfilled prophecies (3) the unity of the book (4) the exalted teaching in comparison to every other book (5) the history of the book; its ability to survive burning and banning; doubt and skepticism; (6) the character of those who accept the book and those who reject the book; (7) the Bible s influence (8) the inexhaustible depth of the book; (9) our growth and knowledge and holiness as we grow toward the Bible (10) the direct testimony of the Holy Spirit. Lay hold of the Bible--until the Bible lays hold on you. You ve heard of the wonders of the world; these are the wonders of the word; the wonder of it s formation; the wonder of its unification; the wonder of its age; the wonder of its sale; the wonder of its interest; the wonder of its language; the wonder of its preservation. 7
Principles of Biblical Interpretation From Dr. R.A. Torrey s The Importance and Value of Proper Bible Study (New York: George H. Doran Co., 1921), pp. 55-90. 1. Get absolutely right with God yourself by the absolute surrender of your will to Him. 2. Be determined to find out just what God intended to teach and not what you wish Him to teach. 3. Get the most accurate text. 4. Find the most exact and literal meaning of the text. 5. Note the exact force of each word used. 6. Interpret the words used in any verse according to Bible usage. 7. Interpret the words of each author in the Bible with a regard to the particular usage of that author. 8. Interpret individual verses with a regard to the context. 9. Interpret individual passages in the light of parallel or related passages. 10. Interpret obscure passages in the light of passages that are perfectly plain. 11. Interpret any passage in the Bible as those who were addressed would have understood it. 12. Interpret what belongs to the Christian as belonging to the Christian; what belongs to the Jew, as belonging to the Jew, and what belongs to the Gentiles, as belonging to the Gentiles. 13. Interpret each writer with a view to the opinions the writer opposed. 14. Interpret poetry as poetry and interpret prose as prose. 15. The Holy Spirit is the best interpreter of the Bible. R.A. Torrey Archive 8