Page 531 - Demo

 PETER -
been eyewitnesses of his majesty.f 17For he received honor and glory from God the Father* when that unique declaration came to him from the majestic glory, “This is my Son, my beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”g 18We* ourselves heard this voice come from heaven while we were with him on the holy mountain. 19h Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20* Know this rst of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation, 21for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the in uence of God.
III. CONDEMNATION OF THE FALSE TEACHERS
2False Teachers.*
1There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive
heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.a 2Many will follow their licentious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled.b 3In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications, but from of old their condemnation has not been idle and their destruction does not sleep.c
1:18
Here the word “myth” simply means a ction, a falsehood. Of course we do have myths in the sense of stories that are not literally true and yet reveal deep truths. The creation account in the book of Genesis is one of these profoundly true myths.
The Trans guration, by Giovanni Bellini (1430-1516)
1:18
The writer alludes to the Trans guration of Christ, recounted in Matthew,
Mark, and Luke, when Jesus revealed his glory to three of the Apostles. Peter urges all to trust in the revelation received at that moment: that Jesus is the beloved Son of God. This stunning truth, Peter says, is like a lamp in a dark place: capable of guiding us and helping us to orient ourselves in a confusing world.
CHAPTER 1
f. [1:16] Lk 9:28–36; Jn 1:14.
g. [1:17] Ps 2:7; Mt 17:4–6.
h. [1:19] Lk 1:78–79; Rev 2:28.
CHAPTER 2
a. [2:1] Mt 24:11, 24; 1 Tm 4:1; Jude 4.
b. [2:2] Is 52:5.
c. [2:3] Rom 16:18.
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* [1:17] The author assures the readers of the reliability of the apostolic message (including Jesus’ power, glory, and coming; cf. note on 2 Pt 1:16) by appeal to the trans guration of Jesus in glory (cf. Mt 17:1–8 and parallels) and by appeal to the prophetic message (2 Pt 1:19; perhaps Nm 24:17). Here, as elsewhere, the New Testament insists on continued reminders as necessary to preserve the historical facts about Jesus and the truths of the faith; cf. 2 Pt 3:1–2; 1 Cor 11:2; 15:1–3. My Son, my beloved: or, “my beloved Son.”
* [1:18] We: at Jesus’ trans guration, referring to Peter, James, and John (Mt 17:1).
* [1:20–21] Often cited, along with 2 Tm 3:16, on the “inspiration” of scripture or against private interpretation, these verses in context are directed against the false teachers of 2 Pt 2 and clever tales (2 Pt 1:16). The prophetic word in scripture comes admittedly through human beings (2 Pt 1:21), but moved by the holy Spirit, not from their own interpretation, and is a matter of what the author and Spirit intended, not the personal interpretation of false teachers. Instead
of under the in uence of God, some manuscripts read “holy ones of God.”
* [2:1–3] The pattern of false prophets among the Old Testament people of God will recur through false teachers in the church. Such destructive opinions of heretical sects bring loss of
faith in Christ, contempt for the way of salvation (cf. 2 Pt 2:21), and immorality.