2 Peter 1:12-21 NKJV
12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, 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; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
In the first part of today’s reading Peter reminds his readers/hearers that he is soon going to go to his heavenly home, leaving his “tent,” meaning his body, and to remember the many things he taught about the one true faith which he himself received from Jesus. He sounds very much like a pastor coming to the end of his ministry and exhorting his flock to recall and continually put into practice everything that the Lord gave and spoke and taught through him as he served in Christ’s Office and stead. This is good advice.
Peter then reminded his hearers/readers that he, along with the other apostles (the “we”), were “eyewitnesses” of Christ’s majesty and direct recipients of Christ’s teachings. He is referring most especially to the fact that he and the others witnessed firsthand Christ’s Baptism and Transfiguration where, both times, God the Father spoke from heaven and directed them to Jesus as the only Son of God and Savior of the world.
Further, Peter reminds us in vv. 20-21 that “no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” From this we learn first that no portion of Holy Scripture should ever be interpreted by man alone, but by God. We say it this way: God’s Word interprets itself; God Himself answers our questions and addresses our concerns by and in His Word alone.
Second, man did not make up the Bible; God Himself gave it to the holy writers and inspired (“breathed into”) them to write his words for all of mankind to read and digest. Because of this truth, we can be certain that God’s Word will never lead us astray, it will never give us “cleverly devised fables,” and it will always point us to Christ who paid for our sins and gave us the faith to believe in Him.
Let us pray: Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word so that we will not be lead astray from You or Your eternal gifts and promises; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.