16For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. [1:17] For he received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory: 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.' [1:18] And this voice we heard borne from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain. [1:19] And we have the prophetic word made more certain, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark and squalid place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts — [1:20] knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation. [1:21] For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
2PE 1:16-21
Eyewitnesses of His Majesty
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st century, claims of divine revelation or supernatural events were often met with skepticism, especially in Greco-Roman culture where myths and fables were common. The author of 2 Peter counters this by emphasizing the firsthand, eyewitness testimony of Jesus’ transfiguration, an event that aligns with Jewish expectations of divine glory and messianic validation. The term '' (eyewitness) carries weight in both Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, as it implies direct, credible observation, often used in legal or religious settings. The reference to the 'Majestic Glory' and the heavenly voice echoes Jewish theophanic traditions, particularly the Sinai narrative, where God’s presence and voice affirm divine authority. The 'prophetic word' mentioned would have been understood by Jewish readers as the Hebrew Scriptures, which were seen as a reliable guide. For Gentile readers, the 'lamp shining in a dark place' evokes the Stoic and Platonic imagery of light as truth in a chaotic world. The 'morning star' symbolizes hope and divine illumination, a concept familiar in both Jewish and Greco-Roman thought.
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How other translations render this
2PE 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.
- BSB
- For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
- Koinōnos
- For we did not follow cleverly contrived myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
2PE 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.
- BSB
- For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
- Koinōnos
- For he received honor and glory from God the Father when a voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory: 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
2PE 1:18
- KJV
- And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
- BSB
- And we ourselves heard this voice from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
- Koinōnos
- And this voice we heard borne from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.
2PE 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:
- BSB
- We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
- Koinōnos
- And we have the prophetic word made more certain, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark and squalid place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts —
2PE 1:20
- KJV
- Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
- BSB
- Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from oneʼs own interpretation.
- Koinōnos
- knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one's own interpretation.
2PE 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.
- BSB
- For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
- Koinōnos
- For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
2PE 1:16
- contrived:The word translated 'contrived' suggests something cleverly or artfully invented, often with a negative connotation of being cunningly devised or fabricated.
- eyewitnesses:The term used here for 'eyewitnesses' specifically refers to those who have seen something with their own eyes, often implying a direct, personal observation of significant events, sometimes even in a religious or mystical context.
2PE 1:19
- [a] dark:The word translated as '[a] dark' describes something squalid, dingy, or dirty, often associated with neglect or lack of care, rather than simply the absence of light.
- [the] morning star:The phrase 'morning star' literally means 'light-bringer' or 'bearer of light,' a common epithet for the planet Venus when it appears before dawn, symbolizing the arrival of a new day.