The Rising Glory Within
As our family vacationed at the beach this week, I have seen some beautiful sunrises. The steadily, increasing illumination of the sun as it majestically ascends in the skies is wondrous to behold! One particular morning I saw a couple on the beach, with tripod in place, anticipating this miraculous event. As the sun rose, I’m sure they took many pictures until its full circle was above the ocean. Thinking they had captured what they came for, the tripod was disassembled, and the satisfied couple left. If only they had waited a few more minutes! The real Kodak moment occurred a little later as the sun climbed higher, and its glory became magnified in its reflection across the waters.
Peter says in his second letter that this is an illustration of what will occur in our hearts:
“You do well if you pay attention to this as you would to a light shining in a murky place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Pet. 1:19, NET)
A beautiful analogy, but the question is, what is Peter referring to when he says we should “pay attention to this”? What is the, “this,” that he is referencing? Let’s back up a few verses for context.
Peter writes in verses 16-18:
“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.” (2 Pet. 1:16-18).
This is a reference to the Mount of Transfiguration, when Peter, James, and John heard the Father’s voice speaking of His pleasure with Jesus. The next verse begins Peter’s application:
"We have also a more sure word of prophecy;" (2 Pet. 1:19a, KJV)
"And so we have the prophetic word confirmed," (NKJV)
"Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing." (NET)
I cannot tell you how many sermons or teachings I have heard about this phrase, “a more sure word of prophecy”. It is used in all Christian organizations (high schools, colleges, and churches) to emphatically declare the reliability of the Scriptures. But notice how the newer translations take the Greek word, exo, to mean confirmed or possessed, instead of the KJV’s, have (The reason for this has to do with Greek grammar and is given in the NET note). In my mind, to possess something has a slightly more internalized nuance than simply saying, to have.
Peter continues in verse 20:
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." (KJV and NKJV)
"Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet’s own imagination", (NET)
Peter uses the same phrase, “Above all,” two chapters later to call attention to something very important. In that case, to beware of scoffers coming in the last days who would question the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. In our present text, he is pointing out something equally important, but once again, we have two different understandings between the King James and the NET. There is no doubt that the original King James translators understood Peter to be saying that there is nothing surer than the written word of God, and it is not subject to any personal interpretation. The NKJV moves a step away from this by adding a note to the last word, giving it a possible translation of, origin. The NET has a very long note, justifying the use of the word, imagination, while still arguing that it means the surety of God’s written word. But let’s consider the context.
Read the flow of the passage again and decide for yourself which one fits:
Option 1:
Vv. 16-18 – Peter heard the voice of the Father.
Vs. 19 – God’s prophetic word in Scripture is confirmed which you should take heed of until the light arises in your heart.
Vs. 20 – For none of the Scripture is of personal interpretation.
Option 2:
Vv. 16-18 – Peter heard the voice of the Father.
Vs. 19 – You can count on God’s word that is spoken into your heart, and should pay attention to it as its light arises in your heart.
Vs. 20 – For just like the prophets of old, this Voice is not of your origin.
I know there are many that will prefer option 1, but I believe Peter was admonishing his followers to hear and trust the Word of God that is spoken within us. It will cause His glory to rise like the sun within our lives. Peter probably saw this concept in the Davidic psalms, which we will look at soon.