PETER’S EPISTLES: PREPARING FOR ETERNITY

XXIII. Growing In Conviction Of Scripture’s Divine Authority

(2 Peter 1:12-21)

I. Introduction

A. Before the Apostle Peter began to minister for the Lord in the Church, his outlook was impacted by Christ’s prophecy in John 21:18-19 that he would be crucified for Christ. Eternity was thus often on Peter’s mind.

B. In accord with this theme, 2 Peter 1:12-21 expressed Peter’s desire that his readers might grow in their conviction that Scripture is divinely inspired and authoritative for their own spiritual welfare.

C. We view this passage for our insight, application and edification (as follows):

II. Growing In Conviction Of Scripture’s Divine Authority, 2 Peter 1:12-21.

A. After Peter had written about how his readers could enter heaven with God’s reward for godly living (2 Peter 1:3-10,11), he stated that he intended always to remind his readers of these truths even though they knew them and were firmly established in the truth, 2 Peter 1:12.

B. Peter then mentioned his coming death that had been predicted by the Lord Jesus in John 21:18-19 (2 Peter 1:13-14), and in view of that event’s soon occurrence, Peter expressed his belief that it was right for him to remind his readers of these truths that they always might recall them after his passing. (2 Peter 1:13-15)

C. To clarify why he felt so strongly about the need for his readers to adhere to the truths he had taught them, Peter testified that he and the other apostles did not follow cleverly devised stories when they had told others about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in power at His Second Coming to the earth, 2 Peter 1:16.

D. Rather, Peter, James and John were eyewitnesses of Christ’s future Messianic Kingdom glory when they were with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-2), what Peter described in 2 Peter 1:17-18:

1. Peter testified that Jesus received glory and honor from God the Father when His voice came to Jesus from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, who I love; with him I am well pleased,” 2 Peter 1:17 NIV. Matthew’s Gospel reported that the Father then added the words, “Listen to Him,” Matthew 17:5b NIV.

2. The Apostle Peter stated that he with the other apostles present clearly heard this voice of God the Father when they were with Jesus on the holy mountain, 2 Peter 1:18 NIV.

E. The experience of Peter, James and John in witnessing Christ’s future Messianic Kingdom glory made the messages by the Old Testament prophets about that Kingdom completely certain for them, 2 Peter 1:19a NIV:

1. The word “certain” renders the Greek term bebaios, “altogether reliable, dependable, certain” (Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Eng. Lex. of the N. T., 1967, p. 137-138), so the Transfiguration pictured the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies about the Kingdom, making them fully certain. (B. K. C., N. T., p. 868)

2. Note how Peter relied not only on what the three apostles saw on the mount, but also the voice that they had actually heard, that voice being God the Father’s voice. These three men did not just see a vision of the future, but God the Father actually spoke to them. The disciples’ response to this voice from God the Father according to Matthew 17:5-6 caused them in great fear to fall down on their faces! This was an overwhelmingly permanent, life-altering event for these three men!

F. Peter then applied his experience of the Mount of Transfiguration to his readers, directing that they would do well to pay attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star arises in their hearts, 2 Peter 1:19b,c. Peter here pictured the Old Testament prophecies of Christ’s Kingdom as a light shining in a dark world of unbelief for his readers. However, he hoped that his readers’ faith in those prophecies would grow like his faith and the faith of James and John had grown at the Mount of Transfiguration, that that light in a dark world would brighten through their maturing faith into becoming like the bright morning star that heralds the sure arrival of the sunrise of Christ’s Kingdom, Ibid., p. 868-869.

G. Above all, Peter’s readers were to know that no Scripture prophecy ever came from some mortal human’s own interpretation, for no Old Testament prophecy had its origin in mortal human will, but the prophets, though mortal humans, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit, 2 Peter 1:20-21 NIV, ESV.

Lesson: Peter directed that in view of his coming death by martyrdom for Christ, his readers should know that his experience with James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration made the Old Testament prophecies about Christ’s Kingdom very firm to them, and that all Old Testament prophecy was fully God inspired and authoritative.

Application: (1) May we believe that Scripture is divinely inspired and authoritative for all matters of faith and practice. (2) May we then grow in our faith in Scripture’s divine inspiration and authority for our own edification.