Following his larger argument in verses 3-15, Peter next presents escalating evidences of Jesus’ Divinity and being Messiah. His four examples of testimony are each precious and confirming, but not to the same degree of rank. How does the Bible rank each of them with the others?
16 For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly devised myths, but being eyewitnesses of His majesty.
17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”—
18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
19 And we have as more sure the prophetic word, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
20 Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation.
21 For no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
2 Peter 1:16-21
The points in his testimony show ranking in the order they are presented. We read the same typology in Genesis 3:13-19 as God addresses Satan, Eve and Adam following the Fall. We recall that Satan tempted, Eve first took of the fruit, and Adam accepted her offer to do so as well. Yet, though Satan tempted unto the Fall of all Creation, and then Eve ate first, Adam was addressed last. Why not the other way around? We believe the answer is that though Satan began what would result in what he knew would be cataclysmic damage of unimaginable scale, God states much more went wrong in verse 17 with Adam in light of his responsibilities.
The punishments were escalating in relation to the severity of Judgement for sin – Satan would ultimately be defeated in his rebellion; Eve and women to follow would suffer in themselves; But Adam, disobeying God’s direct instruction to him and then his relinquishing his responsibility to his wife would bring sin, suffering and death onto the entirety of Creation until even today. The pain of sin and the toil we suffer from God’s resultant curse began with Adam. Adam was given God’s instructions and authority over Creation, yet he chose to be silent and cooperative in Satan’s and Eve’s rebellion.
The escalation of Peter’s testimony follows the same pattern of importance. While all instances are significant, there is a ranking according to God. The events Peter refers to are listed in order of occurrence per Mark 9:1-8:
1 And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God having come in power.”
2 And six days later, Jesus *took with Him Peter and James and John, and *brought them up on a high mountain alone by themselves. And He was transfigured before them;
3 and His garments were shining intensely white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
4 And Elijah appeared to them along with Moses and they were conversing with Jesus.
5 And Peter answered and *said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three booths, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
6 For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.
7 Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”
8 And all at once when they looked around, they saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone.
Mark 9:1-8
And so, Peter now referring to the experience, puts forward four testimonies of Jesus.
#4 – Personal Witness to Jesus
16 For we did not make known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, following cleverly devised myths, but being eyewitnesses of His majesty.
Walking with Jesus while here on earth is a remarkable blessing.
We could hardly imagine the thrill of witnessing Jesus as His Disciples did, in the flesh. They would not come to more fully realize the significance of what He said and did until after His Ascension, but we have the benefit of their Holy Spirit-inspired reports and insights in the Gospels and Epistles. By definition, all other religions of the world are spiritual lies – ‘cleverly devised myths’ – that dupe followers who choose not to obey the Gospel of Jesus. Peter discards these notions as they personally witnessed Jesus’ works, often in the presence of thousands of other people. The testimony of personally witnessing an event is powerful, even a basis in ancient and modern law.
#3 – Personal Witness to the Transfiguration and Shekinah Glory
18 and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
Being the first to witness God’s Shekinah Glory and two of the most significant people in Israel’s past (Elijah and Moses) is remarkable.
Peter refers to the supernatural display of Jesus’ Transfiguration further cementing His Deity (Mark 9:1-8). In addition, Moses and Elijah appeared ‘and they were conversing with Jesus’ (Mark 9:4). Never had this, God’s Shekinah Glory bursting forth of the Man His Christ, been revealed in this way. Even when the same ‘Glory of the Lord’ filled the Temple as Solomon prayed, He presented Himself as a cloud, not a Man (2 Chron 7:1-2). Here, Jesus clearly showed His unique significance as God-indwelling-Man. More so, the appearance of Moses and Elijah is remarkable. Moses is the keystone after Jesus in conveying the Gospel through the Law, and we have good Scriptural reason to identify both of them appearing later as the two witnesses described in Rev 11:3. The witness of this rare and unique display of God’s Presence is extremely compelling.
#2 – Personal Witness to the Voice of Father God
17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased”
Being the only regular humans since Moses to hear the very Voice of God the Father, endorsing Jesus, is staggering. Father God makes it very clear that Jesus is the One to follow. Matt 9:7 reports Him saying “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!” Testifying to the actual, audible voice of Father God is an even more reliable endorsement, made specifically towards Jesus.
#1 – Even more sure, the Prophetic Word
19 And we have as more sure the prophetic word, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
This, according to Scripture and Jesus, is the most significant testimony of all.
However, this Passage has been allowed to become controversial, possibly because of predispositions of the translators believing experience with God is more relevant that Scripture. A search across several Bible translations shows there are two schools of thought – 1) The proceeding events of 2 Peter 1:16-18 have given the prophetic Scriptures more credence, and 2) The proceeding verses report great testimonies, but the prophetic Scripture is the best-yet we have to know the Truth, even over personal experience.
The issue revolves around the meaning and use of the modifying words right before “the prophetic word” in vs 19. Does the prophetic word already stand superior, or is it made more superior by the three other testimonies? The Greek dictionary (Strong’s) defines the Greek word behind the English “more sure” as this:
949. βέβαιος bebaios; from the same as 939; firm, secure, reliable, valid:– confirmed(1), firm(1), firmly grounded(1), guaranteed(1), more sure(1), sure(1), unalterable(1), valid(1).
The first school of thought believes it should be arranged as “And we have [more fully confirmed] the prophetic word”. This could be understood as ‘we have cause/caused/proven’, suggesting human experience is a more reliable position from which to confirm the Word.
The second school believes it should be arranged as “And we have [as more sure] the prophetic word”.
The literal reading of the original Greek indicates agreement with Jesus and the rest of Scripture that Scripture is supreme over personal observation (vs. 16), personal conveyances of God (vs. 18), and visions of God’s revelation (vs. 17). It is true that all of these were authored by God, but He has made it abundantly clear that the only authorized report without question is His Word. The prior can be fulfillment and confirmation of the Word, while the Word through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit is the only authorized, predictive driver of Truth God intends to convey. The Word came first, and the results are confirmation:
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what pleases Me, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11
Further proof is first-person observers of Jesus were often in error of His intent, but He said ‘17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.” (Matt 5:17-18).
This might seem like splitting hairs, but the question over experience vs. the Word could not be more important.
First, we should remember that as the Word of God is binding, with God binding Himself to it as well, the Word is supreme under God. Jesus demonstrates this in His ‘High Priestly Prayer’:
12 While I was with them, I was keeping them in Your name which You have given Me; and I guarded them and not one of them perished but the son of perdition, so that the Scripture would be fulfilled.
John 17:12
Scripture is not made more sure by experience; Human experience is bracketed and explained by the even more sure Word of God. The Word will always be supreme until ‘all is accomplished’, ‘until heaven and earth pass away’.
Second, the authenticity of what we believe and obey is paramount. Our choices are rooted in our beliefs, even if we think we have no beliefs. Rom 1:20 tells us “His invisible attributes” are even seen in Creation, so that all “are without excuse”. The Word is the authentic report of God, the Tool the Holy Spirit uses to penetrate our inborn insistence on thoughts and beliefs contrary to His Truth. His testimonies are how we can be set free of slavery to sin and Satan.
Third, each person’s belief and then obedience to the gospel of Jesus carries eternal consequences. In addressing the issue of suffering Christian persecution, Paul explains the root of disbelief ends in the outcome of damnation. Note vs 8:
5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.
6 Since it is right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
7 and to give rest to you who are afflicted and to us as well at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire,
8 executing vengeance on those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, AWAY FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD AND FROM THE GLORY OF HIS MIGHT,
10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our witness to you was believed.
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
With this, Peter goes on to chapter 2, explaining the reality of false prophets and the wicked who willing subject themselves to them.
