2 Peter 1:19

{11} We have also a more sure word of prophecy; {12} whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day {l} dawn, and the {m} day star arise in your hearts: (11) The truth of the gospel is by this revealed, in that it agrees wholly with the foretellings of the prophets. (12) The doctrine of the apostles does not contradict the doctrine of the prophets, for they confirm each other by each others testimonies, but the prophets were like candles which gave light to the blind, until the brightness of the gospel began to shine. (l) A more full and open knowledge, than was under the shadows of the law. (m) That clearer doctrine of the gospel.

We have also a more sure word of prophecy (καὶ ἔχομεν βεβαιότερον τὸν προφητικὸν λόγον) The A. V is wrong, since more sure is used predicatively, and word has the definite article. We may explain either (a) as Rev., we have the word of prophecy made more sure, i.e., we are better certified than before as to the prophetic word by reason of this voice; or (b) we have the word of prophecy as a surer confirmation of God's truth than what we ourselves saw, i.e., Old-Testament testimony is more convincing than even the voice heard at the transfiguration. The latter seems to accord better with the words which follow. "To appreciate this we must put ourselves somewhat in the place of those for whom St. Peter wrote. The New Testament, as we have it, was to them non-existent. Therefore we can readily understand how the long line of prophetic scriptures, fulfilled in so many ways in the life of Jesus, would be a mightier form of evidence than the narrative of one single event in Peter's life" (Lumby). "Peter knew a sounder basis for faith than that of signs and wonders.

He had seen our Lord Jesus Christ receive honor and glory from God the Father in the holy mount; he had been dazzled and carried out of himself by visions and voices from heaven; but, nevertheless, even when his memory and heart are throbbing with recollections of that sublime scene, he says, 'we have something surer still in the prophetic word.'...It was not the miracles of Christ by which he came to know Jesus, but the word of Christ as interpreted by the spirit of Christ" (Samuel Cox). Onto a light (λύχνῳ) More correctly, as Rev., a lamp. In a dark place (ἐν αὐχμηρῷ τόπῳ) A peculiar expression. Lit., a dry place. Only here in New Testament. Rev. gives squalid, in margin. Aristotle opposes it to bright or glistering. It is a subtle association of the idea of darkness with squalor, dryness, and general neglect. Dawn (διαυγάσῃ) Only here in New Testament. Compare the different word in Matthew 28:1, and Luke 23:54, ἐπιφώσκω. The verb is compounded of διά, through, and αὐγή, sunlight, thus carrying the picture of light breaking through the gloom. The day-star (φωσφόρος) Of which our word phosphorus is a transcript. Lit., light-bearer, like Lucifer, front lux, light, and fero, to bear. See Aeschylus, "Agamemnon," 245.

2 Peter 1:19-21 . The Transfiguration confirms Prophecy . “Thus we have still further confirmation of the words of the prophets, a fact to which you would do well to give heed, as to a lamp shining in a murky place, meant to serve until the Day break and the Day-Star arise in your hearts. Recognise, above all, this truth, that no prophecy is restricted to the particular interpretation of one generation. No prophecy was ever borne through the instrumentality of man’s will, but men spoke, direct from God, impelled by the Holy Spirit.”

2 Peter 1:19 . We have also — Peter speaks here in the name of all Christians, a more sure word — Than that voice from heaven, or any particular revelation, not in itself, but more satisfactory to us, as being less liable to be mistaken; of prophecy — He means the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the Messiah, which, one being consistent with another, and connected together, might properly be represented as one and the same word of prophecy. Some are of opinion that the apostle intended no comparison in this place, but that the comparative is used for the positive, and that his words were only intended to signify a very sure word of prophecy, or prophetical word; and it is certain that there are many instances in the New Testament of a similar kind, in which, though the comparative degree is used, the positive or superlative is evidently intended. Others assert, with much truth and propriety, that the series of prophecies contained in the Old Testament concerning Christ, when explained in the light of the New Testament, is a much clearer proof of Jesus being the Messiah, than any single miraculous fact, such as Christ’s transfiguration was.

Whereunto — Unto which chain of prophecy concerning the conception and birth, the character, doctrine, miracles, sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension, and exaltation of the Messiah, with the erection and establishment, the extent, prosperity, and duration of his kingdom, and his second coming to raise the dead, and judge the world in righteousness — all evidently accomplished in Jesus of Nazareth, ye do well to take heed — In order that your faith, instead of being shaken by the objections of the enemies of the gospel, may be more fully confirmed; even as unto a light — Λυχνω , a lamp, that shineth in a dark place — The whole world anciently was indeed a dark place with respect to the knowledge of divine things, except that little spot, Judea, where this light shone; until the day should dawn — Till the full light of the gospel should break through the darkness. As is the difference between the light of a lamp and that of the day, such is that between the light of the Old Testament and that of the New. Or the apostle meant by these words, that those to whom he wrote should attend to these prophecies concerning the Messiah, and compare them with the facts attested by the apostles and evangelists concerning Jesus of Nazareth, till their minds should be more fully enlightened by the word and Spirit of God; and the day-star should arise in their hearts. — Till the Lord Jesus, the bright and morning star, ( Revelation 22:16 ,) should be more fully revealed in them.

2 Peter 1:19 . Ἔχομεν βεβαιότερον , we have a more firm ) He does not say, more clear, but more firm . Wherefore it is here unnecessary to inquire [or discuss ] concerning the difference in the clearness of prophecy before and after its fulfilment. But, undoubtedly, the word of prophecy becomes more firm from its fulfilment: Romans 15:8 . For the same reason the word spoken by prophets is not more firm than that spoken by apostles, either in itself or in relation to those to whom Peter writes: 2 Peter 1:12 ; 2 Peter 1:16 .[3] Even the word of prophecy was always firm of itself; but it became more firm , I will not say in the minds of the apostles, but at all events in the minds of their hearers (in whose name he says, we , not ye have ), to whom the apostles were demonstrating the complete fulfilment which had already taken place in Jesus Christ, and were, moreover, drawing inferences from this as to its future fulfilment. The day when it dawns upon, you, confirms the fact that you saw correctly, however indistinctly, the objects which you had already seen more faintly by the light of a lamp. See note on 2 Peter 1:20 , does not become .— τὸν προφητικὸν λόγον , the word of prophecy ) The words of Moses, of Isaiah, and of all the prophets, make up one word, in every way consistent with itself. For Peter does not now bring forward individual sayings, but he embraces their whole testimony, as now laid open. Comp. Acts 10:43 .

Moses, too, had been with them on the mount.— καλῶς , well ) Peter does not upbraid them for their dulness, in still attaching greater credit to the prophets than to himself and the rest of the apostles. Every one ought to praise that which is the support of his own faith, on which he especially rests. He calls them, however, to further objects.— προσέχοντες ὡς , taking heed as ) The light of the day does not take away the beholding and looking upon the lamp , but yet it overpowers it. By the greater light, the lesser one is both acknowledged to be lesser, and is strengthened: by the lesser light, the excellence of the greater one is shown. [Grateful remembrance of it is inculcated; comp. ch. 2 Peter 3:2 .—V. g.]— λύχνῳ , a lamp ) which is used in the night. [But the lamp of prophecy even still benefits those now walking in the day.—V. g.]— φαίνοντι ) which was shining , [but Engl. Vers., present , “that shineth.”] It is imperfect (as ὄντες , when we were , 2 Peter 1:18 ); for there follows, until the day should dawn , etc., with the same force of time, not in the present, διαυγάζῃ , ἀνατέλλῃ , (may) dawn, rise .— αὐχμηρῷ , dark ) where there is neither water nor light.— τόπῳ , place ) Such a place is our heart.— ἕως οὗ , until ) The use of Scripture is not altogether taken away in the case of the enlightened, especially in convincing others, as we learn from the example of Peter himself. Comp. until ,[4] Matthew 1:25 .

Peter having proved the certainty of the evangelical doctrine, by their testimony that had seen Christ’s glory in his transfiguration, and heard the Father’s testimony of him, now proves the same by the testimony of the prophets under the Old Testament, and calls the word of prophecy a more sure word, comparing it either: 1. With the voice from heaven, than which he calls the word of prophecy more firm or sure, not in respect of truth, (which was equal in both), but in respect of the manner of its revelation; the voice from heaven being transient, and heard only by three apostles; whereas the word of prophecy was not only received by the prophets from God, but by his command committed to writing, confirmed by a succession of their fellow prophets in their several generations, and approved by Christ himself, and by him preferred before miracles themselves, Luke 16:29,31 . Or: 2.

With the testimony of Peter and the other two apostles concerning that voice which came to Christ, than which testimony the word of prophecy is said to be more sure; not simply and in itself, but in respect of those to whom the apostle wrote; it was more firm in their minds who had received it; or, more sure as to them that were Jews, and had so fully entertained the writings of the prophets, and had them in so great veneration, being confirmed by the consent of so many ages; whereas the testimony of these apostles did not so fully appear to them to be Divine, as not being heretofore expressed in Scripture. Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed; i.e. that ye search and study it, subject your consciences to the power of it, and order your conversations according to it. A light; or, lamp, to which the word is often compared, Psalm 119:105 Proverbs 6:23 ; because, as a lamp or candle lighted dispels the darkness, and gives light to those that are in the house or room where it is; so the word gives light to all that are in God’s house, as the church is called, 1 Timothy 3:15 . A dark place; or, dirty, squalid, because places that have no light are usually filthy; the dirt which is not seen is not removed. Until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts; either, 1.