Explaining 2 Peter 1:16-19 - Cleverly invented stories

We have been pursuing our Doctrinal Rethink for some time now. In the process of engaging it we have begun to question certain beliefs, church structures, and practices of the western church. Too often we have discovered unbiblical doctrines and activities. This causes us concern.

Why do churches do what they do? What is the biblical basis of church leadership structure? Why do certain traditions get entrenched? How did we arrive at our doctrines?

We often consider the claims of cessationists in the pages of this blog, especially when famous teachers misuse or misinterpret Scripture.

Let's quote the passage:

2Pe. 1:16-19 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

John MacArthur writes,

The Greek word order in verse 19 also supports this as the true meaning of the text:“We have more sure the prophetic Word.” More sure than what? More sure than experience—even the valid, genuine, eyewitness experience of the apostles. Peter is saying that the written Word is an even more reliable source of truth than his own experience. To paraphrase Peter’s message to his readers, it is this: “James, John, and I saw Christ’s glory firsthand. But if you don’t believe us, there is one authority even more certain than our testimony: the written Word of God.”

Dr. MacArthur provides us with the Greek word order is, but none of the major translations agree with a bare Greek word order:

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.”

NIV: “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

RSV: “And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” The ASV and NASB are similar.

NRSV: “So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

ESV: “And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

NAB: “Moreover, we possess the prophetic message that is altogether reliable. You will do well to be attentive to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

NET: “Moreover, we possess the prophetic word as an altogether reliable thing. 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.”

Dr. MacArthur thinks this passage is referring to the sureness of the Bible vs. personal experience. We emphatically disagree. First, Dr. MacArthur derives an idea of comparison: "We have more sure the prophetic Word.” More sure than what? But Peter is not comparing the prophetic word to something else, he is appealing to what he witnessed as confirming the messianic prophecies.

The word "sure" is bebaios, solid (sure) enough to walk on; hence, firm, unshakable; (figuratively) absolutely dependable, giving guaranteed support (security, surety)... literally, "what can be tread upon." So in Peter's view, something has made the prophetic word more sure. Something caused Peter to assert that the prophetic word is even more guaranteed. That something was a profound, earth-shaking proclamation of affirmation: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” This was what made the prophecies more sure to Peter.

Second, Dr. MacArthur capitalizes "word," implying that Peter was instructing us about Scripture. But Peter was referring to the prophecies specifically; not to defend them against his experiences, but to confirm them because of his experiences.

Peter's eyewitness testimony to points his mind back to the messianic prophecies. And his testimony of the transfigured Christ is what makes the prophetic word more sure. This is because Jesus fulfilled all the OT prophecies. 

The writer of Hebrews similarly appeals to eyewitness accounts to establish the veracity of what he is writing:

He. 2:3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.

Let's requote the passage:

2Pe. 1:16-19 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye-witnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Notice Peter set out to defend the Gospel, first by saying that what he told them isn't a story someone just made up. Rather, he was an eye witness to certain events, including how he actually heard God's voice from heaven at the Transfiguration. Thus he did not make it up, for he saw with his own eyes. Peter is appealing to his own first hand eyewitness experience as primary evidence.

We shall paraphrase:

It's not a fable; we witnessed these things. We heard God's voice telling us Jesus was His son. We were there. The things we saw and heard make the words of the prophets more solid and believable. We are now more convinced than ever that those prophecies are real, because what we experienced confirms without a doubt that Jesus is the prophesied Messiah.

That is, these events he eye witnessed confirmed and added veracity to the prophecies spoken hundreds of years before Jesus. The OT messianic prophecies are made more certain. Peter's experiences validated and confirmed the prophets of old. What made the words of the prophets more certain? The things he witnessed!