David Smitherman
The Text: knowing this
first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation
The Meaning Given To It:
Our Catholic friends, as well as others, have used this verse to allege
that an individual cannot, by themselves, understand or interpret the scriptures
(see The Faith Of Millions, pp. 152-153). Rather, we need special
assistance which, in the case of the Catholic, would be the Catholic Church.
The Context: Peter is
determined to continually recall certain truths to the minds of those to
whom he wrote, vss. 12-15. He and other apostles did not adhere to carefully
planned fairy-tales when they spoke of Jesus, for they had been eye-witnesses
of all that Jesus did in proving his Deity, vss. 16-18 (see also 1 John
1:1-4). Next, Peter says that the words they spoke had been made "more
sure" and the readers would do well to take heed to them, vs. 19.
Then, in our text, Peter explains why the word of prophecy was "more
sure" and how it became such.
The Meaning: First let it
be observed that this verse cannot be saying that scripture cannot be understood
because such a statement would involve a logical dilemma: it is illogical
to try and prove by scripture that scripture cannot be understood. For,
if we can understand our verse to teach a particular truth then we prove
by our assertion that scripture can be understood. Besides this,
Paul very clearly stated that what he wrote could be understood, Eph. 3:1-4.
When we observe this verse in the above-outlined context and notice
the appearance of a very big little word in the verse following it, the
meaning should be apparent. Vs. 21 begins with the word "for"---one
of the "biggest" (in terms of significance) in all the Bible.
Peter, in vs. 21, explains what he means in vs. 20: "For no
prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved
by the Holy Spirit." It should be clear that Peter is not discussing
the interpretation or understanding of scripture but, rather, its origin.
The apostles and prophets did not invent myths and write these down. The
origin of their message was God, not their own wills, minds, or imaginations.
"We received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is
from God; that we might know the things that were freely given to us of
God", 1 Cor. 2:12.
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