THE “MORE SURE W O R D of PROPHECY”
An Exposition of II Peter 1:19-21
By
William Evans, Ph. D., D. D.
“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: Knowing this» first, that no prophecy of the scripture is> of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” B j j a HE WORDS “more sure” are not used in thé sçnse o f firmer, or to confirm in the ■ sense o f confirmation, for then a different Greek word would have been used. The
Some to whom the Apostle Peter writes might object that, if personal intercourse be the ground o f certainty concerning Christ, Peter himself may well be certain but what of those who have had no such personal experience? The apostle deals with such a class in this passage. It might also be objected by unbelieving and-impious men that the transfiguration scene and inci dent may have been, or indeed was, a delu sion. To both these classes the apostle replies by claiming that while all may not have witnessed the transfiguration o f Christ as he had, yet they may have a definite experience of Christ through the written Word o f God—one even more sure and as satisfying; that while some may claim that the transfiguration experience and testi mony were an illusion, such may have a similar assured testimony by referring to the sacred Scriptures, the literal fulfilment o f whose prophecies, particularly regard-
word used in the text always indicates, in classical Greek, that which is firm, steady, sure, steadfast (1:10; Hebrews 2 :2 ; 6:14). The truth Peter is here emphasizing is not that there are different degrees o f cer tainty in the prophetic message itself ; on the contrary, he is contrasting the voice, sight, and testimony seen and heard on the transfiguration mount with the written Word o f Prophecy—particularly as regards Christ. He is appealing to a sec ond witness as to the truth o f Christ, and even a “more sure” witness, and that again with special reference to the second com ing, which is (or may be) the “ day star” which is to arise in our hearts.
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