Prophetic Word

2Peter 1:19-21 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto you do well that you take heed, as unto a light that shines 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 spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

‘More sure word of prophecy’ we have a more sure word of prophecy than the oracles of heathen priests who fake messages from their idol gods. Oracles [Greek: logion], as described in 1Peter 4:11, is a divine answer to a question. It always implies a speech purely celestial, in which man has no part (Acts 7:38; Rom. 3:2; Heb. 5:12). Heathen gave the highest respect to oracles from their gods. They held them as sacred and inviolable and did scarcely anything in business, war, making peace, or making laws without an oracle. How much more should Christians obey the Bible which they hold to be the oracles of God! Heathen gave many presents to their priests to get an oracle that could be interpreted either way a matter happened, but Christians have an infallible revelation in all affairs of life – and it is free.

‘Until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts’ this is the 2nd New Testament prophecy in 2Peter that is unfulfilled. This refers to the second coming of Christ, which was so signally foreshadowed on the mount of transfiguration (Num. 24:17; Mal. 4:2).

‘Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation’ this is the first principle of truth, that no prophecy is self-originated by the speaker or from a mere impulse of the prophet’s own mind. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (1:20-21). ‘Private’ [Greek: idios] one’s own; personal; private. Translated his own 76 times, and private only here.

‘Interpretation’ [Greek: epilusis] a release. It means no prophecy is of personal release or from the prophet’s [New Testament the office was called apostles, not prophets] own mind or from human impulse.

‘Prophecy’ the predominant Hebrew verb meaning “to prophesy” is naba’ which not only has to do with foretelling events, but also with praying and making supplication. The prophet [Hebrew: nabiy] was not by office a declarer of future events, but primarily a preacher of righteousness for his day (Neh. 6:7; Hos. 12:10; Acts 3:21; 1Pet. 1:10-12). He foresaw future events in the light of the righteousness or wickedness of the people to whom God made everlasting covenants. His main work was to urge men to live righteously and godly according to the Law of Moses (Old Testament times – Genesis to Christ’s crucifixion). His other work was to warn of events to come in view of the attitude of the people concerning the will of God and to pray and make supplication for the people and for God to be merciful. The prophet’s predictions of things to come were chiefly conditional, and many of their prophecies were stated in conditional terms. The unconditional prophecies were the fixed plans of God concerning necessary events to bring the earth into complete submission to Himself again and do away with sin, rebellion, and enemies so His eternal program could finally be realized (1Cor. 15:24-28; Eph. 1:10; Rev. 21:22). Other events were flexible and based on obedience or disobedience to God in the ordinary fulfilment of the general plan.

‘Old time’ referring to the Old Testament times (Heb. 1:1) when the Father spoke (oral Word) through prophets and in the New Testament times through Jesus Christ who spoke through His apostles (Luke 6:13; Acts 1:2; Rom. 1:1; 1Cor. 1:1; 2Cor. 1:1; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; 1Pet. 1:1; 2Pet. 1:1; etc.) so that we have the written Word today.

‘Moved by’ [Greek: phero] to bear along. The prophets were borne along or moved by the Holy Spirit. They uttered things far beyond their knowledge and searched diligently the meaning (1Pet. 1:10-12).