2 Peter 1:16-21

2Pe 1:16  For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.   The events of the life of Jesus were called fables by the Jews and some Romans when they denied his deity, and his miracles, but especially his death and resurrection.  To this day, charges against the Son of God call into question his virgin birth, his son-ship, his deity, saying that he was just a good man, teacher or prophet.  Some go so far as to say he only ‘swooned’ on the cross, survived and lived to an old age, adding the absurd claim that he married, had children and died as a natural man.  Peter’s use of ‘cunningly’ points to the serpent as the author of such heresies. 

when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  Peter refers here to his experience on the Mount of Transfiguration.   

Luk 9:28  And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.:29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.  :30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:  :31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.  :32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.  :33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. :34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

 2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 

2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.  

:35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.  :36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. 

2Pe 1:19  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:  The word of prophecy in the Old Testament required much knowledge and prayer and light to unlock it.  The writer of the 22nd Psalm knew nothing about the Roman rite of crucifixion, yet gave us details of the event on Golgotha far in advance.  Attempting to decipher those prophecies at the time they were written would seem an impossible task.  Peter reveals that now they have a light to shine back into those dark places, revealing those truths, and further we have the Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth.  

until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: The prophecies regarding Christ’s coming into the world, and the manner in which He did so, all being fulfilled and confirmed and true, now we reflect on these new prophecies for His glorious return, which will be the dawn of the final day, and the day star, which we believe must be Christ, arise in our hearts, where He now dwells to gather and meet his bride in the air. 

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.  Men are quick to change what they hear and read.  Some men find ways to change scripture even where none is written.  The famous ‘gap theory’ in the book of Genesis comes to mind.  But no prophecy can be of a private understanding, that is, a position held only by one, to which all other men would disagree.   While we might learn new things about subjects we study, and discover things we believe no one else has ever proclaimed, we are reminded first that there is nothing new under the sun, and second, it’s probably just ‘new to us.’  At any rate, that new item, doctrine, position, subjection, must be tested against the steadfastness of scripture to see whether it be so. 

2Pe 1:21 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.  Again, confirmation that man didn’t make up God’s truths, but they were revealed to them by the Holy Ghost, and any revealed prophecy will stand the test of truth, holding it to the light of scriptural examination.