2 Peter 1:20
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.
Truth to Learn
The truth of the Bible is communicated by the Holy Spirit.
Behind the Words
The words translated “prophet’s own interpretation” are idias epiluseos. The first of these, idias, means “pertaining to a private person and not to the public.” The second one, epiluseos, is built on the root word “epiluō.” This is made up of epi, meaning “over, on, or upon” and luō, meaning “release” or “let loose.” So, quite literally, it means “let loose upon” or “release upon.” In translating to English, this word has the basic meaning of “interpretation” or “exposition.” Hence, we see that idias epiluseos refers to “a person’s own private interpretation.”
Meaning Explained
Peter starts off today’s verse with, “Above all, you must understand.” Literally, the Greek text reads, “knowing this first” (that is, first in importance). He has been talking about the fact that we can more firmly believe prophecies about Christ’s second coming because He has already demonstrated the veracity of the prophecies concerning His first coming. First, though, before we get carried away and try to make other prophecies mean what we want them to mean, Peter gives us some instruction on how prophecies come about.
He uses a construction that would appear awkward to us today but, I believe, for a very good reason. He literally says,
all prophetic scripture does not come into being by personal interpretation.
He wants to make sure that we understand that he is talking about all of the holy writings of Scripture. With the English translation we have, there is an exclusionary phrase (no prophecy of Scripture), but with Peter’s original writing there is an inclusionary phrase (all prophetic scripture.) It is a subtle difference, but one that is important in that what he has to say applies to all scripture.
Where most people get off track on this verse is that they apply the “interpretation” to the reader but that’s not what the verse is talking about. It is talking about the one proclaiming the prophecy, not the one reading it. What Peter is saying is that those who have proclaimed the prophecies did not give them their own meaning. Rather, as he tells us in the following verse, they were carried along in their message by the Holy Spirit of God! The translation that we have here makes this clear, but it does so at the cost of literal translation since the word “prophet’s” does not appear in the Greek text.
And, not only were the writers of Scripture carried along by the Holy Spirit so that their writings are “inspired,” but the truths of the Scripture are now revealed to us by the Holy Spirit:
But the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as His anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true and no lie … (1 John 2:27)
Application
As you read your Bible today, ask God to open your eyes to the truth of His word. May the Holy Spirit teach you His truth as you yield to Him rather than the whims of man.
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2009 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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