2 Peter 1:19 - Meaning and Application

In these words, the apostle gives another argument for the truth of the gospel. He suggests that this proof is even stronger than the former one, and more fully shows that the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ’s power and coming is no made-up story or human scheme. It is the wise and wonderful plan of the holy and gracious God. The reason is that this message was foretold by the prophets and writers of the Old Testament, who spoke and wrote under the Spirit’s guidance.

First, he describes the Old Testament Scriptures as “a more sure word of prophecy.” They are a prophetic witness to Christ’s power and coming, his Godhood and his becoming man, which were already announced in the Old Testament. There it was foretold that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head, meaning Christ would destroy the devil and his work, and that he would be born of a woman. The great Old Testament name of God, Jehovah, understood by some as “He will be,” points to God coming in the flesh for the redemption and salvation of his people. In this way, the New Testament is the history of what the Old Testament promised in prophecy.

All the prophets and the law prophesied until John the Baptist (Matthew 11:13). The evangelists and the apostles then wrote the history of what had been announced before. The way the New Testament fulfills the Old, and the way the New agrees with the Old, gives strong proof that both are true. So we should read the Old Testament as a prophecy of Christ, and use the New Testament with care and thankfulness as the best explanation of the Old.

The Old Testament is called “a more sure word of prophecy” because it was already received by the Jews as the oracles of God. Later prophets confirmed what earlier prophets had said. These prophecies were written by God’s command, preserved by his special care, and many of them were fulfilled in amazing ways. For that reason, they were even more certain to those who had long received and read the Scriptures than the apostle’s own account of the voice from heaven. Moses and the prophets persuade more strongly than even miracles do (Luke 16:31). Then how firm should our faith be, since we have such a firm and sure word to rest on! All Old Testament prophecy is even more certain to us, because we have the history of its exact and detailed fulfillment.

Second, the apostle encourages us to search the Scriptures. We do well if we pay attention to them. That means using our minds to understand their meaning, and our hearts to believe their truth. It also means giving ourselves to them so that they shape us. The word is the form of teaching into which we are to be molded (Romans 6:17), and the pattern of truth by which we should guide our thoughts, words, confessions, and whole way of life. If we give ourselves to God’s word in this way, we truly do what is right in every respect, pleasing to God and helping ourselves. In fact, this is simply giving the respect that God’s oracles deserve.

To help us do this, the apostle points out several things useful to anyone who wants to profit from Scripture. We must treat Scripture as a light God has sent into the world to drive away the darkness that covers the earth. The word is a lamp for the feet of those who use it rightly. It shows the way we should walk and helps us know the path of life. We must also admit our own darkness. This world is full of error and ignorance, and by nature every person lacks the knowledge needed for eternal life. If anyone is made wise for salvation, it is by the word of God shining into the heart.

Natural ideas about God are not enough for fallen people. Even at best, people now know far less than Adam knew before he sinned, yet they need to know much more about God. When the Holy Spirit sends the light of Scripture into a blind mind and dark understanding, spiritual day begins, and the day-star rises in that soul. This is like dawn, which grows brighter and spreads through the whole person until full day comes (Proverbs 4:18). It is a growing knowledge. Those who are enlightened in this way never think they know enough until they come to know as they are known. So it is both the duty and the advantage of all people to give heed to this light. Those who do what is true come to the light, while evil-doers stay away from it.

Third, the apostle says there is one thing we must know before we can truly listen to Scripture and benefit from it, and that is this: all prophecy comes from God. He does not only say this, he proves it. No prophecy of Scripture comes from private interpretation, meaning it is not a man’s own idea or personal explanation. It is the revelation of God’s mind. This is what set the Lord’s prophets apart from false prophets. The Lord’s prophets did not speak or act from their own minds. Moses, the chief of them, said plainly, “I have not done any of the works, nor delivered any of the laws and orders, from my own mind” (Numbers 16:28). False prophets, by contrast, speak visions from their own hearts, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jeremiah 23:16).

The prophets and writers of Scripture spoke and wrote what was in God’s mind. Even if, under the Spirit’s direction, they were willing to reveal and record these things, they did so because God wanted them spoken and written. And though Scripture is not the product of human opinion or desire, but the revelation of God’s will, every private person still must search it and seek to understand its meaning. The truth that Scripture comes from God, and not from man, must be known and owned by all who would give heed to the sure word of prophecy.

That the Scriptures are the word of God is not only part of true Christian faith, but also a matter of knowledge. A person knows a friend by the clear and special marks that belong to that friend. In the same way, the Christian knows a book is from God when he sees in it the clear marks of a book inspired by God.

He finds sweetness in it, feels its power, and sees a glory that is truly divine. The divinity of Scripture must be known and accepted first, before people can make good use of it and give it proper attention. To turn our minds away from all other writings and give Scripture a special place as the only sure and unchanging rule, we must be fully convinced that it comes from God and contains his true mind and will.

Since this conviction is so necessary, the apostle then explains how the Old Testament came to be written. It did not come by human will. That means the things recorded in it are not the opinions of men, and the prophets did not write because they simply chose to do so. What was written in the canon of Scripture was not decided by human preference.

Instead, holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. These were men set apart for God’s service, the ones used to write the book we receive as God’s word. Balaam and Caiaphas, and others who were not holy, may at times have spoken by the Spirit in special moments, but they were not used to write any part of Scripture for the church of God. All the writers of Scripture were holy men of God.

These holy men were moved by the Holy Spirit in what they spoke as God’s mind and will. The Holy Spirit is the chief worker, and the holy men were only his instruments. The Spirit inspired and directed what they were to deliver. He stirred them up and enabled them to speak, and write, what he had placed in their mouths. He also helped and guided them so carefully that they were kept from even the smallest mistake in what they wrote.

For that reason, the very words of Scripture are to be treated as the words of the Holy Spirit. All their plainness and simplicity, all their power and life, and all their beauty and fitting expression, are to be seen as coming from God. So mix faith with what you find in Scripture. Value and honor your Bible as a book written by holy men, inspired, guided, and helped by the Holy Spirit.