2 Peter 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. FOR - reason why he is so earnest that the remembrance of these things be continued after his death. FOLLOWED - out in detail [ exakoloutheesantes (G1811)]. CUNNINGLY DEVISED. -`devised by (man's) wisdom' [ sesofismenois (G4679): 'sophisticated'], as CUNNINGLY DEVISED. - `devised by (man's) wisdom' [ sesofismenois (G4679): 'sophisticated'], as distinguished from what the Holy Spirit teaches (cf. 1 Co...

16._For we have not followed cunningly devised fables. _It gives us much courage, when we know that we labor in a matter that is certain. Lest, then, the faithful should think that in these labors they were beating the air, he now comes to set forth the certainty of the gospel; and he denies that anything had been delivered by him but what was altogether true and indubitable: and they were encouraged to persevere, when they were sure of the prosperous issue of their calling. In the first place, Peter indeed asserts that he had been an eyewitness; for he had himself seen with his own eyes the glory of Christ, of which he speaks. This knowledge he sets in opposition to crafty fables, such as cunning men are wont to fabricate to ensnare simple minds. The old interpreter renders the word “feigned,” (_fictas _;) Erasmus, “formed by art.” It seems to me that _what is subtle to deceive _is mean...

16-21 The gospel is no weak thing, but comes in power, Romans 1:16. The law sets before us our wretched state by sin, but there it leaves us. It discovers our disease, but does not make known the cure. It is the sight of Jesus crucified, in the gospel, that heals the soul. Try to dissuade the covetous worlding from his greediness, one ounce of gold weighs down all reasons. Offer to stay a furious man from anger by arguments, he has not patience to hear them. Try to detain the licentious, one smile is stronger with him than all reason. But come with the gospel, and urge them with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, shed to save their souls from hell, and to satisfy for their sins, and this is that powerful pleading which makes good men confess that their hearts burn within them, and bad men, even an Agrippa, to say they are almost persuaded to be Christians,...

Verse 16. _CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES_] σεσοφισμενοιςμυθοις. I think, with Macknight and others, from the apostle's using εποπται, _eye witnesses_, or rather _beholders_, in the end of the verse, it is probable that he means those _cunningly_ devised _fables_ among the heathens, concerning the _appearance of their gods on_ _earth in human form_. And to gain the greater credit to these fables, the priests and statesmen instituted what they called the _mysteries_ of the gods, in which the fabulous appearance of the gods was represented in mystic _shows_. But one particular show none but the fully initiated were permitted to _behold_; hence they were entitled εποπται, _beholders_. This show was probably some resplendent image of the god, imitating life, which, by its _glory_, dazzled the eyes of the beholders, while their ears were ravished by hymns sung in its praise; to this it was natural...

FOR WE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES - That is, fictions or stories invented by artful men, and resting on no solid foundation. The doctrines which they held about the coming of the Saviour were not, like many of the opinions of the Greeks, defended by weak and sophistical reasoning, but were based on solid evidence - evidence furnished by the personal observation of competent witnesses. It is true of the gospel, in general, that it is not founded on cunningly devised fables; but the particular point referred to here is the promised coming of the Saviour. The evidence of that fact Peter proposes now to adduce. WHEN WE MADE KNOWN UNTO YOU - Probably Peter here refers particularly to statements respecting the coming of the Saviour in his first epistle, 1Pe 1:5, 1 Peter 1:13

EXPOSITION 2 PETER 1:1 SIMON PETER. "Symeon" seems to be the best-supported spelling in this place. The same form of the name is found in Luke 2:25 and Acts 13:1; it also occurs in Acts 15:14, where St. James refers to St. Peter's speech on the great question of the circumcision of Gentile Christians. It is the form always used in the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament. The old man's thoughts go back to his early years; he describes himself by the familiar name of his youth; he uses that Greek form of it which was most distinctively Jewish. But he joins with the old name, which spoke of Judaism, the

FOR WE HAVE NOT FOLLOWED CUNNINGLY DEVISED FABLES,.... Such as Jewish fables, cautioned against Titus 1:14 which their traditionary and oral law, their Talmud, and other writings, mention; as concerning the temporal kingdom of the Messiah, the sumptuous feast, and carnal pleasures and entertainments, of that state, with many other things; some of which indeed are not very cunningly put together, but weak enough: or Gentile fables concerning the theogony and exploits of their deities; and which may be meant by fables and endless genealogies in 1 Timothy 1:4, and especially reference may be had to the metamorphoses of their gods, and their fables relating to them, devised by Ovid, and others, since the apostle is about to speak of the metamorphosis, or transfiguration of Christ; and also other fables with which th

2 Peter 1:1. _Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:_ Peter here uses both his names,-Simon or Simeon, which was his first name, and signifies «hearing with acceptance,» and happy are they who have the hearing ear and the receptive heart; and then there is what I may call his Christian name, the name which Christ gave him, Petros, or Cephas, a rock or stone. Those who learn to hear well, since faith cometh by hearing, may hope to obtain even greater stability of character than Peter had. Observe that Peter calls himself «a servant of Christ.» There is no higher honour than to be a servant of God. «To serve God is to reign.» An ancient philosopher was the author of that maxim, and Christianity fully endorses it. He is a true king who is a servant of God.

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE GRACIOUS PROVISIONS OF GOD CHAPTER 1 _ 1. God's gracious provisions in Christ (2 Peter 1:1)_ 2. The development of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:5) 3. The promises of prophecy (2 Peter 1:12) 2 Peter 1:1 We are not left in doubt who the writer is, not a pseudo Peter, but Simon Peter, the fisherman of Galilee. With this second Epistle he finishes the task given him by the Lord “to strengthen his brethren.” The opening verse of the third chapter shows that the Epistle is addressed to the same persons to whom he wrote the first Epistle. He gives his old name, Simon (or

THE MAN WHO OPENED DOORS (2 Peter 1:1) _ 1:1 Symeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, writes this letter to those to whom there has been allotted a faith equal in honour and privilege with our own, through the impartial justice of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ._ The letter opens with a very subtle and beautiful allusion for those who have eyes to see it and knowledge enough of the New Testament to grasp it. Peter writes to "those to whom there has been allotted a faith equal in honour and privilege with our own" and he calls himself Symeon Peter. Who were these people? There can really be only one answer to that. They must once have been Gentiles in contradistinction to the Jews who were uniquely the chosen people of God. Those who had once been no people are now the chosen people of God ...