2 Peter 1:16

2 Peter 1:16 ‘For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.'

‘For we' -“We”-Peter switches from ‘I' (2 Peter 1:12), to ‘we'. At this point he is including the other apostles. Peter realized that he wasn't the only inspired man in the first century (2 Peter 3:15; 2 Peter 3:1). Peter also realized that the Word of God was being revealed through his fellow-apostles (John 16:13).

‘did not follow'. The apostles didn't go out and find stories to embellish or myths to record.

‘cleverly devised' -‘tales artfully spun' (NEB); ‘reason out, concoct subtly, or slyly' (Arndt p. 760); ‘artfully framed by human cleverness' (Vincent p. 685).

Points to Note:

1. Peter and the other apostles knew the difference between myth and truth (2 Timothy 4:2). 2. ‘Peter and his fellow apostles are being accused of serving up cleverly invented stories. The emphasis in the Greek is on the common human tendency to manufacture and embroider helpful religious myths. Such “slyly invented” nonsense, the false teachers say, is not credible to modern men and women and must be demythologized and replaced.' (Lucas/Green p. 74)

‘tales' -‘fiction, falsehood' (Thayer p. 419); ‘legend, myth, fable, tale, story' (Arndt p. 529). When one abandons the truth, one is automatically headed towards myth and fiction (2 Timothy 4:4). ‘It is no new ambition. The false teachers whom Peter opposes claim that his message is. restrictive and demeaning lie. Instead, they offer “pleasure” and “freedom” (2 Peter 2:13) without the bother of his narrow doctrine (2 Peter 2:3). Peter has to defend the authenticity of what he says against an undeniably attractive opposition, and to do that he needs two sets of witnesses in the dock. He calls the New Testament apostles (verses 16-18) and the Old Testament prophets (verses 19-21)..' (Lucas/Green p. 73)

‘when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ' -“Power and coming”-‘of the coming in power of our Lord Jesus Christ' (TCNT). The ‘coming' under consideration appears to be the Second Coming. The ‘coming' be. manifestation of His power (2 Thessalonians 1:7).

Points to Note:

It is clear that the false teachers were claiming that the teaching concerning the Second Coming was nothing but. fable. 2. Nothing is really new. Today, we find religious leaders among what is professed to be Christianity, arguing that there will be no judgment day or place of eternal condemnation. ‘they explained away the future element in salvation in terms of the past. Thus they could very well have said that the resurrection is past already, when the believer died and arose with Christ at his baptism.' (Green p. 82) 3. We find the same error among those professing some connection with Christianity in our own time. The idea that the ‘kingdom of God' is the ideal social order upon this earth, and that the purpose of the church is to reform the institutions found in society. 4. Don't overlook the ‘we' (2 Peter 1:16). Peter knew that he wasn't the only apostle who had mentioned the Second Coming of Christ. The apostles all taught the same thing (1 Corinthians chapter 15; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 ff).

‘but we were eyewitnesses' -Peter's information wasn't “second-hand”. He wasn't spreading myth, rather he and others were giving eyewitness testimony (Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8; Acts 4:33; Acts 10:41; Acts 4:20). ‘Peter emphasizes the first-hand nature of the apostolic teaching his readers had received…The word used for this (eyewitness, “epoptes”), is an unusual and interesting one. It was commonly used to denoted one initiated into the Mystery Religions. Peter's point ….He is suggesting that the false teachers were outside the circle of the initiates to which the author and his readers belong. In so doing Peter effectively reverses their exclusive boasts to superiority over ordinary Christians on the grounds of being initiated into the higher “gnosis” to which their humbler brethren could never aspire.' (Green p. 83)

‘of His majesty' -greatness, magnificence, splendor, grandeur.