Waterfall Out of the Rocks in Israel

A More Sure Word of Prophecy

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 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. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

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: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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. (2 Peter 1:16-21 kjv)

The Second Epistle of PETER The Book of 2 Peter is similar in both order and content to the Book of Jude (2 Pet. 2:1 -3:3, cf. Jude 1:8-18). Peter, however, issues a warning concerning the false teachers that eventually would come, while Jude states that they were already present. It reasonable to conclude from the phrase, "to them that have obtained like precious faith with us" (2 Pet.1:1), that Peter was writing to gentile believers.   Though it is possible that Peter was addressing the same group of believers to whom the Book of 1 Peter was written (1 Pet. 3:1) some believe that it was addressed to an entirely different group. This second letter of Peter was particularly directed against the gnostic and antinomian philosophies. Gnostics taught that in addition to believing in Christ, one must also receive receive the gnosis or esoteric knowledge (see note on Col. 2:8 -23). Peter refuted this idea by stressing the fact that they had already received the true knowledge (2 Pet. 1:16 -21). Antinomians believe that since salvation was by grace alone, the requirements of the moral law were irrelevant. Peter devotes the second chapter to attacking the licentious Lifestyle that naturally resulted among those who held this belief. Paul also addressed this philosophy (Rom. 6) and denied the accusation that he himself held this view (Rom. 3:8).   In the third chapter, Peter reproves them for their skepticism about Christ's return. Included within the discussion in which he corrects of their faulty perception of this event, he gives one of the most detailed descriptions end-time events in all of Scripture. The delay of Jesus' return is only apparent, he explains, because God does not exist within the concept of time (2 Pet. 3:8). Peter also tells them that when the Day of the Lord comes, it will be accompanied by the total destruction of the physical universe (2 Pet. 3:10-12 KJV). [Source for Introduction of chapter: Hebrew Greek Key Study Bible KJV edited by Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D. AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN 37422]