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No Prophecy of Scripture is of Private
Interpretation
2 Peter 1:20
The Text: ...Knowing this first, that no prophecy of
scripture is of private interpretation.
The Meaning Given To It: Our Catholic
friends, as well as others, have used this verse to allege that an individual
cannot, by themselves, understand or interpret the scriptures (see The Faith Of
Millions, pp. 152-153). Rather, we need special assistance which, in the case of
the Catholic, would be the Catholic Church.
The Context: Peter is determined to
continually recall certain truths to the minds of those to whom he wrote, vss.
12-15. He and other apostles did not adhere to carefully planned fairy-tales
when they spoke of Jesus, for they had been eye-witnesses of all that Jesus did
in proving his Deity, vss. 16-18 (see also 1 John 1:1-4). Next, Peter says that
the words they spoke had been made "more sure" and the readers would do well to
take heed to them, vs. 19. Then, in our text, Peter explains why the word of
prophecy was "more sure" and how it became such.
The Meaning: First let it be observed that
this verse cannot be saying that scripture cannot be understood because such a
statement would involve a logical dilemma: it is illogical to try and prove by
scripture that scripture cannot be understood. For, if we can understand our
verse to teach a particular truth then we prove by our assertion that scripture
can be understood. Besides this, Paul very clearly stated that what he wrote
could be understood, Eph. 3:1-4.
When we observe this verse in the above-outlined context and notice the
appearance of a very big little word in the verse following it, the meaning
should be apparent. Vs. 21 begins with the word "for"---one of the "biggest" (in
terms of significance) in all the Bible. Peter, in vs. 21, explains what he
means in vs. 20: "For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake
from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit." It should be clear that Peter is not
discussing the interpretation or understanding of scripture but, rather, its
origin. The apostles and prophets did not invent myths and write these down. The
origin of their message was God, not their own wills, minds, or imaginations.
"We received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God;
that we might know the things that were freely given to us of God", 1 Cor. 2:12.
By David Smitherman
From Expository Files 4.1; January 1997
