The Sure Word of Prophecy - 2 PETER START

And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. (2 Peter 1:19, 20 ESV)

I read something interesting today from one of the early church fathers Athanasius. I think it pertains to what Peter says here about the assurance of the prophetic word that we have concerning Christ and his coming.

He said something like this: prophecy about the coming Messiah stopped after Christ came. If there was still to be a Messiah why is there no longer any prophetic writing about his coming taking place?  And the temple sacrifices ended shortly after Christ came.

It is clear in the scope of history that Jesus is coming was the coming witnessed to by the prophetic words of Scripture. There has been no other and there will be no other.

This is why Peter says "you would do well to pay attention to the sure word".  For who among us doesn't at times doubt what we believe? And then if you look at the evidence, the proof is there, your faith is uplifted.

The astounding part of what Peter says in this verse is what he's comparing the sure word of prophecy to. Look at verse 18:

we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. (2 Peter 1:18 ESV)

He's talking about the mount of Transfiguration where they heard the voice of God speaking to them from the clouds. Peter saying "look, that voice came and went for that moment. But we have a sure word of prophecy written down for generations to come that indeed Jesus is the Christ the one foretold about in the Scriptures of the Old Testament."

This is the value that Peter attributes to the Word of God in Scripture. And if he values it more than the voice from heaven, how much more do we need to realize how alive and how utterly life changing the word of Scripture is for us.

PRAYER:

Father help me give the attention I should see your written word. By your scriptures I know truth, I am changed, I am enlightened. Help me to increasingly honor Your Word.