2 Peter 1:19-20

"And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation" (2 Peter 1:19-20 RSV).

 

Comment:

This brief letter had two purposes: to bolster a wavering faith in the Second Coming, and to warn against false teachers. In this passage he is discussing how Jesus' followers should live their lives until the time of the Second Coming. It's important to remember that the only "prophecy of scripture" that existed at this time was Hebrew scripture, which we call the Old Testament. There would be no official New Testament for more than two centuries. The author here is insisting that Hebrew scripture and prophecies are still valid as "a lamp shining in a dark place" until "the day dawns" of the Second Coming.Some false teachers were putting their own spin on Hebrew scripture, interpreting it in support of their own ideas. This should not be, the author insists; "no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation."  

Blessings!

Rev. Ed