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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 2 Peter 1:16 - 1:16
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
We did not follow (ouk exakolouthēsantes). First aorist active participle of exakoloutheō, late compound verb, to follow out (Polybius, Plutarch, lxx, papyri, inscriptions as of death following for any Gentile in the temple violating the barrier), with emphatic negative ouk, “not having followed.” See also 2Pe 2:2 for this verb.
Cunningly devised fables (sesophismenois muthois). Associative instrumental case of muthos (old term for word, narrative, story, fiction, fable, falsehood). In N.T. only here and the Pastoral Epistles (1Ti 1:4, etc.). Perfect passive participle of sophizō, old word (from sophos), only twice in N.T., in causative sense to make wise (2Ti 3:15), to play the sophist, to invent cleverly (here) and so also in the old writers and in the papyri. Some of the false teachers apparently taught that the Gospel miracles were only allegories and not facts (Bigg). Cf. 2Pe 2:3 for “feigned words.”
When we made known unto you (egnōrisamen humin). First aorist active indicative of gnōrizō, to make known unto you. Possibly by Peter himself.
The power and coming (tēn dunamin kai parousian). These words can refer (Chase) to the Incarnation, just as is true of epiphaneia in 2Ti 1:10 (second coming in 1Ti 6:14), and is true of parousia (2Co 7:6 of Titus). But elsewhere in the N.T. parousia (technical term in the papyri for the coming of a king or other high dignitary), when used of Christ, refers to his second coming (2Pe 3:4, 2Pe 3:12).
But we were eye-witnesses (all' epoptai genēthentes). First aorist passive participle of ginomai, “but having become eye-witnesses.” Epoptai, old word (from epoptō like epopteuō in 1Pe 2:12; 1Pe 3:2), used of those who attained the third or highest degree of initiates in the Eleusinian mysteries (common in the inscriptions). Cf. autoptēs in Luk 1:2.
Of his majesty (tēs ekeinou megaleiotētos). Late and rare word (lxx and papyri) from megaleios (Act 2:11), in N.T. only here, Luk 9:43 (of God); Act 19:27 (of Artemis). Peter clearly felt that he and James and John were lifted to the highest stage of initiation at the Transfiguration of Christ. Emphatic ekeinou as in 2Ti 2:26.