Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - 2 Peter 1:19 - 1:19
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
2Pe 1:19. Ἔχομεν βεβαιότερον, we have a more firm) He does not say, more clear, but more firm. Wherefore it is here unnecessary to inquire [or discuss] concerning the difference in the clearness of prophecy before and after its fulfilment. But, undoubtedly, the word of prophecy becomes more firm from its fulfilment: Rom 15:8. For the same reason the word spoken by prophets is not more firm than that spoken by apostles, either in itself or in relation to those to whom Peter writes: 2Pe 1:12; 2Pe 1:16.[3] Even the word of prophecy was always firm of itself; but it became more firm, I will not say in the minds of the apostles, but at all events in the minds of their hearers (in whose name he says, we, not ye have), to whom the apostles were demonstrating the complete fulfilment which had already taken place in Jesus Christ, and were, moreover, drawing inferences from this as to its future fulfilment. The day when it dawns upon, you, confirms the fact that you saw correctly, however indistinctly, the objects which you had already seen more faintly by the light of a lamp. See note on 2Pe 1:20, does not become.-τὸν προφητικὸν λόγον, the word of prophecy) The words of Moses, of Isaiah, and of all the prophets, make up one word, in every way consistent with itself. For Peter does not now bring forward individual sayings, but he embraces their whole testimony, as now laid open. Comp. Act 10:43. Moses, too, had been with them on the mount.-καλῶς, well) Peter does not upbraid them for their dulness, in still attaching greater credit to the prophets than to himself and the rest of the apostles. Every one ought to praise that which is the support of his own faith, on which he especially rests. He calls them, however, to further objects.-προσέχοντες ὡς, taking heed as) The light of the day does not take away the beholding and looking upon the lamp, but yet it overpowers it. By the greater light, the lesser one is both acknowledged to be lesser, and is strengthened: by the lesser light, the excellence of the greater one is shown. [Grateful remembrance of it is inculcated; comp. ch. 2Pe 3:2.-V. g.]-λύχνῳ, a lamp) which is used in the night. [But the lamp of prophecy even still benefits those now walking in the day.-V. g.]-φαίνοντι) which was shining, [but Engl. Vers., present, “that shineth.”] It is imperfect (as ὄντες, when we were, 2Pe 1:18); for there follows, until the day should dawn, etc., with the same force of time, not in the present, διαυγάζῃ, ἀνατέλλῃ, (may) dawn, rise.-αὐχμηρῷ, dark) where there is neither water nor light.-τόπῳ, place) Such a place is our heart.-ἕως οὗ, until) The use of Scripture is not altogether taken away in the case of the enlightened, especially in convincing others, as we learn from the example of Peter himself. Comp. until,[4] Mat 1:25. And yet the enlightened now possess that very thing of which the prophets testify. Wherefore John, for instance, in his first Epistle, while he writes to such persons, and so often reminds us that he writes, never appeals to the prophetic, It is written; he only adduces the testimony of the apostles: for the darkness was past, and the true light was now shining; 1Jn 2:8. And so you may find that the phrase, It is written, is of much more frequent occurrence in the older books of the New Testament, than in those which were written afterwards.-ἡμέρα, the day) The full light of the New Testament. See how the light of a lamp differs from that of the day! just so does the light of the Old Testament differ from that of the New. See the first Epistle of Joh 2:8.-διαυγάσῃ, should dawn) Having burst through the darkness.-φωσφόρος, the morning star) Jesus Christ: Rev 22:16.
[3] Nor is even the word of the prophets preferred either to the seeing or to the hearing of the apostles. The “day,” in fact, is what prevails in the New Testament: and a choice beam of the day itself was the seeing and hearing on the holy mountain: so far is it from being the case, that the palm must he given to the “lamp.”-V. g.
[4] Including the time fixed on as the limit. So here until does not exclude the time being, when the day was shining.-E.