Majesty (eyadevdTnT0s). Used in only two passages besides this: Luke ix. 43, of the mighty power (Rev., majesty) of God, as manifested in the healing of the epileptic child; and Acts xix, 27, of the magnificence of Diana.
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17. When there came (évexySelons). Lit., having been borne. Compare come (Rev., ver. 18) ; moved (ver. 21); and rushing wind, lit., a wind borne along (Acts ii. 2).
From (v7). Lit., by.
Excellent (ueyadorperots). Or sublime. Only here in New Testament. In Septuagint (Deut. xxxiii. 26), as an epithet of God, eacellency. The phrase excellent glory refers to the bright cloud which overshadowed the company on the transfig- uration mount, like the shekinah above the mercy-seat.
18. Voice (dwr}v). Note the same word in the account of Pentecost (Acts. ii. 6), where the A. V. obscures the meaning by rendering, when this was noised abroad ; whereas it should be when this voice was heard.
Which came (éveySeicav). Lit., having been borne. See on ver. 17. Rev., Dhis voice we ourselves (jets, we, emphatic) heard come (better, borne) out of heaven.
Holy mount. It is scarcely necessary to notice Davidson’s remark that this expression points to a time when superstitious reverence for places had sprung up in Palestine. ‘‘ Of all places to which special sanctity would be ascribed by Christ’s follow- ers, surely that would be the first to be so marked where the most solemn testimony was given to the divinity of Jesus. To the Jewish Christian this would rank with Sinai, and no name would be more fitly applied to it than that which had so con- stantly been given to a place on which God first revealed him- _self in his glory. The ‘holy mount of God’ (Ezek. xxvii. 14) would now receive another application, and he would see little of the true continuity of God’s revelation who did not connect readily the old and the new covenants, and give to the place where the glory of Christ was most eminently shown forth the same name which was applied so oft to Sinai” (Lumby).
19. We have also a more sure word of prophecy («ai éyowev BeBacorepov Tov rpopytixov Aoyov). The A. V.is wrong,
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since more sure is used predicatively, and word has the definite article. We may explain either (a) as Rev., we have the word of prophecy made more sure, 1.e., we are better certified than before as to the prophetic word by reason of this voice; or (bd) we have the word of prophecy as a surer confirmation of God’s truth than what we ourselves saw, @.¢., Old-Testament testi- mony is more convincing than even the voice heard at the transfiguration. The latter seems to accord better with the words which follow. “To appreciate this we must put our- selves somewhat in the place of those for whom St. Peter wrote. The New Testament, as we have it, was to them non-exist- ent. Therefore we can readily understand how the long line of prophetic scriptures, fulfilled in so many ways in the life of Jesus, would be a mightier form of evidence than the narrative of one single event in Peter’s life” (Lumby). “ Peter knew a sounder basis for faith than that of signs and wonders. He had seen our Lord Jesus Christ receive honor and glory from God the Father in the holy mount; he had been dazzled and carried out of himself by visions and voices from heaven ; but, nevertheless, even when his memory and heart are throbbing with recollections of that sublime scene, he says, ‘ we have something surer still in the prophetic word” . . . It was not the miracles of Christ by which he came to know Jesus, but the word of Christ as interpreted by the spirit of Christ” (Sam- uel Cox).