The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Peter — Section 47

we made known unto yo!i the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." There are two important points to be noticed here, In the first place, Peter, writing in the name of the other apostles, declares that they were careful in what they admitted into the historical basis of their religion, They saw the putting forward of cunningly devisect fables-stories without foundation in reality, cleverly concocted, so as to impose on the ignorant, and to keep up the influence of the priesthood or the false teachers. They did not follow this lead; but were careful to exclude all mythical element~, and to admit only well-established fact. Jn the second place, Peter and the other apostles made known unto the persons addressed the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The first exhibition of power was when Christ rose from the dead; its full exhibition was to be at the coming, It is true that in this Epistle there is no direct reference to the weakness and death of Christ; this is to be explained by the circumstances in which Peter wrote. There are times when we need to pass on from the humiliation, and to allow our minds to be occupied with the exaltation. 2. The attesting power of the Transfigwration to the coming. (1) Eye-testimony. "But we were eye-witnesses of his majesty." The reference, as is seen from what follows, is to the Transfiguration. The three who were admitted as witnesses were Peter and James and John: they were admitted, while others were excluded. What they saw was not his ordinary earthly form, but that form transfigured-what is here called his majesty. "His f!_annents," according to the graphic account of Mark," became glistering, exceeding white; so as no fuller on earth can whiten them." This remarkable manifestation, which was out of the ordinary course in Christ's earthly life, which was not for the common gaze, testifietl to the coming, inasmuch as it was to be regarded as the glorifying of Christ before- hand. It was Christ seen as he was to be after his ascension. It was Christ as he was afterwards seen by the prisoner of Patmos in his actually glorified condition. (2) Ear- testimony, (a) Wliat was heard. "For he received from God the Father honour ancl glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." In the original the verse begins, "for having received," and is interrupted before its close. 'l'he honour and glory from God the Fathrr are to be associated with the voice, but with the voice as expressive of the majesty that was seen by the eye. The voice is represeuted as borne to him, not from, but by, the excellent glory, which is putting for God the excellent glory in which he dwells, so as to raise an impression of the magnificence of the scene. The voice was such as this, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." There is only a slight variation from the words given in Matthew, the effect of which is to present tho good pleasure of the Father as on his beloved Son, so as to a.bide and not to leave him. 'l'his wa.s fitted to encourage Christ in prospect of the decease which he was to accom- plish at Jerusilem. As testimony to the coming, it is to be taken along with the change presented to sight. In that anticipation of glory w:i.s to be read how the good pleasure of God was to find manifestation. (b) The hearing. "And this voice we ow·selves heard come out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount." This helps to emphasize the reality of the voice. There was no possibility of deception; the voice was heard borne in upon them, borne in from heaven. There was present the condition of three witnesses, by which it is established as a fact. This also helps to connect the thought distinctly with the Transfiguration. The voice was heard when they, the three, were with him in the holy mount-the mount rendered holy by the association. 3. The attesti11g power of the prophetic Word to the coming. (1) The greater attesting power of the prophetic Word. "And we have the Word of prophecy made more sure." The literal translation is prefernblo, "And we have more sure the prophetic Word." By" the prophetic Word" we are to understand the Bible, with special reference to what it has to say about the future in its connection with Cb.rist. It must be recognized that a comparison is instituted. 'l'he comparison is not between the voice from heaven and the prophetic Word, but rather between the Transfiguration (with the accompaniment of the voice) and the prophetic Word in their attesting power to the second coming. The fact was significant; but there is greater satisfaction in having definite statements as to Christ's coming. It is the old prophetic W onl th,,t Peter seems to have in his mind; but we may regard it as elucidated and filled up by New Testament statements. From these statements we can have some conception of the scene. The Lord descends frolll his heavenly throne in majesty. The moment 42 THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [on. n.1-22.