Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Peter 1:19

"And we have the word of prophecy [made] more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts:" — 2 Peter 1:19 (ASV)

We have also a more sure word of prophecy. That is a prophecy pertaining to the coming of the Lord Jesus, for that is the point under discussion. There has been considerable diversity of opinion regarding the meaning of this passage. Some have supposed that the apostle, when he says "a more sure word," did not intend to make any comparison between the miracle of the transfiguration and prophecy, but that he meant to say merely that the word of prophecy was very sure and could certainly be relied on.

Others have supposed that the meaning is that the prophecies which foretold His coming into the world, having been confirmed by the fact of His advent, are rendered more sure and undoubted than when they were uttered, and may now be confidently appealed to. So Rosenmuller, Benson, Macknight, Clarke, Wetstein, and Grotius.

Luther renders it, "we have a firm prophetic word," omitting the comparison. A literal translation of the passage would be, "and we have the prophetic word more firm." If a comparison is intended, it may be either that the prophecy was more sure than the fables referred to in 2 Peter 1:16; or than the miracle of the transfiguration; or than the word that was heard on the holy mount; or than the prophecies even in the time when they were first spoken.

If such a comparison was designed, the most obvious of these interpretations would be that the prophecy was more certain proof than was furnished on the mount of transfiguration. But it seems probable that no comparison was intended, and that the point Peter intended to emphasize was not that the prophecy was better evidence respecting the advent of the Messiah than other evidences, but that it was strong proof that demanded their particular attention, as being of a firm and decided character.

There can be no doubt that the apostle refers here to what is contained in the Old Testament; for, in 2 Peter 1:21, he speaks of the prophecy as that which was spoken in old time, by men that were moved by the Holy Ghost. The point to which the prophecies related, and to which Peter referred, was the great doctrine respecting the coming of the Messiah, embracing perhaps all that pertained to His work, or all that He designed to do by His advent.

They had received one illustrious proof respecting His advent as a glorious Saviour by His transfiguration on the mount; and the apostle here says that the prophecies abounded with truths on these points, and that they should pay close attention to the disclosures which they made, and compare them diligently with facts as they occurred, so that they might be confirmed more and more in the truth.

If, however, as the more obvious sense of this passage seems to be, and as many suppose to be the correct interpretation (see Doddridge, in loc., and Professor Stuart, on the canon of the Old Testament, p. 329), it means that the prophecy was more sure, more steadfast, more to be depended on than even what the three disciples had seen and heard on the mount of transfiguration, this may be regarded as true in the following respects:

1. The prophecies are numerous, and by their number they furnish stronger proof than could be afforded by a single manifestation, however clear and glorious.

2. They were recorded, and might be the subject of careful comparison with the events as they occurred.

3. They were written long beforehand, and it could not be urged that the testimony which the prophets bore was owing to any illusion on their minds, or to any agreement among the different writers to impose on the world. Though Peter regarded the testimony which he and James and John bore to the glory of the Saviour, from what they saw on the holy mount, as strong and clear confirmation that He was the Son of God, yet he could not but be aware that it might be suggested by an objector that they might have agreed to impose on others, or that they might have been dazzled and deceived by some natural phenomenon occurring there. (Compare to Kuinoel on Matthew 17:1 and following).

4. Even supposing that there was a miracle in the case, the evidence of the prophecies, embracing many points in the same general subject and extending through a long series of years, would be more satisfactory than any single miracle whatever. (See Doddridge, in loc.). The general meaning is that the fact that He had come as the Messiah was disclosed on the mount by such a manifestation of His glory, and of what He would be, that those who saw it could not doubt it; the same thing the apostle says was more fully shown also in the prophecies, and these prophecies demanded their close and prolonged attention.

Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed. They are worthy of your study, of your close and careful investigation. There is perhaps no study more worthy of the attention of Christians than that of the prophecies.

As unto a light that shineth in a dark place. That is, the prophecies resemble a candle, lamp, or torch in a dark room, or on an obscure road at night. They make objects distinct which were before unseen; they enable us to behold many things that would be otherwise invisible.

The object of the apostle in this representation seems to have been to state that the prophecies do not give a perfect light, or that they do not remove all obscurity, but that they shed some light on objects which would otherwise be entirely dark, and that the light which they furnished was so valuable that we should by all means endeavor to make use of it.

Until the day dawns, and we see objects by the clear light of the sun, they are to be our guide. A lamp is of great value on a dark night, though it may not disclose objects so clearly as the light of the sun. But it may be a safe and sure guide; and a man who has to travel in dark and dangerous places does "well" to "take heed" to his lamp.

Until the day dawn. Until you have the clearer light that results from the dawning of the day. The reference here is to the morning light as compared with a lamp.

The meaning is that we should attend to the light furnished by the prophecies until the truth is made more distinct by the events as they are actually disclosed. This attention should continue until the brighter light that will be shed on all things by the glory of the second advent of the Saviour, and the clearing up of what is now obscure in the splendours of the heavenly world.

The point of comparison is between the necessary obscurity of prophecy and the clearness of events when they actually occur—a difference like that which is observable in the objects around us when seen by the shining of the lamp and by the light of the sun. The apostle directs the mind onward to a period when all will be clear—to that glorious time when the Saviour returns to receive His people to Himself in that heaven where all will be light.

Compare to Revelation 21:23-26; 22:5. Meanwhile, we should avail ourselves of all the light which we have, and should apply ourselves diligently to the study of the prophecies of the Old Testament which are still unfulfilled, and of those in the New Testament which direct the mind onward to brighter and more glorious scenes than this world has yet witnessed. In our darkness they are a cheering lamp to guide our feet, until that illustrious day dawns. (Compare to 1 Corinthians 13:9–10, see Barnes' notes).

And the day-star. The morning star—the bright star that at certain periods of the year leads on the day, and which is a pledge that the morning is about to dawn. (22:16).

Arise in your hearts. On your hearts; that is, it sheds its beams on your hearts. Until you see the indications of that approaching day when all is light. The period referred to here by the approaching day that is to diffuse this light is when the Saviour returns in the full revelation of His glory—the splendour of His kingdom.

Then all will be clear. Until that time, we should search the prophetic records, and strengthen our faith and comfort our hearts with the predictions of the future glory of His reign. Whether this refers, as some suppose, to His reign on earth, either personally or by the principles of His religion universally prevailing, or, as others suppose, to the brighter revelations of heaven when He comes to receive His people to Himself, it is equally clear that a brighter time than any that has yet occurred is to dawn on our race, and equally true that we should regard the prophecies, as we do the morning star, as the cheering harbinger of day.

{*} "word" "And we have yet more sure the word" {+} "heed" "To attend" {++} "light" "Lamp" {a} "shineth"Psalms 119:105; Proverbs 6:23