Albert Barnes Commentary 2 Peter 1:21

"For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit." — 2 Peter 1:21 (ASV)

For the prophecy came not in old time. The marginal note says, "or, at any." The Greek word (pote) can support either interpretation. It would be true in either sense, but the reference is particularly to the recorded prophecies in the Old Testament. What was true of them, however, is also true of all prophecy: it is not by the will of man.

The word prophecy here is without the article. This means it refers to prophecy in general—all that is prophetic in the Old Testament. Or, in a still more general sense, it encompasses all that the prophets taught, whether relating to future events or not.

By the will of man. It was not of human origin; it was not discovered by the human mind. The word will here seems to be used in the sense of prompting or suggestion; men did not speak by their own suggestion, but as truth was brought to them by God.

But holy men of God. These were pious men commissioned by God, or employed by him as his messengers to mankind.

Spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (Compare to 2 Timothy 3:16). The Greek phrase here (upo pneumatov agiou feromenoi) means borne along, moved, influenced by the Holy Ghost. The idea is that in what they spoke, they were carried along by an influence from above. They acted in this respect only as they were moved; they spoke only as the influence of the Holy Ghost was upon them.

They were no more self-moved than a vessel at sea that is impelled by the wind. And as the progress made by the vessel is to be measured by the impulse bearing upon it, so the statements made by the prophets are to be traced to the impulse that bore upon their minds.

They were not, indeed, in all respects like such a vessel, but only in that all they said as prophets was to be traced to the external influence that bore upon their minds. There could not be, therefore, a more decisive declaration than this as proof that the prophets were inspired.

If the authority of Peter is admitted, his positive and explicit assertion settles the question. If this is so, then the point about which he makes this observation is also abundantly confirmed: namely, that the prophecies demand our earnest attention, and we should give them as much heed as we would to a light or lamp when traveling in a dangerous way, and in a dark night.

In a still more general sense, the remark made here may also be applied to the whole of the Scriptures. We are in a dark world. We see few things clearly; and all around us, on a thousand questions, there is the obscurity of midnight. By nature, there is nothing to cast light on these questions, and we are perplexed, bewildered, embarrassed.

The Bible is given to us to shed light on our way. It is the only light that we have regarding the future, and though it does not give all the information that we might desire about what is to come, it still gives us sufficient light to guide us to heaven.

It teaches us what it is necessary to know about God, about our duty, and about the way of salvation, in order to lead us safely. No one who has committed himself to its direction has been allowed to wander finally away from the paths of salvation. It is, therefore, a duty to attend to the instructions that the Bible imparts and to commit ourselves to its holy guidance on our journey to a better world. For soon, if we are faithful to its teachings, the light of eternity will dawn upon us. There, amidst its cloudless splendor, we shall see as we are seen and know as we are known. Then we shall need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God shall give us light, and we shall reign for ever and ever. (22:5).