Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

By saying “And we have the word of the prophets made more certain [GK 1010],” Peter indicates that the OT prophets spoke of the same things he did and that their words are made more certain because the Transfiguration was a foreview of their fulfillment. The Scriptures, in other words, confirm the apostolic witness. Peter is making an obvious comparison between the OT prophecies (which were accepted as God’s reliable word) and the apostles’ testimony or that of the Voice at the Transfiguration. After affirming the reliability of the OT Scriptures, Peter exhorts his readers to continue to pay careful attention to the prophetic message. He compares it to “light shining in a dark place” (cf. Psalms 119:105). The “dark place” is the whole world, which has turned from God the Light to darkness (cf. Isaiah 9:2; Ephesians 6:12). Christians are to ponder and keep the word of God “until the day dawns.” The “day” is the day of the Second Coming (cf. Romans 13:12). The “morning star” is a reference to the Messiah (cf. also Lk 1:78; Revelation 22:16). The phrase “rises in your hearts” is difficult. The best interpretation sees “in your hearts” as the subjective result of Christ’s actual coming. When he comes, an illuminating transformation will take place in the hearts of believers.