2 Peter 1:20
in 2 Peter 1Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.
KJV
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
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This verse in 2 Peter 1
Commentary
12 notes on this verseKnowing this first - Considering this as a first principle, that no prophecy of the Scripture, whether that referred to above, or any other, is of any private interpretation - proceeds from the prophet’s own knowledge or invention, or was the offspring of calculation or conjecture. The word επιλυσις signifies also impetus, impulse; and probably this is the best sense here; not by the mere private impulse of his own mind.
This site's exposition
no prophecy of the scripture
on 2 Peter 1:20-21
The inspiration summit stands beside 2 Timothy 3:16: no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation, idias epiluseos, and the readings divide with holders, no prophecy arose from the prophet's own unloosing of things, the origin reading the next verse supports, or no prophecy is for the reader's private wresting. The origin is then stated positively: the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, pheromenoi, borne along, the word Acts 27 uses of a ship carried by the wind. The men spoke, the Spirit carried; the letter's doctrine of Scripture is both at full strength.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
No enunciation of the Holy Spirit ought to be (confined) to the subject immediately in hand merely, and not applied and carried out with a view to every occasion to which its application is useful.
Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. Then, in explaining, Peter adds …
You must take care when interpreting the Scriptures not to be too greatly fixated upon the places, times and people who wrote them down, as if they were merely human compositions. Rather you ought to rely on the clarity and sufficiency of the Spirit.
The Medieval Church2 voices
A commentator
BonaventureCollations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 9 · Written in the 13th century.
proposed
The second certainty existed in the minds of prophets. We have the word of prophecy, surer still, to which you do well to attend, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. …
Understanding this first, that every prophecy of Scripture, etc. This verse depends on what was said above: You do well to pay attention; for those who pay attention to the words of the prophets do well indeed, that they may have the light of knowledge …
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
The prophets understood what and about what the prophetic Spirit was suggesting to them, yet not so clearly and precisely as everything was fulfilled in its particulars. Therefore they also "desired to see" the fulfillment, as the Lord said (Lk. 10:24). The Apostle explains why …
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Ye do well, as knowing this, that no scripture prophecy is of private interpretation - It is not any man's own word. It is God, not the prophet himself, who thereby interprets things till then unknown.
Knowing this first,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Laying it down as a first principle never to be lost sight of. is--Greek, not the simple verb, to be, but to begin to be, "proves to be," "becometh." No prophecy is found to be the result of "private (the mere individual writer's uninspired) interpretation" (solution), and so origination.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Knowing this first - Bearing this steadily in mind as a primary and most important truth. That no prophecy of the Scripture - No prophecy contained in the inspired records. The word “scripture” here shows that the apostle referred particularly to the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament. The remark which he makes about prophecy is general, though it is designed to bear on a particular class of the prophecies. Is of any private interpretation - The expression here used (ἰδίας ἐπιλύσεως idias epiluseōs) has given rise to as great a diversity of interpretation, and to as much discussion, as perhaps any phrase in the New Testament; and to the present time there is no general agreement among expositors as to its meaning. It would be foreign to the design of these notes, and would be of little utility, to enumerate the different interpretations which have been given of the passage, or to examine them in detail. […]
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| τοῦτο | touto | this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| πρῶτον | proton | first | G4413 → | 152 times |
| γινώσκοντες | ginoskontes | knowing | G1097 → | |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| πᾶσα | pasa | any | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| προφητεία | propheteia | prophecy | G4394 → | |
| γραφῆς | graphes | of Scripture | G1124 → | |
| ἰδίας | idias | of its own | G2398 → | 114 times |
| ἐπιλύσεως | epiluseos | interpretation | G1955 → | |
| οὐ | ou | not | G3756 → | 1664 times |
| γίνεται. | ginetai | is. | G1096 → | 667 times |
τοῦτοthis
toutoG3778 →1381 times
πρῶτονfirst
protonG4413 →152 times
γινώσκοντεςknowing
ginoskontesG1097 →
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
πᾶσαany
pasaG3956 →1235 times
προφητείαprophecy
propheteiaG4394 →
γραφῆςof Scripture
graphesG1124 →
ἰδίαςof its own
idiasG2398 →114 times
ἐπιλύσεωςinterpretation
epiluseosG1955 →
οὐnot
ouG3756 →1664 times
γίνεται.is.
ginetaiG1096 →667 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
James 1:3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
it leads to
- Romans 5:3–4
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
- Hebrews 10:36
You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.
- Colossians 1:11
being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
- Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
- Romans 5:3–4
Through
Romans 13:11And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8
For you are all sons of the light and sons of the day; we do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
- 1 Peter 4:7
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray.
- Ephesians 5:14
So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
- Mark 13:35–37
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the master of the house will return—whether in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:5–8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies4
About 2 Peter
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Bonaventure, Collations on the Hexaemeron, Collation 9; Hilary of Arles, INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 2 PETER; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 2 Peter; Tertullian, On the Apparel of Women Book II and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 2 Peter.