Section 1:16–21

Peter assured those to whom he was writing that what they had learned about Jesus Christ was true

Peter assured the believers who would read his letter that the message which they had heard about Jesus Christ was true. He told them two reasons why they could be sure that this message was true: he himself had seen the majesty of Christ at the time of the Transfiguration, and also the OT prophets had spoken about Christ.

Paragraph 1:16–18

In the Greek text there is the word gar, “for,” which connects this paragraph to what precedes it. In this paragraph, Peter explained the first reason why people to whom he wrote could be sure that he wrote the truth. Another way to show how Peter linked this paragraph with what he had said before would be to say:

These things I have been telling you are true.

1:16a

cleverly devised fables: These are tales which are untrue—myths, fables —but which have been devised or invented to sound as if they are true. Peter said that he and the other apostles had not based their message on such tales which people had fabricated. He may have been thinking of the teaching of the false teachers which they based on human ideas (see 2:3a).

the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: There are two ways to interpret this part of the verse:

(1) The two words power and coming both refer to one thing, the return of Christ with great power. Good News Translation translates this part of the verse like this: “the mighty coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” There are other verses in the NT which speak of Christ returning with great power (see Matthew 24:30).

(2) The two words power and coming refer to two separate things. The word power refers to Christ’s earthly ministry, during which he performed many miracles, and the word coming refers to his second coming. New English Bible translates this part of the verse like this: “the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming.” Some commentators think that coming refers to Christ’s first coming. They think this because in the following verse, Peter referred to the Transfiguration. But in all the other places where the people who wrote the NT used this Greek word, parousia (“arrival, coming”), to refer to Christ, they used it to refer to his second coming and never to his first coming.

The first interpretation is the one recommended.

1:16b

His majesty: This means his splendor, his greatness, how very great he was.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.