2 Peter 1:20

2 Peter 1:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
• New International Version (NIV)Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.
• English Standard Version (ESV)knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.
• New King James Version (NKJV)knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,

Context of 2 Peter 1:20

19As well as that, we have the prophets' messages from long ago. They also show us very clearly that these things are true. The prophets' words are like a light that shines in a dark place. That light continues to shine in the dark until the dawn comes. So you need to think about those messages carefully. Then the morning star will rise and it will bring light deep inside you. It is very important that you should understand this: The prophets' messages in the Bible did not come from their own ideas. That never happens. 21None of the prophets' messages came because any person wanted to say something. Instead, God's Holy Spirit caused people to speak words that came from God.

2 Peter 1:20 word by word

τοῦτο πρῶτον γινώσκοντες ὅτι πᾶσα προφητεία γραφῆς ἰδίας ἐπιλύσεως οὐ γίνεται.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Knowingγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
• thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
• noοὐou · noG3756
• prophecyπροφητείαprophēteia · prophecyG4394
• of the scriptureγραφήgraphē · a writingG1124
• isγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• ofἐπίλυσιςepilusis · explanationG1955
• anyπᾶςpas · allG3956
• privateἴδιοςidios · one's own/privateG2398

Cross-references for 2 Peter 1:20

• 2 Peter 3:3The first thing that you should understand is this. In the last days of this world, some people will laugh at you because you believe in God. These people will do whatever bad things they want to do.
• Romans 6:6We know that God has caused our old nature to die with Christ on the cross. This happened so that God could make us free from the power of sin in our lives. We are no longer like slaves who have sin as their master.
• Romans 13:11Live in that way, because you know what is happening in this time now. It is time that you should stop sleeping. It is now time to wake up. The time when God will save us completely is near. That time is nearer now than when we first believed in him.
• 1 Timothy 1:9We also know that God did not make those laws for people who already live in a good way. He made them for people like this, to show them what is right: people who refuse to obey any laws; people who do not want anyone to rule them; people who turn away from God; people who do bad things; people who do not respect God's holy things; people who kill their father or their mother; people who murder;
• James 1:3God wants to see if you really trust him. Your faith in God will become stronger as a result of these troubles.
• Romans 12:6God has been kind to us. He has given to each of us different gifts so that we can serve him. God helps some people to speak his messages clearly. Those people should trust God to tell them what to say.

Commentaries on 2 Peter 1:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Knowing 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 signifies also impetus, impulse; and probably this is the best sense here; not by the mere private impulse of his own mind.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Knowing 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-21Verses 16-21 The gospel is no weak thing, but comes in power, Ro 1:16. The law sets before us our wretched state by sin, but there it leaves us. It discovers our disease, but does not make known the cure. It is the sight of Jesus crucified, in the gospel, that heals the soul. Try to dissuade the covetous worlding from his greediness, one ounce of gold weighs down all reasons. Offer to stay a furious man from anger by arguments, he has not patience to hear…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20-21comes from one’s own interpretation: This probably means that the prophets did not have to interpret God’s visions by themselves. God made the meaning clear to them so they could speak his message clearly and reliably.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. "Forasmuch as ye know this" (1Pe 1:18). first--the foremost consideration in studying the word of prophecy. 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. The Greek noun epilusis, does not mean in itself…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Peter 1:20

• Word of God

In the dictionaries

• Bible
• Calling
• Corruption
• Cunningly
• Diligence
• Escape
• Glory
• Prophecy
• Prophet
• Scripture

Commentaries on 2 Peter 1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings