2 Peter 1:16

2 Peter 1:16 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
• New International Version (NIV)For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

Context of 2 Peter 1:16

14I know that I will die soon. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made that clear to me. 15So I will make every effort to see that you remember these things after I die. When we apostles told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we didn’t base our message on clever myths that we made up. Rather, we witnessed his majesty with our own eyes. 17For example, we were eyewitnesses when he received honor and glory from God the Father and when the voice of our majestic God spoke these words to him: “This is my Son, whom I love and in whom I delight.” 18We heard that voice speak to him from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

2 Peter 1:16 word by word

οὐ γὰρ σεσοφισμένοις μύθοις ἐξακολουθήσαντες ἐγνωρίσαμεν ὑμῖν τὴν τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ δύναμιν καὶ παρουσίαν, ἀλλ᾽ ἐπόπται γενηθέντες τῆς ἐκείνου μεγαλειότητος.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• we haveἐξακολουθέωexakoloutheō · to followG1811
• notοὐou · noG3756
• cunningly devisedσοφίζωsophizō · to make wiseG4679
• fablesμῦθοςmuthos · mythG3454
• when we made knownγνωρίζωgnōrizō · to make knownG1107
• unto youσύsu · youG4771
• the powerὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the powerδύναμιςdunamis · powerG1411
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• comingπαρουσίαparousia · comingG3952
• ofκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• wereγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• eyewitnessesἐπόπτηςepoptēs · eyewitnessG2030
• ofμεγαλειότηςmegaleiotēs · majestyG3168
• hisἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565

Cross-references for 2 Peter 1:16

• 2 Peter 3:3First, you must understand this: In the last days people who follow their own desires will appear. These disrespectful people will ridicule ⌞God’s promise⌟
• 1 Corinthians 1:17Christ didn’t send me to baptize. Instead, he sent me to spread the Good News. I didn’t use intellectual arguments. That would have made the cross of Christ lose its meaning.
• 1 Corinthians 2:1Brothers and sisters, when I came to you, I didn’t speak about God’s mystery as if it were some kind of brilliant message or wisdom.
• 2 Corinthians 2:17At least we don’t go around selling an impure word of God like many others. The opposite is true. As Christ’s spokesmen and in God’s presence, we speak the pure message that comes from God.
• 2 Corinthians 4:2Instead, we have refused to use secret and shameful ways. We don’t use tricks, and we don’t distort God’s word. As God watches, we clearly reveal the truth to everyone. This is our ⌞letter of⌟ recommendation.
• 2 Corinthians 12:16You agree, then, that I haven’t been a burden to you. Was I a clever person who trapped you by some trick?
• Ephesians 4:14Then we will no longer be little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:9The man of sin will come with the power of Satan. He will use every kind of power, including miraculous and wonderful signs. But they will be lies.
• 1 Timothy 1:4and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These myths and genealogies raise a lot of questions rather than promoting God’s plan, which centers in faith.
• 1 Timothy 4:7Don’t have anything to do with godless myths that old women like to tell. Rather, train yourself to live a godly life.
• Matthew 28:18When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
• Mark 9:1He said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Some people who are standing here will not die until they see God’s kingdom arrive with power.”
• John 17:2After all, you’ve given him authority over all humanity so that he can give eternal life to all those you gave to him.
• Romans 1:4In his spiritual, holy nature he was declared the Son of God. This was shown in a powerful way when he came back to life.
• 1 Corinthians 5:4When you have gathered together, I am with you in spirit. Then, in the name of our Lord Jesus, and with his power,
• Philippians 3:21Through his power to bring everything under his authority, he will change our humble bodies and make them like his glorified body.

Commentaries on 2 Peter 1:16

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Cunningly devised fables - . I think, with Macknight and others, from the apostle's using , eye witnesses, or rather beholders, in the end of the verse, it is probable that he means those cunningly devised fables among the heathens, concerning the appearance of their gods on earth in human form. And to gain the greater credit to these fables, the priests and statesmen instituted what they called the mysteries of the gods, in which the fabulous appearance…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For we have not followed cunningly devised fables - That is, fictions or stories invented by artful men, and resting on no solid foundation. The doctrines which they held about the coming of the Saviour were not, like many of the opinions of the Greeks, defended by weak and sophistical reasoning, but were based on solid evidence - evidence furnished by the personal observation of competent witnesses. It is true of the gospel, in general, that it is not…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. 16-18cleverly devised fables: The false teachers were probably claiming that the message about Christ’s return was only a helpful story and not a true event. we were eyewitnesses of His majesty: This refers to the transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1–9; Mark 9:2–8; Luke 9:28–36). The transfiguration was a moment when the appearance of Jesus changed in a bright and glorious way. At that moment, Jesus was revealed as the glorious King, which pointed to his…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. For--reason why he is so earnest that the remembrance of these things should be continued after his death. followed--out in detail. cunningly devised--Greek, "devised by (man's) wisdom"; as distinguished from what the Holy Ghost teaches (compare 1Co 3:13). But compare also 2Pe 2:3, "feigned words." fables--as the heathen mythologies, and the subsequent Gnostic "fables and genealogies," of which the germs already existed in the junction of Judaism with…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Peter 1:16

• Apostles
• Fable
• Gospel
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Minister, Christian
• Peter
• Power
• Testimony

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Jesus
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Jesus Christ
• Calling
• Corruption
• Cunningly
• Diligence
• Escape

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