2 Peter 1:16 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.

2 Peter 1:16 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.

2 Peter 1:16 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.

2 Peter 1:16 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.

2 Peter 1:16 nlt

For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes

2 Peter 1 verses

2 Peter 1 16 Meaning

2 Peter 1:16 declares that the apostles' message regarding the divine power and future glorious coming of the Lord Jesus Christ was not founded on cleverly invented fables or mythical narratives. Instead, their proclamation was rooted in direct, personal observation and experience of His awe-inspiring divine majesty. This verse establishes the veracity of apostolic teaching by highlighting its historical and experiential basis, thereby distinguishing the truth of the Christian faith from any humanly fabricated stories or philosophical speculations.

2 Peter 1 16 Context

2 Peter chapter 1 opens with Peter emphasizing the spiritual growth believers are to pursue through God's divine power, leading to a richer knowledge of Christ. As he contemplates his impending death (v. 13-15), Peter underlines the imperative for believers to recall and cling to the apostolic truths they received. Verse 16 serves as a critical defense of the apostolic message's authenticity. It directly addresses potential skepticism or accusations that their teaching about Christ's power and return was based on fantasy. Instead, Peter asserts it was founded on an unparalleled, concrete historical event – the Transfiguration – which is then described in vivid detail in the immediately succeeding verses (1:17-18). This verse confronts prevailing challenges from false teachers who may have dismissed the historical reality of Christ, substituting it with abstract Gnostic ideas or speculative myths, thereby aiming to dismantle the hope in Christ's physical return.

2 Peter 1 16 Word analysis

• For we did not follow cunningly devised fables:

  • For: This conjunction introduces the foundational reason for the truthfulness and reliability of the apostolic message.
  • we did not follow: Refers to the collective apostolic testimony. It's a definitive rejection, asserting that their preaching was not rooted in subjective opinion or imagination.
  • cunningly devised: From the Greek sesophismenois (σεσοφισμένοις), indicating something skillfully or artfully constructed, often with the intent to mislead. It implies a sophisticated human contrivance rather than divine revelation, pointing to ingenuity used in deception.
  • fables: From the Greek mythois (μύθοις). Refers to fictional stories, myths, or unverified traditions, as opposed to historical fact. Peter strongly contrasts these with the reality of Christ's life and glory. This term carries a polemic against philosophical fictions, proto-Gnostic myths, or widespread superstitions prevalent in the first-century world.

• when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

  • made known to you: Signifies their active proclamation and authoritative teaching of the Christian truth.
  • the power: From Greek dynamis (δύναμις). Encompasses Christ's inherent divine might, miraculous capabilities, and sovereign authority. It speaks to the active manifestation of His divinity.
  • and coming: From Greek parousia (παρουσία). This term means "presence" or "arrival," especially a royal or authoritative advent. In the New Testament, it notably refers to the glorious return of Jesus Christ, His Second Coming. Peter connects Christ's past demonstration of divine power and majesty (Transfiguration) to the certainty of His future powerful advent.
  • our Lord Jesus Christ: A full confessional title emphasizing His divine sovereignty, His redemptive identity as the Savior, and His role as the Anointed King.

• but were eyewitnesses of His majesty:

  • but: A strong contrastive conjunction, forcefully shifting from the false premise (fables) to the true foundation (eyewitness testimony).
  • were eyewitnesses: From the Greek epoptai (ἐπόπται). This potent term denotes direct, personal observation. In ancient mystery religions, "epoptai" referred to initiates who had achieved the highest level of seeing sacred rites. Peter applies this strong term to authenticate their direct perception of Christ's glory, contrasting it with pagan rites or mere intellectual speculation.
  • of His majesty: From Greek megaleiotes (μεγαλειότης). This signifies supreme greatness, magnificent splendor, or divine glory. It directly refers to the overwhelming and visible manifestation of Christ's divine nature seen by Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration.

Word-groups by word-groups analysis:

• "For we did not follow cunningly devised fables": This phrase vehemently dismisses any insinuation that the apostles fabricated the Gospel. It underscores the profound difference between truth based on objective, historical reality and falsehood propagated through human invention or clever, deceptive narratives, ensuring the divine origin and reliability of the message.
• "when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ": This identifies the specific core of their message—the divine capabilities and glorious return of Christ. This phrasing highlights that their proclamation centered not on abstract theories or moral codes alone, but on the living, active Lord whose past deeds revealed His divine power and whose future coming promised ultimate victory and hope.
• "but were eyewitnesses of His majesty": This establishes the irrefutable validation of the apostolic claims. It declares that their knowledge was derived from a direct, tangible, and visible encounter with Christ's divine glory, specifically the Transfiguration. This direct experience transforms their preaching from mere human testimony into authoritative, verifiable truth, anchoring the Christian faith in concrete, experienced reality.

2 Peter 1 16 Bonus section

• The emphasis on "eyewitnesses" (epoptai) subtly but powerfully distinguishes the apostles' experience from those who might claim Gnostic revelations or visions. Their testimony was not esoteric or allegorical but grounded in concrete, visible reality.
• The singular phrasing "the power and coming" (ten dynamin kai parousian) links Christ's demonstrated glory in the Transfiguration to the certainty of His future return. The same power displayed in a flash of glory will be evident in His full, majestic Advent.
• This verse anticipates and provides the necessary theological groundwork for understanding the "more sure word of prophecy" in 2 Peter 1:19-21, as the prophetic word itself gains increased validation by the apostles' eyewitness confirmation of Christ's glory.

2 Peter 1 16 Commentary

2 Peter 1:16 functions as a critical apologetic for the Christian message. Peter unequivocally asserts that the apostolic teaching concerning Jesus Christ’s divine power and His assured return is grounded in verifiable, firsthand experience, rather than cleverly conceived myths or humanly engineered fictions. The direct witness of Christ's "majesty" on the Mount of Transfiguration (elaborated in verses 17-18) serves as the unimpeachable proof. This passage underscores that Christian faith is not built on allegory or speculation but on historical truth observed and attested to by those closest to Christ, providing a steadfast foundation for believers amidst the encroaching influence of false doctrines and skepticism.