The Authority of Scripture

Have you ever wondered how you can be sure that the Bible is true and reliable?

Have you ever been tempted to follow other sources of authority or wisdom that contradict or undermine the Scripture?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone. Many Christians struggle with these issues at some point in their faith journey.

But the good news is that God has not left us in the dark. He has given us His word, which is trustworthy, powerful, and sufficient for our salvation and sanctification.

In our passage today, the apostle Peter affirms the authority of Scripture and urges us to pay attention to it as the ultimate source of truth and guidance

Let’s read 2 Peter 1:16-21

2 Peter 1:16–21 NKJV

16 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. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Exposition

In this passage, Peter defends the gospel message that he and the other apostles preached against false teachers who denied the Lord’s return and twisted the Scriptures to suit their own desires

He gives two main reasons why we can trust the Scripture as God’s authoritative word: (1) it is based on eyewitness testimony, and (2) it is inspired by the Holy Spirit

Let’s look at each of these reasons in more detail.

Eyewitness Testimony (v. 16-18)

In verse 16, Peter says that he and the other apostles did not follow cleverly devised myths when they made known to us the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Rather, they were eyewitnesses of His majesty

What does he mean by that? He is referring to the event known as the transfiguration, which is recorded in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36

The transfiguration was a remarkable occasion when Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain and revealed His glory to them

His face shone like the sun, His clothes became dazzling white, and Moses and Elijah appeared with Him and talked with Him

Then a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him”Peter says that he heard this voice himself, along with the other two disciples who were with him on the holy mountain

This was a powerful confirmation of Jesus’ identity and authority as the Son of God and the Messiah

It was also a preview of His second coming, when He will appear in glory and judge the living and the dead

Revelation 1:7–18 NKJV

7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” 9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. 10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, 11 saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.” 12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

Peter’s point is that he did not make up this story or base it on human imagination or speculation

He saw it with his own eyes and heard it with his own ears

He was an eyewitness of Jesus’ majesty and power

Also we have to consider that it was not just Peter who witnessed the truth about Jesus transfiguration and the voice that came down from heaven but also James and John were eyewitnesses of this event.

Take the resurrection of our LORD for an example. It was not just witnessed by one but over 500 saw Him after His death of the cross.

1 Corinthians 15:1–7 NKJV

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

Therefore, we can trust his and the others testimony as reliable and true

But Peter does not stop there. He goes on to say that we have something more sure than even his eyewitness testimony: the prophetic word - Holy Spirit Inspired

Holy Spirit Inspiration (v. 19-21)

2 Peter 1:19–21 NKJV

19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

What Peter is saying is that the Scripture, especially the Old Testament prophecies all point to Christ and His work

He says that we should pay attention to this word as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in our hearts

What does he mean by that? He means that the Scripture is like a light that guides us in this dark world, where there is so much confusion, deception, and evil

It shows us the way to salvation and holiness, until Christ returns and brings us into His eternal kingdom of light

But how can we be sure that the Scripture is trustworthy and authoritative? How do we know that it is not just a human product or interpretation?

Peter answers this question in verses 20 and 21. He says that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation

Rather, no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit

What does he mean by that? He means that the Scripture is not a human invention or opinion, but a divine revelation and communication

The human authors of Scripture did not write their own ideas or agendas, but they wrote what God wanted them to write

They were moved or carried along by the Holy Spirit, who inspired them and guided them in their words

Therefore, the Scripture is not just a human word, but God’s word

And God’s word is always true, reliable, and authoritative

Application

So what does this passage mean for us today? How should we respond to it?Here are three possible applications:

Trust the Scripture

The first and most obvious application is that we should trust the Scripture as God’s authoritative word

We should not doubt or question its truthfulness or reliability

We should not follow other sources of authority or wisdom that contradict or undermine the Scripture

We should not listen to false teachers who twist or distort the Scripture to suit their own desires

Rather, we should believe what the Scripture says about God, ourselves, and the world

We should accept its claims, promises, commands, and warnings as binding and relevant for our lives

We should submit to its authority and obey its instructions

Study the Scripture

The second application is that we should study the Scripture as God’s authoritative word

We should not neglect or ignore it

We should not read it superficially or selectively

We should not interpret it according to our own preferences or traditions

Rather, we should read it regularly and carefully

We should seek to understand its meaning and message in its historical and literary context

We should compare Scripture with Scripture and let it interpret itself

We should use sound principles and methods of interpretation that honor its divine inspiration and human authorship

Share the Scripture

The third application is that we should share the Scripture as God’s authoritative word

We should not hide or hoard it

We should not be ashamed or afraid of it

We should not compromise or water down it

Rather, we should proclaim it boldly and faithfully

We should teach it accurately and clearly

We should apply it relevantly and practically

We should use it to evangelize the lost and edify the saints

Conclusion

In conclusion, let us remember that God has given us His word, which is trustworthy, powerful, and sufficient for our salvation and sanctification

Let us trust, study, and share the Scripture as God’s authoritative word