2 Peter 1:19

2 Peter 1:19

We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

a. NLT: Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

b. NIV: We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

c. YLT: And we have more firm the prophetic word, to which we do well giving heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, till day may dawn, and a morning star may arise -- in your hearts;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And we have the prophetic word [made] firmer still. You will do well to pay close attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dismal (squalid and dark) place, until the day breaks through [the gloom] and the Morning Star rises (^[j]comes into being) in your hearts.

e. Worrell Translation: And we have the more sure prophetic word, to which ye do well to take heed, as to a lamp shinning in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Morning Star arise in your hearts.

1. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy…”

a. we have [2192 * echo] [Strong: including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; (used in certain tenses only) a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.]

b. also [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

c. a more sure [949 * bebaios] [Thayer: stable, fast, firm metaphorically, sure, trusty.] [Zodhiates: fixed, sure, certain.] [Strong:  from the base of 939 (through the idea of basality); stable (literally or figuratively):--firm, of force, stedfast, sure.]

1). Other uses of this same Greek word.

a). 2 Corinthians 1:7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

b). Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

2:2 For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

c). Hebrews 3:6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

d. word [3056 * logos] [Strong:  from 3004; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):--account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work.]

e. prophecy [4397 * prophetikos] [Thayer:  proceeding from a prophet, prophetic.] [Strong: from 4396; pertaining to a foreteller ("prophetic"):--of prophecy, of the prophets.]

1). I have been taught in light of the context that as spectacular as this spiritual experience was for the three apostles, the prophetic word or the words of the prophets, the inspired text of the Bible is more sure. Whatever the spiritual experience, vision or dream, it has to line up with the Scriptures. The Scriptures must be our standard, not dreams, visions or spiritual experiences. The three accounts of this particular vision written in the gospels was penned by men who had not seen it. The three accounts are Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36. This vision was the most spectacular supernatural experience these men had ever experienced. They are up on the mountain with Jesus and he becomes transfigured before them into the glory of his second coming, his face shining as bright as the sun. They could not look at him it was so bright. During this time Moses and Elijah both appear and begin have a conversation with Jesus about his upcoming death in Jerusalem. In the middle of this spectacular experience Peter says to Jesus they should build three tents to accommodate the three of them, Jesus Moses and Elijah. At that moment, a cloud overshadows them, the Shekinah glory cloud to be exact, and God the Father speaks out of the cloud. It would be hard or impossible to top this spiritual experience. Yet here in 2 Peter 1:19 after Peter recounts this vision in verses 16-18, he says very clearly, “We have also a more sure word of prophecy.” The written Scriptures are more sure more dependable than any vision or dream. 

2. “…whereunto ye do well that ye take heed…”

a. whereunto [3739 * hos] [Strong: including feminine he hay, and neuter ho ho probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

b. ye do [4160 * poieo] [Strong: apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield.]

c. well [2573 * kalos] [Strong: adverb from 2570; well (usually morally):--(in a) good (place), honestly, + recover, (full) well.]

d. that ye take heed [4337 * prosecho] [Strong: from 4314 and 2192; (figuratively) to hold the mind (3563 implied) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to:--(give) attend(-ance, -ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to unto); have regard.] [Thayer: to bring to, bring near, to bring a ship to land, and simply to touch at, put in, to turn the mind to, attend to be attentive, to a person or a thing: of caring for, providing for, to attend to one's self, i.e. to give heed to one's self, give attention to, take heed, to apply one's self to, attach one's self to, hold or cleave to a person or a thing, to be given or addicted to, to devote thought and effort to.]

3. “…as unto a light that shineth in a dark place…”

a. as [5613 * hos] [Strong: probably adverb of comparative from 3739; which how, i.e. in that manner (very variously used, as follows):--about, after (that), (according) as (it had been, it were), as soon (as), even as (like), for, how (greatly), like (as, unto), since, so (that), that, to wit, unto, when(-soever), while, X with all speed.]

b. unto a light [3088 * luchnos] [Strong: from the base of 3022; a portable lamp or other illuminator (literally or figuratively):--candle, light.]

c. that shineth [5316 * phaino] [Strong: prolongation for the base of 5457; to lighten (shine), i.e. show (transitive or intransitive, literal or figurative):-- appear, seem, be seen, shine, X think.]

d. in [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

e. a dark [850 * auchmeros] [Strong: from auchmos (probably from a base akin to that of 109) (dust, as dried by wind); properly, dirty, i.e. (by implication) obscure:--dark.]

f. place [5117 * topos] [Strong:  apparently a primary word; a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas 5561 is a large but participle locality), i.e. location (as a position, home, tract, etc.); figuratively, condition, opportunity; specially, a scabbard:--coast, licence, place, X plain, quarter, + rock, room, where.]

1). The Scriptures are the light we need to navigate this dark world.

a). Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

b). Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

4. “…until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.”

a. until [2193 * heos] [Strong:  of uncertain affinity; a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place):--even (until, unto), (as) far (as), how long, (un-)til(-l), (hither-, un-, up) to, while(-s).]

b. [3757 * hou] [Strong: genitive case of 3739 as adverb; at which place, i.e. where:--where(-in), whither(-soever).]

c. the day [2250 * hemera] [Strong:  feminine (with 5610 implied) of a derivative of hemai (to sit; akin to the base of 1476) meaning tame, i.e. gentle; day, i.e. (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the Jews as inclusive of the parts of both extremes); figuratively, a period (always defined more or less clearly by the context):--age, + alway, (mid-)day (by day, (-ly)), + for ever, judgment, (day) time, while, years.]

d. dawn [1306 *  diaugazo] [Strong: from 1223 and 826; to glimmer through, i.e. break (as day):--dawn.]

1). Albert Barnes Commentary: Until the day dawn - Until you have the clearer light which shall result from the dawning of the day. The reference here is to the morning light as compared with a lamp; and the meaning is, that we should attend to the light furnished by the prophecies until the truth shall be rendered more distinct by the events as they shall actually be disclosed - until the brighter light which shall be shed on all things by the glory of the second advent of the Saviour, and the clearing up of what is now obscure in the splendors of the heavenly world. 

e. and [2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

f. the daystar [5459 * phosphoros] [Strong: from 5457 and 5342; light-bearing ("phosphorus"), i.e. (specially), the morning-star (figuratively):--day star.]

1). Jesus is the bright and morning star.

a). Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.

2). Compare this with how it describes Jesus in Malachi.

a). Malachi 4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

g. arise [393 * anatello] [Strong: from 303 and the base of 5056; to (cause to) arise:--(a-, make to) rise, at the rising of, spring (up), be up.]

h. in [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

i. your [5216 * humon] [Strong: genitive case of 5210; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

j. hearts [2588 * kardia] [Strong: prolonged from a primary kar (Latin cor, "heart"); the heart, i.e. (figuratively) the thoughts or feelings (mind); also (by analogy) the middle:--(+ broken-)heart(-ed).]

1). This last section of the verse probably refers to the physical return of Christ, but it also could refer to receiving more knowledge through revelation from the Holy Ghost. We as believers need to turn our minds to and be attentive to the Scripture and control what we think.

a). 2 Corinthians 10:4, 5 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2). We need to strengthen our minds with the Scriptures.

a). 1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

3). We need to wrap the truth of the Word around our minds.

a). Ephesians 6:13, 14 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

b). aaaaaaaaa