Sola Scriptura (Part 1 of 2)
The Reassurance of Scripture
The Apostle Peter provides reassurance based on the principles he previously taught, especially knowing his death is near. He reminds his audience of the qualities to increase in, the assurance of salvation, confirming our calling and election, and being fruitful in our knowledge of God. These truths are preserved in the trustworthy Scriptures, which emphasize and incorporate these principles.
Peter reassures us that Scripture serves as the reliable source to remember these truths, confirm our calling, remain in the faith, and be effective and fruitful. Three key concepts emerge: To what does this teaching belong? Where is it recorded? Why should we trust it?
1. Eyewitness Testimony, Not Myths (2 Peter 1:16)
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.
Peter explains that the apostles did not invent stories. The Greek word for "myths" is literally mythos. They were not conjured up at a convention or imagined for a movement. These are eyewitness accounts of reality, centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ—the gospel, the Messiah saving His people from sins.
Specifically, they witnessed His majesty—the sublimity and impressiveness of Christ that inspires awe. This is not the usual word for glory (doxa) but one denoting unparalleled admiration. This eyewitness testimony, recorded in Scripture, motivates us to pursue the qualities Peter described, preventing ineffectiveness and fruitlessness.
The more we grasp Christ's majesty through Scripture, the more it inspires awe, admiration, and transformation. Knowledge of Christ must impact our lives, changing our lifestyle and drawing us to be like Him. This is not human invention like Paul creating Christianity or second-century apocryphal gospels (e.g., Infancy Gospel of James, Gospel of Thomas) with ridiculous tales. Myths deviate into mythology, projecting human flaws onto deities. Scripture, however, is empirical reality that transcends time, blesses, and changes lives permanently for God's glory.
2. Reassurance Within Scripture (2 Peter 1:17-19)
For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the majestic glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Peter recalls the Transfiguration, where he, James, and John heard God's voice affirming Christ, as at His baptism. This event confirms they did not devise myths. The prophetic word—Scripture—is reliable, unwavering, and abiding. It is not that Peter's experience made Scripture more sure; rather, alongside their eyewitness account, Scripture stands persistent and trustworthy, having endured millennia, multiple authors, and copying processes.
Peter intends for Scripture to remind us always, even after his departure. If God has spoken reliably, how often do we utilize it? Approach Scripture expecting to encounter Christ's majesty, power, and coming—not as a checklist, but for transformative experience. Recall Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 1), God's judgment and mercy, or John 17's inter-Trinitarian glory. Meet God in His Word, obey, and let it change you.
Applying Scripture for Fruitfulness
Knowledge of God changes lives qualitatively. Yet some read consistently but see no change. Recall 2 Peter 1:3-11: His divine power grants everything for life and godliness. If qualities like faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love increase, we avoid being ineffective or unfruitful. Lack them, and we become nearsighted, forgetting cleansing from sins. Be diligent to confirm your calling and election; practicing these ensures you never fall and richly enter Christ's kingdom.
In counseling, people ask how to change, yet after receiving Scripture, confess they didn't apply effort. Scripture is sufficient and effective but requires diligence. No marriage fails because Scripture failed; no ministry lacks fruit if based on God's Word. In singleness, work, or any area, Scripture brings eternal value beyond temporary gains.
Ask: How does this glorify God? Confirm my calling? Increase virtue, knowledge, self-control, godliness, affection, love? Live cautiously, weighing decisions against Scripture. His divine power has granted everything pertaining to life and godliness.
Everything Pertaining to Life and Godliness
Everything that pertains to how this life is to be experienced from a God perspective, how this life should be lived, and how I can be godly as I go through it—that everything that pertains to life and godliness—is not simply granted to me by virtue of being a Christian, but is received through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. For that reason, you have put forth every effort. We have been given everything that pertains to life and godliness through the knowledge of God, through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Therefore, there is work to do. There is mining to do. There is gold to be found. There are concepts and principles presented within the Scriptures that are essential and belong to this category of everything that pertains to life and godliness.
Certainly, I don't need to go into the Scriptures to find out that 3 plus 3 equals 6. Everything that pertains to life and godliness comes through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. Where else can I get the knowledge of God except within the Scriptures, which are the sole, primary, and infallible source?
Reassurance of the Scriptures
Peter gives us this reassurance of the Scriptures. He closes off his latter portion here with his reassurance about the Scriptures, circling back to his original principle. It's not cleverly devised myths. It's not people who sat down with a good ability to write a fantastic novel.
And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
It's interesting that he uses the terminology that no prophecy of Scripture was from someone's own interpretation. It doesn't simply say that somebody invented it, but from one's own origination or explanation. No prophecy of Scripture came about because somebody was able to interpret existence or reality, then thought about it, came up with it, and wrote it down. It's more extreme than a cleverly devised myth—it's saying no one has the ability to interpret something from God on their own.
No prophecy was ever produced by the will of man. Nobody sat down and thought, "Today is a good day to write Scripture." Jude was in a similar position: he was going to write about our common salvation but instead needed to warn about false teachers. The Holy Spirit's intention was for Jude to warn about false teachers. Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. The term "carried" evokes the wind blowing into a ship's sail, driving the ship. It could be translated as "driven" or "compelled" by the Holy Spirit.
From reading Scripture, we sense the human authors' personalities and writing styles. They did not go into a trance. Yet the Holy Spirit secured the accurate writing of the Scriptures so they would be without error, authoritative, trustworthy, and reliable. No prophecy was ever made by the will of man or personal interpretation. The Scriptures we have exist because the Holy Spirit drove men to pen his words.
The Lamp in a Dark Place
Circle back to verse 19: We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you would do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Pay attention to the Scriptures—focus on them, understand their reliability, be drawn to them unwaveringly. Why? Because it's a lamp. What need is there to pay attention to something that shines light in a world with none?
Many years ago, I went to Carlsbad Caverns. Part of the tour deep into the cave retold the story of original explorers using oil lanterns. When one explorer's lamp went out, in total darkness, you can't tell if your eyes are open or closed. You could grope around, lost and disoriented, risking stalagmites or the bottomless pit—all perils without light.
They turned out all the lights to give us the experience, then relit the lamp. Without the word of God, we walk unable to see dangers, pitfalls, spiritual stalagmites. People remain unable to change or continue in sins because they lack this guide. In suffering or trials, we need the word to shed light, not grope in the dark wondering why. God owes us no specific answer, but he has taught us principles in Scripture.
First Peter, chapter one... that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. The ability to see spiritually recognizes the bigger picture and significance behind temptations or trials. Nearsightedness views temptation as an opportunity for the negative rather than to endure and resist unscathed.
The consistent cry is, "Why is this happening?" or "Why would a loving God do this?" If these principles are yours and increasing, found in the Scriptures, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful. They are a lamp so you see circumstances as God intends—opportunities for his glory and your good. They prevent bad and sinful decisions.
Pay attention to this lamp until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts—that point when something brighter arrives, overshadowing the lamp. This refers to Christ's return for his church, ushering in eternity without sin, in permanent illumination. Pay attention to the lamp that guides until then.
