“That’s Just Your Interpretation!” 2 Peter 1:19-21

2 Peter 1:19-21 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; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

2 Peter 1:19-21 Though no one has a right to his/her own “private interpretation” of Scripture, that is not what Peter is saying here. He is discussing the origin of Scripture. It is not from a “private source or origin.” That is, it is not of man. Rather, “holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” Basically, Peter is saying the same thing about spoken prophecy that Paul had already said about written prophecy.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Peter 1:19-21 Peter earlier says that we should abound in our knowledge of the Word.

2 Peter 1:5-8 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:19-21 Peter earlier says that we should abound in our knowledge of the Word. In chapter 2 he warns of FALSE TEACHERS.

2 Peter 2:1-2 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed.

2 Peter 1:19-21 Peter earlier says that we should abound in our knowledge of the Word. Chapter 2 warns of FALSE TEACHERS. How can we know who they are? Let me suggest some questions for you to ask your friend or loved one.

I Thessalonians 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

I John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 Peter 1:19-21 Peter earlier says that we should abound in our knowledge of the Word. Chapter 2 warns of FALSE TEACHERS. How can we know who they are? How do we “test all things” and “test the spirits” if we can’t understand the Bible? Let me suggest some questions for you to ask your friend or loved one with whom you are trying to study.

Is God Responsible for Religious Confusion? Just how many “gospels” are there?

Galatians 1:6-7 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

Galatians 1:8-9 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Is God Responsible for Religious Confusion? Just how many “gospels” are there? Can you imagine a father saying something to his children and expecting them to understand him differently?

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

Is God Capable of Making Himself Understood? Adam and Eve understood. Their problem was obedience. Noah understood. He built the ark just as God instructed him. Abraham understood. He left home & family; he offered his son. Moses understood. He built the tabernacle just as God instructed him. Understanding is POSSIBLE!

Is God Capable of Making Himself Understood? The first disciples were united in understanding.

Acts 2:42; 4:32 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.

Is God Capable of Making Himself Understood? The first disciples were united in understanding. All Christians are to speak the same thing.

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:11-13 For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Is God Capable of Making Himself Understood? The first disciples were united in understanding. All are to speak the same things. Jesus prayed for unity.

John 17:20-21 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me."

Is God Capable of Making Himself Understood? The first disciples were united in understanding. All are to speak the same things. Jesus prayed for unity. Was Jesus praying for the impossible?! Remember: the problem is NOT understanding God, but obeying God!

God commands us To Understand His Will! Would God command the impossible?

Ephesians 5:17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

God commands us To Understand His Will! Would God command the impossible? How can we obey this command? Search the Scriptures with an honest heart.

Acts 17:11-12 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.

John 7:16-17 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. "If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority."

Luke 8:11, 15 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God." "But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience."

God commands us To Understand His Will! Would God command the impossible? How can we obey this command? Search the Scriptures with an honest heart. If you and I both understand the Bible, we will understand it alike. To say, “we understand the Bible differently,” is nonsense.

The Facts of the Gospel Must Be Believed! No one thinks it is just a matter of interpretation when we speak of the Virgin Birth, Death, Burial, Resurrection & Ascension of Jesus! Everyone agrees that a person either BELIEVES or DISBELIEVES.

The Facts of the Gospel Must Be Believed! Mark 16:6 says, “…He is Risen….” All who believe the Bible at all say, “IT’S A FACT; NOT JUST A MATTER OF INTERPRETATION AT ALL. YOU MUST BELIEVE IT AND ACCEPT IT.” But when you point out verse 16 says, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved,” people say, “THAT’S JUST YOUR INTERPRETATION!” It’s amazing! YOU JUST READ THE VERSE and some say, “That’s just your interpretation!”

“That’s just your interpretation!” Urge Your Friends to Read & Interpret Certain Verses of Scripture. Have them read Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21, and ask them, “Is salvation before or after baptism in these verses?”

“That’s just your interpretation!” Urge Your Friends to Read & Interpret Certain Verses of Scripture. Have them read Romans 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27 and ask, “From what you have just read in your own Bible, can one get into Christ without being baptized?” If they say, “No,” ask them, “Why do some teach that you can?”

“That’s just your interpretation!” Urge Your Friends to Read & Interpret Certain Verses of Scripture. Ask them, “Who is the ‘HE’ that ‘will be saved’ in Mark 16:16?” Have them read Matt. 16:18, and ask them, “How many churches did Jesus say He would build?” Ask them, “What scripture authorizes playing a piano or organ in worship?” Eph. 5:19? Col. 3:16?

“Doesn’t Everyone Have A Right To His Own Belief?” What do you mean? If you mean, “constitutional right,” yes. On the other hand, where in the Bible do you read that everyone has the right to believe as he pleases, attend the church of his choice, etc.? In other words, “Where is the SCRIPTURE that you interpret so as to believe and teach that everyone has a scriptural right to ‘his own belief’?”

How to Understand the Word of God Study your Bible with an open mind; rightly divide it. Notice the one who is speaking, to whom he is speaking, when he is speaking, and why he is speaking. Consider ALL the Bible says on a subject. Let difficult passages be explained by clear ones.

We Can Understand God’s Will! THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE, GOD WAS CAPABLE OF MAKING HIMSELF UNDERSTOOD. He STILL is! 3,000 people understood and obeyed on the day of Pentecost, in Acts 2:38-41. There does not seem to be one single case in the New Testament where someone failed to obey simply because they failed to understand.