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Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation.
2 Peter 1:20 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.
  • KJV Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
  • NKJV knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
  • NASB But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation,
  • NLT Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Above all, readers must know that no prophecy of Scripture arose from the prophet's own private interpretation. It matters because Scripture's origin is divine, not merely human opinion.

Overview

Peter stresses that the prophets did not invent or privately devise their messages. While some apply this to how Scripture should be interpreted, the following verse makes the primary point its divine origin. Either way, Scripture's authority rests on God, not on human imagination.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 6

  • 2 Pet 3:3Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.
  • Rom 12:6We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
  • Jas 1:3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
  • Rom 13:11And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
  • 1 Tim 1:9We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers,
  • Rom 6:6We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Peter videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Peter 1:20YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 PeterMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

The sure word of the prophets and the promise of the coming day of the Lord anchor the believer in the knowledge of 'our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.'

How 2 Peter 1:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.