2 Peter 1:20
New International Version
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.

New Living Translation
Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding,

English Standard Version
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.

Berean Standard Bible
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation.

Berean Literal Bible
knowing this first, that any prophecy of Scripture is not of its own interpretation.

King James Bible
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

New King James Version
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,

New American Standard Bible
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation,

NASB 1995
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,

NASB 1977
But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,

Legacy Standard Bible
Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation.

Amplified Bible
But understand this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of or comes from one’s own [personal or special] interpretation,

Christian Standard Bible
Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
First of all, you should know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation,

American Standard Version
knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
While you first know this: No prophecy is its own exposition of the Scriptures.

Contemporary English Version
But you need to realize that no one alone can understand any of the prophecies in the Scriptures.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation.

English Revised Version
knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
First, you must understand this: No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation.

Good News Translation
Above all else, however, remember that none of us can explain by ourselves a prophecy in the Scriptures.

International Standard Version
First of all, you must understand this: No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation,

Literal Standard Version
knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Writing comes of private exposition,

Majority Standard Bible
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation.

New American Bible
Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation,

NET Bible
Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet's own imagination,

New Revised Standard Version
First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,

New Heart English Bible
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.

Webster's Bible Translation
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Weymouth New Testament
But, above all, remember that no prophecy in Scripture will be found to have come from the prophet's own prompting;

World English Bible
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.

Young's Literal Translation
this first knowing, that no prophecy of the Writing doth come of private exposition,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Eyewitnesses of His Majesty
19We also have the word of the prophets as confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture comes from one’s own interpretation. 21For no such prophecy was ever brought forth by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.…

Cross References
Romans 12:6
We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one's gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

2 Peter 3:3
Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.


Treasury of Scripture

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

Knowing.

2 Peter 3:3
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

Romans 6:6
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 13:11
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

that.

Romans 12:6
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

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Conscious Exposition First Found Interpretation Matter One's Particular Private Prophecy Prophets Prophet's Remember Scope Scripture Sense Special Understand Words Writing
2 Peter 1
1. Peter confirms the hope of the increase of God's grace,
5. exhorts them, by faith, and good works, to make their calling sure;
12. whereof he is careful to remind them, knowing that his death is at hand;
16. and assures them of the authenticity of the Gospel, by the eyewitness of the apostles and the prophets.














(20) Knowing this first.--The participle belongs to "take heed" in 2Peter 1:19. "First" means "first of all" (1Timothy 2:1), not "before I tell you." In studying prophecy this is the first thing to be borne in mind.

Is of any private interpretation.--Better, comes to be, or becomes of private interpretation. The word rendered "interpretation" occurs nowhere else in the New Testament; but the cognate verb occurs in Mark 4:34, where it is translated "expound." (See Note there.) There can be little doubt that "interpretation," or "solution," is the right rendering here, although others have been suggested. The main question however, is the meaning of the word rendered "private," which may also mean "its own." Hence three explanations are possible. The term may refer (1) to the recipients of the prophecies--that we may not expound prophecy according to our own fancy; or (2) to the utterers of the prophecies--that the prophets had not the power of expounding their own prophecies; or (3) to the prophecies themselves--that no prophecy comes to be of its own interpretation, i.e., no prophecy explains itself. The guide to the right explanation is 2Peter 1:21, which gives the reason why "no prophecy of the scripture," &c. This consideration excludes (3); for 2Peter 1:21 yields no sense as showing why prophecy does not interpret itself. Either of the other two explanations may be right. (1) If prophecy came "by the will of man," then it might be interpreted according to man's fancy. But it did not so come; consequently the interpretation must be sought elsewhere--viz., at the same source from which the prophecy itself proceeded. (2) If the prophets spoke just as they pleased, they would be the best exponents of what they meant. But they spoke under divine influence, and therefore need not know the import of their own words. Prophecy must be explained by prophecy and by history, not by the individual prophet. The whole body of prophecy, "the prophetic word" (2Peter 1:19), is our lamp in the wilderness, not the private dicta of any one seer. In modern phraseology, interpretation must be comparative and scientific. This view is strengthened by comparing 1Peter 1:10-12, where it is stated that the prophets did not know how or when their own predictions would be fulfilled. Possibly this passage is meant to refer to 1Peter 1:10-12, and if so, we have a mark of genuineness; a forger would have made the reference more clear. If the coincidence is accidental, this also points in the same direction; in any case, the coincidence is worth noting. . . .

Verse 20. - Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. By "knowing this first" (γινώσκοντες) is meant that we must recognize this truth as of primary importance, or, before we commence the study of prophecy; the phrase occurs again in chapter 2 Peter 3:3. The literal translation of the following clause is, "that all prophecy of Scripture [there is no article] is not; all... not" (πᾶσα... οὐ) being a common Hebraism for none, οὑδεμία; but the verb is not ἔστι, "is," but γίνεται, "becomes, arises, comes into being." The word for "private" is ἰδίας, "special," or commonly, "one's own" (see 1 Peter 3:1, 5; chapter 2 Peter 2:16, 22; 3:3, 16, 17). The word rendered "interpretation" is ἐπιλύσεως, which is found nowhere else in the New Testament; the corresponding verb occurs in Mark 4:34, "He expounded all things;" and Acts 19:39, "It shall be determined or settled." These considerations, strengthened by the context, seem to guide us to the following explanation: No prophecy of Scripture arises from the prophet's own interpretation of the vision presented to his mind; for it was from God that the prophecy was brought, and men spoke as they were borne on by the Holy Spirit. This view of the passage is also supported by the remarkable parallel in the First Epistle (1 Peter 1:10-12). The prophets searched diligently into the meaning of the revelation vouchsafed to them; they did not always comprehend it in all its details; they could not interpret it to themselves; the written prophecy arose out of the interpretation of the revelation supplied by the same Spirit from whom the revelation itself proceeded. Therefore the prophetic books of Holy Scripture are sacred and precious, and we do well in giving heed to them; though the day-star of the Lord's own presence, shining in the illuminated heart, is holier still. Other views of this difficult passage are: Prophecy is not its own interpreter; the guidance of the Spirit is necessary. Or, prophecy is not a matter for the private interpretation of the readers; only the Holy Spirit can explain it. But the explanation adopted seems most accordant with the Greek words and with the general sense of the context (compare St. Paul's teaching in 1 Corinthians 12:10). The gifts of the Spirit are divided as he will; to one man are given "divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues." Not every one, it seems, who had the first gift, had also the latter. Tongues and the interpretation of tongues were two distinct gifts. It may be so with prophecy and the interpretation of prophecy.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Above all,
πρῶτον (prōton)
Adverb - Superlative
Strong's 4412: First, in the first place, before, formerly. Neuter of protos as adverb; firstly.

you must understand
γινώσκοντες (ginōskontes)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

no
οὐ (ou)
Adverb
Strong's 3756: No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.

prophecy
προφητεία (prophēteia)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4394: Prophecy, prophesying; the gift of communicating and enforcing revealed truth. From prophetes; prediction.

of Scripture
γραφῆς (graphēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1124: (a) a writing, (b) a passage of scripture; plur: the scriptures. A document, i.e. Holy Writ.

comes
γίνεται (ginetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.

from [the prophet’s] own
ἰδίας (idias)
Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2398: Pertaining to self, i.e. One's own; by implication, private or separate.

interpretation.
ἐπιλύσεως (epilyseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 1955: Solution, explanation, interpretation; release. From epiluo; explanation, i.e. Application.


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NT Letters: 2 Peter 1:20 Knowing this first that no prophecy (2 Pet. 2P iiP ii Pet)
2 Peter 1:19
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