2 Peter 1:16

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, etc.] Such as Jewish fables, cautioned against (<560114>Titus 1:14) which their traditionary and oral law, their Talmud, and other writings, mention; as concerning the temporal kingdom of the Messiah, the sumptuous feast, and carnal pleasures and entertainments, of that state, with many other things; some of which indeed are not very cunningly put together, but weak enough: or Gentile fables concerning the theogony and exploits of their deities; and which may be meant by fables and endless genealogies in (<540104>1 Timothy 1:4), and especially reference may be had to the metamorphoses of their gods, and their fables relating to them, devised…”

“For--reason why he is so earnest that the remembrance of these things should be continued after his death. followed--out in detail. cunningly devised--Greek, "devised by (man's) wisdom"; as distinguished from what the Holy Ghost teaches (compare Co1 3:13). But compare also Pe2 2:3, "feigned words." fables--as the heathen mythologies, and the subsequent Gnostic "fables and genealogies," of which the germs already existed in the junction of Judaism with Oriental philosophy in Asia Minor. A precautionary protest of the Spirit against the rationalistic theory of the Gospel history being myth. when we made known unto you--not that Peter himself had personally taught the churches in Pontus,…”

“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables - That is, fictions or stories invented by artful men, and resting on no solid foundation. The doctrines which they held about the coming of the Saviour were not, like many of the opinions of the Greeks, defended by weak and sophistical reasoning, but were based on solid evidence - evidence furnished by the personal observation of competent witnesses. It is true of the gospel, in general, that it is not founded on cunningly devised fables; but the particular point referred to here is the promised coming of the Saviour. The evidence of that fact Peter proposes now to adduce. When we made known unto you - Probably Peter here refers particularly…”

“These things are worthy to be always had in remembrance For they are not cunningly devised fables - Like those common among the heathens. While we made known to you the power and coming - That is, the powerful coming of Christ in glory. But if what they advanced of Christ was not true, if it was of their own invention, then to impose such a lie on the world as it was, in the very nature of things, above all human power to defend, and to do this at the expense of life and all things only to enrage the whole world, Jews and gentiles, against them, was no cunning, but was the greatest folly that men could have been guilty of. But were eyewitnesses of his majesty - At his transfiguration, which…”

“1:16-21 Peter’s denunciation of the false teachers (ch 2) is framed by this teaching about the certainty of Jesus’ return (see also 3:1-13). The false teachers were probably denying the reality of Christ’s return and judgment. Peter’s eyewitness experience (1:16-18) and the intrinsic reliability of scriptural prophecy (1:19-21) make Christ’s return a certainty. 1:16-18 clever stories (literally cleverly invented myths): The false teachers were probably charging that the message of Christ’s return was just an edifying fable with no factual truth. • We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes: At Jesus’ transfiguration (Matt 17:1-9; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36), which prefigured Christ’s…”

“we have: Pe2 3:3, Pe2 3:4; Co1 1:17, Co1 1:23, Co1 2:1, Co1 2:4; Co2 2:17, Co2 4:2, Co2 12:16, Co2 12:17; Eph 4:14; Th2 2:9; Ti1 1:4, Ti1 4:7; Tit 1:14 the power: Mat 28:18; Mar 9:1; Joh 17:2; Rom 1:4; Co1 5:4; Phi 3:21 coming: Mal 3:2, Mal 4:5; Mat 16:28, Mat 24:3, Mat 24:27; Co1 1:7; Jde 1:14; Rev 1:7 were: Mat 17:1-5; Mar 9:2; Luk 9:28-32; Joh 1:14; Jo1 1:1-3, Jo1 4:14 2 Peter 1:17”