[B-Greek] 2 Peter 1:20 Most contradicted translation in NT
Iver Larsen
iver at larsen.dk
Fri Jan 6 17:08:54 EST 2006
>
> 2 PETER 1:20
>
> TOUTO PRWTON GINWSKONTES hOTI PASA PROFHTEIA GRAFHS IDIAS
> EPILUSEWS OU GINETAI,
NET Bible: "Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet's own
imagination" (There are excellent notes in the NET Bible for this verse.)
Linda, you mention that "Scripture interprets Scripture". This is a valid principle, although it doesn't really follow
from this verse. So, it helps in the understanding of this verse to look at the previous and following verses. A study
of the immediate context is always the most important tool for exegesis.
In v. 19 Peter says that the prophetic word is reliable and one needs to pay attention to it, because it gives light in
darkness.
The GAR in v. 21 indicates that v. 21 is a further explanation of v. 20, and in v. 21 it is made clear that a (genuine)
prophecy is not brought forth by the will of the person/prophet, but the Holy Spirit inspired people to speak/write what
they received from God.
You also noticed the awkwardness of the all too common gloss "interpretation". EPILUSIS is basically a "release" or
"unfolding". Secondarily it can refer to the "release/unfolding" of the meaning of something which would not otherwise
be understood easily, i.e. an interpretation or explanation.
In this verse, the gloss "interpretation" is misleading, because it suggests that someone else is interpreting an
already given prophecy. But this does not fit the next verse, so the meaning must be the "release/unfolding" that takes
place when the prophet articulates the inspiration received.
So, we need to be aware that for each prophecy in Scripture, the release or unfolding of that prophecy does not come
about from the prophet himself/herself.
My suggestion for an idiomatic translation would be something like:
"You need to be aware that none of the prophecies of Scripture came from the prophets' own ideas."
Iver Larsen
SIL Translation consultant
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