Read 2 Peter 1:16-21 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Review
1. On what basis did the writer of these verses tell about the coming of Jesus?
2. How did that change his confidence in what the prophets wrote?
3. How are the prophets’ words described, and how did they come to be?
Reflect
Today’s verses were written by Peter, who was a close follower of Jesus. He had witnessed Jesus’ splendor firsthand, and those experiences gave him even greater confidence in Scripture written long ago. The way the Bible came together and has been preserved for us is a miracle.
The Bible is a collection of 66 books written over a period of 1500 years in over a dozen countries, on three continents, written by over 40 different people, including poets, prophets, princes, kings, sailors, soldiers, attorneys, doctors, farmers, scholars, shepherds, priests, historians, fishermen, tax collectors, and businessmen. That many people, over that amount of time, from that many places, saying the same thing about God’s redemptive plan, is a miracle.
Many of the writers of Scripture were poor and oppressed, standing to gain nothing. Many were imprisoned and lost their lives over proclaiming this message. No one got wealthy off of it. The Bible has been “breathed out” by God, partnering with human beings. It’s both human and divine, and it contains some of the most trustworthy statements in a miraculously formed package.
Respond
• How does today’s reading change your perspective of the Bible? Have you questioned its origins or lost the wonder of how miraculous it is?
• Does today’s reading change anything about how you’ll read and study the Bible in the future?
• When you look back at your own life, where have you witnessed God’s splendor firsthand? How does that impact your trust of His words in the Bible?
Pray through these questions, and write down what God is prompting you to do next. Share with a friend, and take a step to apply it.
Want to go deeper? Visit the Traders Point app or this link to see our recommended resources for this week’s topic. If you want to catch Sunday’s message again, you can find it here.