2 Peter 1:16

We did not follow (ouk exakolouqhsante). First aorist active participle of exakolouqew, late compound verb, to follow out (Polybius, Plutarch, LXX, papyri, inscriptions as of death following for any Gentile in the temple violating the barrier), with emphatic negative ouk, "not having followed." See also Romans 2:2 for this verb. Cunningly devised fables (sesopismenoi muqoi). Associative instrumental case of muqo (old term for word, narrative, story, fiction, fable, falsehood). In N.T. only here and the Pastoral Epistles ( 1 Timothy 1:4 , etc.). Perfect passive participle of sopizw, old word (from sopo), only twice in N.T., in causative sense to make wise ( 2 Timothy 3:15 ), to play the sophist, to invent cleverly (here) and so also in the old writers and in the papyri. Some of the false teachers apparently taught that the Gospel miracles were only allegories and not facts (Bigg). Cf. 2 Timothy 2:3 for "feigned words." When we made known unto you (egnwrisamen umin). First aorist active indicative of gnwrizw, to make known unto you. Possibly by Peter himself. The power and coming (thn dunamin kai parousian). These words can refer (Chase) to the Incarnation, just as is true of epipaneia in 2 Timothy 1:10 (second coming in 1 Timothy 6:14 ), and is true of parousia ( 2 Corinthians 7:6 of Titus). But elsewhere in the N.T. parousia (technical term in the papyri for the coming of a king or other high dignitary), when used of Christ, refers to his second coming ( 2 Peter 3:4 2 Peter 3:12 ). But we were eye-witnesses (all epoptai genhqente). First aorist passive participle of ginomai, "but having become eye-witnesses." Epoptai, old word (from epoptw like epopteuw in 1 Peter 2:12 ; 1 Peter 3:2 ), used of those who attained the third or highest degree of initiates in the Eleusinian mysteries (common in the inscriptions). Cf. autopth in Luke 1:2 . Of his majesty (th ekeinou megaleiothto). Late and rare word (LXX and papyri) from megaleio ( Acts 2:11 ), in N.T. only here, Luke 9:43 (of God); Acts 19:27 (of Artemis). Peter clearly felt that he and James and John were lifted to the highest stage of initiation at the Transfiguration of Christ. Emphatic ekeinou as in 2 Timothy 2:26 .