Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
We did not follow (ouk ecakolouqhsantev). First aorist active participle of ecakolouqew, 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 II Peter 2:2 for this verb.
Cunningly devised fables (sesofismenoiv muqoiv). Associative instrumental case of muqov (old term for word, narrative, story, fiction, fable, falsehood). In N.T. only here and the Pastoral Epistles (I Timothy 1:4, etc.). Perfect passive participle of sofizw, old word (from sofov), only twice in N.T., in causative sense to make wise (II 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. II Peter 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 epifaneia in II Timothy 1:10 (second coming in I Timothy 6:14), and is true of parousia (II 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 (II Peter 3:4, II Peter 3:12).
But we were eye-witnesses (all epoptai genhqentev). First aorist passive participle of ginomai, "but having become eye-witnesses." Epoptai, old word (from epoptw like epopteuw in I Peter 2:12; I Peter 3:2), used of those who attained the third or highest degree of initiates in the Eleusinian mysteries (common in the inscriptions). Cf. autopthv in Luke 1:2.
Of his majesty (thv ekeinou megaleiothtov). Late and rare word (LXX and papyri) from megaleiov (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 II Timothy 2:26.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing 2 Peter 1:16:
Luke 1:2
Luke 9:42
Acts 2:11
Acts 19:27
1 Timothy 1:4
2 Timothy 3:15
1 Peter 2:12
2 Peter 2:2
2 Peter 2:15
2 Peter 3:3
2 Peter 3:4
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