No Private Interpretation
II Peter 1:20 and 21:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
The truth in these two verses is very important for us to remember whenever we study or speak God’s Word. The FIRST thing that we are to know is that “no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” The words “prophecy of the scripture” mean the Word of God; that which God told “holy men of God” to write down.
The word “private” comes from the Greek word, idios, which means: pertaining to one’s self, one’s own, or belonging to one’s self. Below are some other verses where idios is translated as one’s own.
Matthew 9:1:
And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own (idios) city.
Luke 10:34:
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own (idios) beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
John 1:11:
He came unto his own (idios), and his own (idios) received him not.
We are not to give our own “interpretation” or meaning or understanding of what God’s Word means. Instead we are to learn how God’s Word interprets itself so that we can walk in the truth. In future lessons we will learn more about how to do this, but for now let’s remember that “no scripture is of any private interpretation.”