A Cow's Opinion

“Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation” (v20).

Joey Tribbiani will not go down as a one of great thinkers of the modern era. On the other hand, this dude occasionally dropped some serious knowledge as a character on the TV show “Friends.” One of those was when Joey talked to Rachel about something that just doesn’t matter. “It’s a moo point…Yeah, it’s like a cow’s opinion. It just doesn’t matter. It’s moo.” Joey will never be considered a prophet or the son of a prophet. But it applies perfectly when it comes to what Pete writes here. When can be sure that what we read in the Bible is straight from God. This isn’t the prophet’s opinion. It doesn’t matter what you think it. It doesn’t matter what I think. Anything other than God’s intention is like a cow’s opinion. It’s a moo point.

Look back up the page to verse 16. Pete started this section by reassuring us that he and the boys weren’t chasing a bunch of “cleverly devised myths” (1:16). They hadn’t fallen for a fairy tale. Jesus is real. They saw Him. They heard Him. They followed Him. And if that’s not good enough for you, three of them were eyewitnesses to the mountaintop meet up between Christ, Moses and Elijah (1:17). The even heard God the Father boom the ultimate “That’s My Boy” (1:18). The apostle says that as life-changing as that event was, there’s “something even more sure” (1:19). God’s Word. You may not have gotten the personal invite to the Transfiguration, but can trust that what you read in the Bible is legit. This is VERY important to Peter’s readers. A team of spiritual hucksters have gotten their ear and are trying to tear the church apart from the inside out (2:1). The former fisherman tells us to ignore false teachers and pay attention to the truth. God’s truth.

“Knowing this first of all” (v20). This is Pete’s point. This is the lead story. This the most important idea he’s trying to get across here. The whole Transfiguration was awesome. Hearing Father God through the heavenly subwoofers was something they will never forget. But here’s what is first and foremost. This is big idea. Here’s the takeaway. Ready? Are you paying attention? OK. Here we go.

The apostle tells us that “no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation” (v20). Pete’s literally talking about a message from God that has been written down. He’s reassuring us that what we read in the Bible is straight from God’s lips. He’s specifically talking about the Old Testament. Remember, the NT is still in production. But the apostle clearly believes that these new writings are prophetic as well. Later, Pete refers to parts of Paul’s letters as “hard to understand” but equal to “other Scriptures (Gr. graphes)” (3:16). He wants you count on what you read in the OT and NT as legit. Take it to the bank. 

You don’t have to worry that this is just “someone’s own interpretation” (v20). The apostle uses the Greek word epilusis. It describes a disclosure, explanation, exposition, meaning or solution. This is the only time the term appears in the Bible. The word literally means a release or an unloosening. Pete wants us to know without a shadow of a doubt that what we read in Scripture isn’t like a nasty knot that someone has finally untangled. Never forget the Big Story of God’s Word. God created beautifully and perfectly. We jacked it up completely. He’s coming back on the greatest rescue mission the universe has ever seen to fix His creation and save us in the process. Nobody’s making this stuff up. God holds the copyright on what you read in His Word. If you don’t like it, don’t blame dudes like Pete and Paul. They’re only making the delivery.

Be VERY careful when reading passages from the Bible. Don’t sit back and say, “I think that this means…” If someone says that in your small group, run. Run far. Run fast. Can we be blunt among friends? Their opinion doesn’t matter. Your opinion doesn’t matter. My opinion doesn’t matter. As the great philosopher and theologian Joey Tribbiani from “Friends” would say, “It’s like a cow’s opinion. It’s a moo point. It doesn’t matter.” Our opinion doesn’t matter. What DOES matter is what the prophet had to say originally when he was writing. What DOES matters is what God has to say through His handpicked spokesman. Everything else is just a cow’s opinion. It’s a moo point.

That includes the prophet who wrote what you’re reading in 2 Peter. These guys weren’t just throwing ideas against the wall to see what would stick. They weren’t writing down some random daydreams. This is GOD’s Word. This is GOD’s message. This is GOD’s Gospel. You can trust God to get His Good News out. He used His Holy Spirit to inspire the writers of the Bible and say EXACTLY what He wanted them to say (1:21; 2Tim 3:16). So if you don’t like what you’re reading in the Bible, don’t blame boys like Pete, Paul, Luke and John. This isn’t their opinion. They’re just delivering the mail. If you’ve got an issue with Scripture, take that up with God. Let me know how that goes for you.

Everything else is just a cow’s opinion. It’s a moo point.