2 Peter 1:16-18 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

For These things are worthy of being always remembered and regarded; for we have not followed cunningly-devised fables Like those common among the heathen, but things infallibly true and infinitely momentous; when we made known unto you the power The evidences and demonstrations which we gave of his divine power; (in the miracles which he wrought, whereby he demonstrated himself to be the Son of God;) and coming of our Lord Jesus Namely, that the promised Messiah was already come, and that Jesus of Nazareth was he. Or his second coming to raise the dead, to judge mankind, and to introduce his people into his eternal kingdom, might be chiefly intended. But it may be observed, if what the apostles have advanced concerning Christ had not been true, if it had been only of their own invention, then, to have imposed such a lie on the world, as it was in the very nature of things above all human power to defend, and to have done this at the expense of life and all things, only to engage the whole world, Jews and Gentiles, against them, would not have been cunning, but the greatest folly that men could have been guilty of. But were eye-witnesses of his majesty At his transfiguration, which was a specimen of his glory at the last day. For he received from God the Father divine honour and inexpressible glory Shining from heaven above the brightness of the sun; when there came such a voice from the excellent glory From the Shechinah, as the Jews termed that glorious appearance which was a symbol of the presence of Jehovah; This is my beloved Son, &c. See notes on Matthew 17:2-5. This voice we heard Namely, Peter, James, and John. St. John was still alive when Peter wrote this; when we were with him in the holy mount The mount made holy by that glorious manifestation, as mount Horeb was of old by the peculiar presence of God, Exodus 3:4-5.