2 PETER‬ ‭1:20-21‬ ‭‬‬

There is a doctrine about Scripture known as Divine Inspiration. Peter leans heavy into exploring this concept here. As one of the few men in history who was motivated to speak boldly for God, that scripture records, it is important to hear his words on the matter. No prophet of God ever claims credit for the words of God, yet no prophet ever distances himself from those words. Peter understood that scripture was God breathed. That is to say that scripture carried God’s life giving essence into the hearts of those who received it. But what is the nature of that scripture? For Peter, scripture wasn’t the Bible (which wouldn’t be canonized for many years) but it was wherever God’s inspiration was evident. Wherever this was present, so was the presence of God. Perhaps more importantly, wherever the presence of God was, so was scripture. He recognized that this is because behind all interaction with God was God himself, inspiring the words about him. From this he took a boldness to speak. He knew that his words, were not merely his own. When they brought God properly into the situations he spoke, they were inspired words. This can be dangerous territory if we forget that God’s previous inspiration must remain intact in whatever new is said, but we should also not shy away from giving God his credit in inspiring his living word amongst believers. Peter did not and that is why he noted that Paul’s writings were scripture. I find it hard to believe that any modern writer would be so bold as to speak about the writings of C.S. Lewis or Francis Schaefer in such regard. But I don’t think it would be a stretch to see Peter do it.