2 Peter 1:17

17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased:

2 Peter 1:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Peter 1:17

For he received from God the Father honour and glory
Not as an inferior from a superior, for he was equal in glory with the Father, and was, and is, the brightness of his Father's glory; nor essentially, having the same glory as his Father, and to which nothing can be added; but declaratively, God the Father testifying of his glory, declaring the honour that belonged to him, as the Son of God, at the same time that an external glory was put on him, and received by him, as the son of man:

when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory;
from the bright cloud which overshadowed Jesus, Moses, and Elijah and was a symbol of the glory and presence of God, as the cloud in the tabernacle and temple were, ( Exodus 40:35 Exodus 40:36 ) ( 1 Kings 8:10 1 Kings 8:11 ) , or from heaven, the habitation of the holiness and glory of God, and where he displays the glory of his being and perfections; or from himself, who is the God and Father of glory, and is glorious in himself, in all his attributes and works. So (dwbk) , "glory", with the Cabalistic Jews, signifies the Shechinah, or divine presence ^F4; and every number in the Cabalistic tree is called by the name of "glory"; the second number, which is "wisdom", is called "the first glory"; and the third number, "understanding", is called (Nwyle dwbk) , "the supreme", or "chief glory" ^F5: so the first path, which is the supreme crown, is sometimes called the first glory, as the Father is here the most excellent glory; and the second path, which is the understanding enlightening, the second glory ^F6. And this voice was not that at his baptism; for though that was from heaven, and from God the Father, and expressed the same words as here; yet it was not on a mount, nor from a cloud, nor was it heard by the apostles, who, as yet, were not with Christ, nor called by him; nor that of which mention is made in ( John 12:28 ) , for though that also was from God the Father, and from heaven, and which declaratively gave honour and glory to Christ, yet did not express the words here mentioned; but that voice which came from the cloud, when Christ was transfigured on the mount, and which was heard by his three disciples, Peter, James, and John, when the following words were articulately pronounced, "this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased": (See Gill on Matthew 17:5). The Vulgate Latin version adds here, as there, "hear ye him".

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Guido. Dictionar. Syr. Chald. p. 92.
F5 Lex. Cabalist. p. 464.
F6 Sepher Jetzirah, p. 1. 4.

2 Peter 1:17 In-Context

15 Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance.

16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased:

18 and this voice we [ourselves] heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 And we have the word of prophecy [made] more sure; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts: