1:19 more sure word. As sure as Peter was of what he had seen and heard, this was only his own experience, and could only be given as a personal testimony to others. Thus, he stressed that God’s written Word, available to all in the holy Scriptures, was more sure than any personal experience he or others might have. It is not in Peter or Paul as men, no matter how sincere or holy they may be, that we must trust, but in Christ as revealed (not in our experience either!) in God’s written Word.

1:19 day star. At His return, Christ will be recognized as the true “bright and morning star” (Revelation 2:28; 22:16).

1:20 first. This should read, “first of all” or “as of primary importance.”

1:20 prophecy. “Prophecy” refers not just to predictions of the future, but to any divinely inspired utterance—therefore to all the Holy Scriptures.

1:20 private interpretation. The meaning here is that no true prophecy springs forth from the private reasoning of the man speaking or writing. He may or may not understand the meaning and intent of his writing in terms of his own current situation, but its ultimate meaning involves far more than that. This would especially be true for Messianic predictions (note I Peter 1:10-12), but also applies to “all Scripture…given by inspiration of God” (II Timothy 3:16-17).