2 Peter 1:19 (ASV)

Passage

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:

Nearby Context

2 Peter 1:17 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 1:18 and this voice we [ourselves] heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount.

2 Peter 1:19 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:

2 Peter 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of private interpretation.

2 Peter 1:21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "word", "prophecy", "sure", "whereunto", "well", "take", "heed", and "lamp". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "word" and "prophecy", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "and this voice we ourselves heard borne..." into verse 20's "knowing this first that no prophecy of...", so "word" and "prophecy" belong inside that flow. In 2 Peter context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "word" and "prophecy" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.