2 Peter 1:21

For the prophecy. Rather, “for prophecy.” Peter speaks of prophecy in general, not of some particular passage. For comment on “prophecy” see on Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10.

In old time. Gr. pote. “formerly,” “ever,” here meaning in OT times.

By the will of man. True prophecy is a revelation from God. The initiative comes from God. He decides what shall be revealed and what shall remain concealed. Unless the Holy Spirit impresses the mind, man is incapable of prophesying — of speaking forth for God — no matter how ardently he may wish to do so.

Holy men of God spake. Important textual evidence may be cited (cf. p. 10) for the reading “men spoke from God,” that is, men who were moved by the Holy Spirit spoke the messages they had received from God. Men who are moved by the Holy Spirit will be holy men, men of God. Whichever reading is adopted the meaning is virtually the same.

Moved. Gr. pherd, here used in the passive sense, “to be conveyed,” “to be borne,” with a suggestion, perhaps, of speed or force, as by wind. In Acts 27:15, 17 the word is used for the driving of a ship before the wind, and in Acts 2:2 for a rushing mighty wind as the Holy Spirit descended on the believers at Pentecost. Here the use of pherd implies that the prophets were borne along by the Spirit as a ship is borne along by a wind. They were entirely under the Spirit’s motivation.

Holy Ghost. Or, Holy Spirit (see on Matt. 1:18). This is the only direct reference to the Spirit in this epistle.