2 Peter 1:14-18

NLT: ¹⁴But the Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that my days here on earth are numbered and I am soon to die. ¹⁵So I will work hard to make these things clear to you. I want you to remember them long after I am gone. ¹⁶For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming again. We have seen his majestic splendor with our own eyes. ¹⁷And he received honor and glory from God the Father when God’s glorious, majestic voice called down from heaven, "This is my beloved Son; I am fully pleased with him." ¹⁸We ourselves heard the voice when we were there with him on the holy mountain.

NIV: ¹⁴because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things. ¹⁶We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." ¹⁸We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

NASB: ¹⁴knowing that the laying aside of my earthly dwelling is imminent, as also our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵And I will also be diligent that at any time after my departure you will be able to call these things to mind. ¹⁶For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. ¹⁷For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased"— ¹⁸and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

KJV: ¹⁴Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. ¹⁵Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. ¹⁶For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. ¹⁸And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

Comment: Peter is claiming that he had seen Jesus in his glorified state. This incident is recounted in other New Testament texts [cf. Matthew 17:1-9, Mark 9:2-10, Luke 9:28-36] implying that it was a commonly held belief by early Christians and other eyewitnesses of Jesus' miracles. Luke, for example, had to be convinced of its veracity before including it in his book because he claimed that he checked all these things out [cf. Luke 1:1-4]. For other authors to include it in their accounts of Jesus' life also lends veracity to the story. The accounts of the incident indicate there were two other witnesses besides Peter; James and John. The accounts include God's voice stating that Jesus was his son, implying that His power was at Jesus' disposal. Surely, if God's power were at Jesus' disposal, it would not be impossible for Jesus to rise from the grave. Even more credibility is added to Peter's claim to having been a witness of Jesus' glory when he states that he would end up dying for his beliefs. Why, then, would Peter be willing to give his life for something he didn't believe? Plus he used the plural form "we" indicating there were other witness of Jesus' glory and the voice from heaven. Thus we not only have consistency with the other accounts of the incident, but Peter's sincerity in being willing to give his life rather than deny what he had witnessed.