1. 2 Peter 1:16 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What does Peter mean when he talks of the power and coming of Jesus Christ?

2 Peter 1:16 (ESV)

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

The power and coming of Jesus Christ refers to his future return in glory (see Matthew 25:31; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10).1 With this phrase Peter makes use of a hendiadys and thus the phrase might be better translated as powerful coming or coming in power (see Matthew 24:30; Mark 9:1; Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27; 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Revelation 4:11; Revelation 5:12; Revelation 17:13).2 Christ’s coming will occur at the final moment of the present age (1 Corinthians 15:23–24) and bring with it cataclysmic judgment for the ones who reject the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:5–9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1–12). At his coming the day of the Lord will arrive (2 Peter 3:10–13).3