Carried by the Spirit

First Christian Church of Chicago
Jan 20
2 min read

Scripture Focus: 2 Peter 1:20–21

“…no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.” (NIV)

Devotional Thought

We all interpret life through the lenses of our experiences, opinions, and assumptions. But Scripture did not come from human imagination — it came from God’s initiative.

Interpretation

Peter emphasizes that Scripture did not originate from clever insight or private ideas. Instead, the prophets were “carried along” by the Holy Spirit, like a ship driven by wind. That does not mean that God dictated his message fully apart from human participation. God worked through real people in real contexts, honoring their personalities and circumstances while guiding them to speak His truth. The Bible writers were not robots set to autopilot as God dictated to them. He gave them the message. The message was communicated through each writer's personality, and context. Scripture is the beautiful result of God initiating and humans responding.

Contemporary Relevance

This same Spirit who guided the authors also guides readers today. When you open Scripture, you are not approaching a dead text — you are joining an extended conversation God began with His people. He speaks through these ancient words to reveal His heart, His purposes, and His ways. When the Bible feels difficult or confusing, remember it was born of divine partnership, and the Spirit continues that partnership as you read. Each time you read, the Holy Spirit may reveal something new to you which you never saw before.