*2 Peter 1:20 Understanding this first, that no prophesy of the Scripture is made by private interpretation.
*This shows plainly that the scriptures are not to be expounded by anyone's private judgement or private spirit; because every part of holy scriptures were written by men inspired by the Holy Ghost, and declared as such by the Church; therefore they are not to be interpreted but by the Spirit of God, which He has left and promised to remain with His Church to guide Her in all truth to the end of the world. Some may tell us that many of our divines interpret the Scriptures. They may do so but they do it always with a submission to the judgement of the Church and not otherwise.
For the doctrine of the faith which God has revealed is put forward not as some philosophical discovery capable of being perfected by human intelligence, but as a divine deposit committed to the spouse of Christ to be faithfully protected and infallibly promulgated. Hence, too,that meaning of the sacred dogmas is ever to be maintained which has once been declared by holy mother church, and there must never be any abandonment of this sense under the pretext or in the name of a more profound understanding.For the holy Spirit was promised to the successors of Peter, not so that they might, by his revelation, make known some new doctrine, but that, by his assistance, they might religiously guard and faithfully expound the revelation or deposit of faith transmitted by the apostles.
Am I the only one who finds it highly ironic that you would pluck a verse written by Peter, out of context, and then provide 2 paragraphs from your church authority to explain it? Why can't we just leave it in context where Peter is quite capable of communicating his meaning; especially when this is the same Peter from whom you supposedly draw your "authority" to begin with.
2 Peter 1:15-2:3
15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
16 For 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.
17 For 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.
18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.
(there is your true authority established)
19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
Verse 20 taken by itself is obviously a warning against individual private interpretation of scripture. In context, it is a warning against false teachers who would "privily (NT:3919, pareisagoo: to introduce or bring in secretly or craftily) bring in (into what? the church/body of believers!) damnable heresies." These false teachers would use their "private interpretation" of scripture to try to mislead the body of believers.
This verse **in context** is actually making a point that is exactly the opposite of the one that you and the vatican authority try to twist it to- that being, that there would be false teachers in the religious establishment who would misinterpret scripture! It's not an issue of the individual vs. the church authority regarding interpretation of scripture, but divine, heavenly authority vs. worldly authority!.
The whole of Peter's letter makes this point. Go back and read the beginning of the letter to get to the heart of it- it's about the knowledge of God and Jesus and from where that comes:
2 Peter 1:1-9
1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But ***he that lacketh these things is blind***, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
It's the spiritual/heavenly vs. the worldly, and nowhere does Peter make the point that one needs a organization of men to interpret scripture for individuals.