Actually, that might just be want you want it to say, but it doesn't.
2 Peter 1:12-21 (New International Reader's Version)
12 So I will always remind you of these things. I'll do it even though you know them. I'll do it even though you now have deep roots in the truth. 13 I think it is right for me to remind you. It is right as long as I live in this tent. I'm talking about my body. 14 I know my tent will soon be removed. Our Lord Jesus Christ has made that clear to me. 15 I hope that you will always be able to remember these things after I'm gone. I will try very hard to see that you do. 16 We told you about the time our Lord Jesus Christ came with power. But we didn't make up stories when we told you about it. With our own eyes we saw him in all his majesty. 17 God the Father gave him honor and glory. The voice of the Majestic Glory came to him. It said, "This is my Son, and I love him. I am very pleased with him."—(Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35) 18 We ourselves heard the voice that came from heaven. We were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 The word of the prophets is made more certain. We have that word. You must pay attention to it. It is like a light shining in a dark place. It will shine until the day Jesus comes. Then the Morning Star will rise in your hearts. 20 Above all, here is what you must understand. No prophecy in Scripture ever came from a prophet's own understanding. 21 It never came simply because a prophet wanted it to. Instead, the Holy Spirit guided the prophets as they spoke. So prophecy comes from God.
Peter was speaking of his earthly life ending and that the Christians' only authority was the sure words of the prophets (Holy Scripture) as it was directly from God.
And just because Irenaeus used the word "catholic" to designate the universal body of Christ, it does not mean the organization that calls itself "Catholic" today is that church. We can at least accept that true Christians exist within different denominations/organizations and that minor theological points should not cause dissension when we hold the major truths of Scripture in common.
| 2 Peter | ||
| English: Douay-Rheims | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
| 2 Peter 1 |
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| 12. | For which cause I will begin to put you always in remembrance of these things: though indeed you know them, and are confirmed in the present truth. | διο ουκ αμελησω αει υμας υπομιμνησκειν περι τουτων καιπερ ειδοτας και εστηριγμενους εν τη παρουση αληθεια |
| 13. | But I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance. | δικαιον δε ηγουμαι εφ οσον ειμι εν τουτω τω σκηνωματι διεγειρειν υμας εν υπομνησει |
| 14. | Being assured that the laying away of this my tabernacle is at hand, according as our Lord Jesus Christ also hath signified to me. | ειδως οτι ταχινη εστιν η αποθεσις του σκηνωματος μου καθως και ο κυριος ημων ιησους χριστος εδηλωσεν μοι |
| 15. | And I will endeavour, that you frequently have after my decease, whereby you may keep a memory of these things. | σπουδασω δε και εκαστοτε εχειν υμας μετα την εμην εξοδον την τουτων μνημην ποιεισθαι |
| 16. | For we have not by following artificial fables, made known to you the power, and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ; but we were eyewitnesses of his greatness. | ου γαρ σεσοφισμενοις μυθοις εξακολουθησαντες εγνωρισαμεν υμιν την του κυριου ημων ιησου χριστου δυναμιν και παρουσιαν αλλ εποπται γενηθεντες της εκεινου μεγαλειοτητος |
| 17. | For he received from God the Father, honour and glory: this voice coming down to him from the excellent glory: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. | λαβων γαρ παρα θεου πατρος τιμην και δοξαν φωνης ενεχθεισης αυτω τοιασδε υπο της μεγαλοπρεπους δοξης ουτος εστιν ο υιος μου ο αγαπητος εις ον εγω ευδοκησα |
| 18. | And this voice we heard brought from heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount. | και ταυτην την φωνην ημεις ηκουσαμεν εξ ουρανου ενεχθεισαν συν αυτω οντες εν τω ορει τω αγιω |
| 19. | And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: | και εχομεν βεβαιοτερον τον προφητικον λογον ω καλως ποιειτε προσεχοντες ως λυχνω φαινοντι εν αυχμηρω τοπω εως ου ημερα διαυγαση και φωσφορος ανατειλη εν ταις καρδιαις υμων |
| 20. | Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation. | τουτο πρωτον γινωσκοντες οτι πασα προφητεια γραφης ιδιας επιλυσεως ου γινεται |
| 21. | For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost. | ου γαρ θεληματι ανθρωπου ηνεχθη ποτε προφητεια αλλ υπο πνευματος αγιου φερομενοι ελαλησαν αγιοι θεου ανθρωποι |
Peter was speaking of his earthly life ending and that the Christians' only authority was the sure words of the prophets (Holy Scripture) as it was directly from God
He was speaking of his life ending, but he also said that he will endeavor that the Church continues in the knowledge that the Apostles witnessed to be true. That is a promise to keep his office through generations.
just because Irenaeus used the word "catholic" to designate the universal body of Christ, it does not mean the organization that calls itself "Catholic" today is that church
St. Ignatius of Antioch, not Irenaeus. If you read the letter, sounds a lot like the Church today though. The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans. One Catholic distinctive that St. Ignatius points out is obedience to the bishops. The other is the belief inthe Holy Eucharist. Sounds familiar?