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. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
I don't know why, but recently I have become facinated by the use of "myths" in the New Testament. We in our modern context often refer to Greek Mythology, but have you ever asked whether Greeks really believed this stuff. The way myths is used in scripture seems that there are many different mythologies in the ancient world. These were not thought to be fact, but a fairytale story.
Today there are many who equate scripture to a mythology. The belief in one God is a fairytale we tell our children so that they behave. But people don't seem to understand there is a difference between fictional things we tell our children in order to teach them moral lessons, and then there is historical fact, which is confirmed by eyewitnesses.
St Peter and St Paul seem to understand this difference. The myth of Arachne and Echo are not true, but simple ways to explain the spiders web and an echo in a cave. Rather, Julius Ceasar and Alexander the Great are true and teach lessons about lusting after power. Similarly, Jesus Christ dying on the cross is fact, and his resurrection is fact. This is true because we have eyewitnesses. Those who heard the voice at the Transfiguration. Those who stood by the cross, and those who saw the empty tomb, and yes, even those who touched the risen savior.
The Scripture is not a myth or legend, but it is fact and history. This is not given to us by any simple eyewitnesses, but these many eyewitnesses were carried along by the Holy Spirit to write the truth.
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