Departure (1841) (exodos from ex = out + hodos = way) (cf earlier use of "eisodos from eis = into + hodos = way" referring to entry into heaven <> here Peter refers to exit out of earth!) is literally "the road out" or "the way out"! The more familiar spelling Exodus is simply a transliteration of the Greek Exodos into English.
Exodos was used as a euphemism describing one's departure from among the living (the one who dies has the illusion of a choice and the mourner finds consolation in the theme) for death.
Peter is not "dying" but just departing for home!
Vincent writes that exodos means
a journeying; and thus corresponds to the Latin decessus, a going away, whence the word decease. (Vincent, M. R. Word studies in the New Testament. Vol. 1, Page 3-344)
The Greek term exodos is rarely used to refer to death when by itself, noting rather a transfer and not a termination. As someone has said this word indicates the difference between dying and perishing.
There are only 3 uses of exodos in the NT (5.31" class="scriptRef">31" class="scriptRef">Lu 9:31, Heb 11:22, 2 Pe 1:15), however there are 55 uses of exodos in the Septuagint (LXX) (Ex 19:1; 23:16; 8" class="scriptRef">Num. 33:38; 26" class="scriptRef">35:26; Jdg. 5:4, 31; 1 Sam. 29:6; 2 Sam. 1:20; 3:25; 22:43; 1 Ki. 2:37; 3:7; 5:17; 10:28f; 20:34; 2 Ki. 19:27; 1 Chr. 5:16; 20:1; 2 Chr. 1:16; 9:28; 16:1; 23:8; 32:30; 21" class="scriptRef">Neh. 4:21; Job 38:27; Ps. 19:6; 65:8; 75:6; 105:38; 113:9; 121:8; 144.13" class="scriptRef">144:13; Pr 1:20; 4:23; 8:35; 24:27; 25:13, 26; 30:12; Isa. 37:28; 51:20; Jer. 11:13; Lam. 2:19, 21; 4:1, 5, 8, 14; Ezek. 42:11; 43:11; 44:5; 47:3; Dan. 9:25; Mic. 5:2). Here are a few representative OT uses...
Exodus 19:1 In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out (Lxx = exodus or departure) of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
Psalm 105:38 (See Spurgeon's note) Egypt was glad when they departed; (Lxx = their exodus) For the dread of them had fallen upon them.
Psalm 121:8 (See notes Psalm 121: A Commentary) The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in From this time forth and forever.
Proverbs 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs (Lxx = the goings out of life).
In Hebrews 11:22 (see notes) Exodos indicates movement from one geographical area to another, or departure, the writer of Hebrew recording that
By faith Joseph, when he was dying, made mention of the exodus of the sons of Israel, and gave orders concerning his bones.
And so the writer of Hebrews applies the word to the children of Israel’s departure out of Egypt from the Septuagint translation (Greek translation of the Hebrew) arrived at the title of the second book of Moses that we know as "Exodus".
On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus, Moses, and Elijah spoke of Jesus’ “departure” Luke recording that...
behold, two men were talking with (the transfigured Christ); and they were Moses and Elijah, who, appearing in glory, were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Lu 9:31).
As noted above this exodos (from this body) contrasts with a believer’s “entrance” into (“going into”) God’s kingdom (see note 2 Peter 1:11).
J Vernon McGee has an interesting note on exodos writing that all it means is that Peter will...
just be moving out of his house, his tabernacle, down here; he will be putting it off as if it were a garment, and he will be making his exodus. Now the word exodus implies that death doesn’t end it all. When the children of Israel went out of Egypt, the Egyptians said, “We are through with them. This ends it.” But it didn’t end it. Israel continued on in the wilderness and finally entered into the Promised Land, and Egypt doesn’t seem to be through with them even to this good day! And for this man Peter, death was merely an exodus; it wasn’t an end to it all. (McGee, J V: Thru the Bible Commentary: Nashville: Thomas Nelson)
TO CALL THESE THINGS TO MIND: ten touton mnemen poieisthai (PMN): (2Pe 1:4, 5, 6, 7,12)
More literally this phrase reads
to continually (present tense) make to yourselves the remembrance of these things.
To use an educational term, Peter wants his readers to "over learn" the basic truths so that after his death they will never forget them.
2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. (NASB: Lockman)
Greek: Ou gar sesophismenois (RPPMPD) muthois exakolouqhsantes egnorisamen (AAPMPN) humin ten tou kuriou hemon Iesou Christou dunamin kai parousian, all' epoptai genethentes (AAPMPN) tes ekeinou megaleiotetos.
Amplified: For we were not following cleverly devised stories when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty (grandeur, authority of sovereign power). (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
KJV: 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.
NLT: For we were not making up clever stories when we told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ and his coming again. We have seen his majestic splendor with our own eyes. (NLT - Tyndale House)
Wuest: For we did not follow out to their termination cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and personal coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but became spectators of that One’s magnificence. (Eerdmans)
Young's Literal: For, skilfully devised fables not having followed out, we did make known to you the power and presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, but eye-witnesses having become of his majesty--
FOR WE DID NOT FOLLOW: Ou gar ... exakolouthesantes (AAPMPN): (4" class="scriptRef">2Pe 3:3,4; 1Cor 1:17,23; 2:1,4; 2Co 2:17; 4:2; 12:16,17; Ep 4:14; 2Th 2:9; 1Ti 1:4; 4:7; Titus 1:14)
Note that not is emphatic and is (ou) indicating absolute negation of what follows. The aorist tense here also underscores that this event did not occur at all. It is thus a strong denial by Peter.
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