Eyewitnesses (2030) (epoptes from epi = upon, over + optanomai = see, perceive) is literally an "over seer" and then a spectator or eye witness of anything. It refers to those who have first-hand acquaintance with something and so are those who see with their eyes with implication of careful scrutiny or of being a watchful observer. It refers to Inspector, onlooker, an eyewitness. Peter's use of epoptes stresses his close and careful inspection of our Lord's majesty. William Barclay explains the background on epoptes writing that... In the Greek usage of Peter’s day this was a technical word. We have already spoken about the Mystery Religions. They were all of the nature of passion plays, in which the story of a god who lived, suffered, died, and rose again was played out. It was only after a long course of instruction and preparation that the worshipper was finally allowed to be present at the passion play, and to be offered the experience of becoming one with the dying and rising "god". When he reached this stage, he was an initiate and the technical word to describe him was epoptes; he was a privileged eye-witness of the experiences of God. So Peter says that the Christian is an eye-witness of the sufferings of Christ. With the eye of faith he sees the Cross; in the experience of faith he dies with Christ to sin and rises to righteousness. His faith has made him one with Jesus Christ in his death and in his risen life and power. (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series. The Westminster Press or Logos) Among Greeks epoptes was used of those who had attained to the third grade, the highest, of the Eleusinian mysteries, a religious cult at Eleusis, with its worship, rites, festival and pilgrimages a brotherhood open to all Greeks. Peter clearly felt that he, James and John were lifted to "the highest stage of initiation" so to speak at the transfiguration of Christ. Epoptes (from Pindar, 5th cent. B.C.) was also used as an epithet for the gods (Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo), for men were deceived into thinking that they were under their watchful eyes. Anchor Bible Dictionary adds that in the... Eleusinian mysteries the highest stage of initiation was designated that of “beholding” (Gk epopteia), and one who attained such an initiatory status was called “beholder” (Gk epoptes). (Freedman, D. N. (1996, c1992). The Anchor Bible Dictionary. New York: Doubleday) Majesty (3168) (megaleiotetos from megaleios = magnificent, mighty, great from megas = great, English word = mega = of highest level of rank, excellence or importance) refers to the quality or state of being foremost in esteem, grandeur, splendor, sublimity, majesty. It defines the quality or state of being foremost in esteem, grandeur, sublimity, majesty. Megaleiotetos is used only 2 other times in the NT. It is translated as: greatness, 1; magnificence, 1; majesty, 1. And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. But while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples (Luke 9:43) "And not only is there danger that this trade of ours fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great (idolatrous) goddess Artemis be regarded as worthless and that she whom all of Asia and the world worship should even be dethroned from her magnificence" (Acts 19:27) In context megaleiotetos refers to the visible splendor of Christ's divine majesty as it appeared at His transfiguration. 2 Peter 1:17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, "This is My beloved Son with Whom I am well-pleased "-- (NASB: Lockman) Greek: labon (AAPMSN) gar para theou patros timen kai doxan phones enechtheises (APPFSG) auto toiasde hupo tes megaloprepous doxes, O huios mou o agapetos mou hotos estin, (3SPAI) eis on ego eudokesa (1SAAI) Amplified: For when He was invested with honor and glory from God the Father and a voice was borne to Him by the [splendid] Majestic Glory [in the bright cloud that overshadowed Him, saying], This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased and delight, (Amplified Bible - Lockman) KJV: 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. NLT: And he received honor and glory from God the Father when God's glorious, majestic voice called down from heaven, "This is my beloved Son; I am fully pleased with him." (NLT - Tyndale House) Wuest: For having received from the presence of God the Father honor and glory, there was borne along by the sublime glory such a voice, My Son, the beloved One, this One is, in whom I am well pleased (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: for having received from God the Father honour and glory, such a voice being borne to him by the excellent glory: 'This is My Son -- the beloved, in whom I was well pleased;' FOR WHEN HE RECEIVED HONOR AND GLORY: labon (AAPMSN) gar para theou patros timen kai doxan: For (1063) (gar) is used by Peter to point to the evidence that justifies his previous incredible assertion of what he had seen. Now he describes the event. Peter's detailing his experience of the transfiguration (the only explicit mention in the NT outside the gospels, all written by men who themselves were not eyewitnesses) gave firm authentication of his message concerning Christ's return in glory. Received (2983) (lambano) is aorist tense pointing to a completed past action, a definite historical event, in context the Transfiguration, where God the Father audibly honored the incarnate Christ. Peter wrote what only an eyewitness to this event could have written describing the Transfiguration of Jesus. Honor (5092) (time) denotes the exalted status which the proclamation of sonship implies while "glory" points to the ethereal radiance of the transfigured Jesus, a participation in that splendor of light which according to OT conceptions belongs to God's very being. Glory (1391) (doxa from dokéo = think, recognize) means to give a proper opinion of. Glory' speaks of a manifestation of God's true nature, presence, or likeness. Vine writes that the basic idea in the word doxa, glory, is that of manifestation. The glory of God is the manifestation of His Being. His character and His acts. (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson) FROM GOD THE FATHER SUCH AN UTTERANCE AS THIS WAS MADE TO HIM BY THE MAJESTIC GLORY: para theou patros phones enechtheises (APPFSG) auto toias de hupo tes megaloprepous doxes: (Mt 11:25, 26, 27; 28:19; Lk 10:22; Jn 3:35; 5:21-23,26,36,37; Jn 6:27,37,39; 10:15,36; 13:1, 2, 3; 14:6,8,9,11; 17:21; 20:17; Ro 15:6; 2Co 1:3; 11:31; 2Jn 1:3; Jude 1:1) Note that the Greek places this at beginning for emphasis...literally "received...from God the Father" (Jas 1:17, Ro 11:36) (See Torrey's Topic "Cloud of Glory") Such as (toiasde) of this kind or sort, such as this, referring to what follows with a suggestion of unusual aspect or with an implied suggestion of something excellent or admirable. Was made (5342) (phero) (aorist tense, passive voice form is enéchthen = "having been brought") means literally to bring or to bear. The sense of the word here is to make a word, speech, announcement charge and it used of a divine proclamation "when that voice was conveyed" [Net] "such a voice being borne" [Young's Literal] "there was borne along by the sublime glory such a voice" [Wuest]