2 Peter 1:16-19: "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 something more sure, the prophetic word, 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...."
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Obviously (since it's the only text cited), these verses from 2 Peter are the main Biblical source for the hymn, but it seems a bit odd to me that this is the only text cited. The hymn is about the Transfiguration, and while this text does contain an account of the Transfiguration (verses 17-18), it's not as detailed as the Gospel accounts (Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, Luke 9:28-36). For example, there's no mention of Moses or Elijah in this text, but they are named in the hymn ("Trembling at His feet we saw / Moses and Elijah speaking").
In the fourth verse, Jesus is called "First and Last and only One," which seems to be taken from Revelation 22:13, where He says, "'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.'"
In the fourth verse, Jesus is called "First and Last and only One," which seems to be taken from Revelation 22:13, where He says, "'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.'"
