A noun meaning the act of releasing, solving, or interpreting — literally an 'unloosing' (from epi + luō). Used in 2 Peter 1:20 to address the proper interpretation of prophetic Scripture: no prophecy is a matter of private epilusis.
Peter's statement in 2 Peter 1:20 — 'no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation (epilusis)' — is a cornerstone of biblical hermeneutics. The prophetic word did not originate in human invention, nor is its meaning unlocked by personal whim. Epilusis reminds us that Scripture is not a lock picked by private cleverness but a word spoken by the Spirit, requiring the Spirit's guidance for true understanding. The same Spirit who inspired the text illuminates it. This is why the Church reads Scripture in community, under the guidance of teachers, with prayer — not because the text is inaccessible, but because it is holy ground, not to be trespassed by isolated ego.