Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Ver. 1. _To the strangers_] That is, to the provincial Jews. _See Trapp on "_ Jam 1:1 _"_ These strangers were (probably) those that came up to Jerusalem at Pentecost, and were... [ Continue Reading ]
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. Ver. 2. _Through sanctification unto obedience_] To the means as well as to the end, to sanctification... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _be_ the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Ver. 3. _Blessed be the God_] A stately proem, and such as can hardly be matched again, unless it be that of S... [ Continue Reading ]
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Ver. 4. _Undefiled, and that fadeth not_] The two Greek words here used are also Latin; Amiantus is a precious stone (saith Dr Playfere out of Isidore), which though it be never so much soiled, yet... [ Continue Reading ]
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Ver. 5. _Who are kept_] φρουρουμενοι, as with a guard, or as in a garrison, that is, well fenced with walls and works, and so is made impregnable. _ By the power of God_] Much seen in the saints' p... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: Ver. 6. _Wherein ye greatly rejoice_] Gr. αγαλλιασθε, ye dance for joy, ye dance a galliard, or as children do about a bonfire; ye cannot but express your inward joy in your countenanc... [ Continue Reading ]
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Ver. 7. _That the trial of your faith_] If affliction (which is the trial of our faith) be so exceeding... [ Continue Reading ]
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see _him_ not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Ver. 8. _Whom having not seen_] They had not been, belike, at the feast of the Passover (at which time our Saviour suffered), but came up to the feast of Pentecost,... [ Continue Reading ]
Receiving the end of your faith, _even_ the salvation of _your_ souls. Ver. 9. _The end of your faith_] The period and perfection, the reward and meed of it, in all fulness. See Psalms 19:12; Proverbs 22:4. Some grapes of Canaan God gave them beforehand, to sustain them, not to satisfy them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace _that should come_ unto you: Ver. 10. _The prophets have inquired_] This highly sets forth the weight and worth of it, since such men took such pains upon it. Base spirits are busied about light matte... [ Continue Reading ]
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Ver. 11. _Searching what, &c._] ερευνωντες, with greatest sagacity and industry, as hunters seek for game, and as men s... [ Continue Reading ]
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Ver. 12. _Not unto themselves_] In re... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; Ver. 13. _Wherefore gird up, &c._] We are seldom comforted, but we have need to be exhorted. So apt are our hearts to security, and so apt is Satan... [ Continue Reading ]
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: Ver. 14. _Not fashioning yourselves_] συσχηματιζομενοι. As a player is fashioned to the obscene speeches and carriages of him whom he is impersonateting. _ In your ignorance_] Men may remain grossly ig... [ Continue Reading ]
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Ver. 15. _In all manner of conversation_] Our very civilities must savour of sanctity, and our common conversation relish of religion. St Paul's civil conversation, πολιτευμα, was in heaven, Philippians 3:20. Holi... [ Continue Reading ]
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. Ver. 16. _Be ye holy_] _i.e._ Separate from sin, and dedicated to God, in conformity to whom stands our happiness. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 5:48 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning _here_ in fear: Ver. 17. _Of your sojourning_] παροικια _inchoatns, commoratio._ Having your commoration on earth, but your conversation in heaven. _Fugiamus ad caele... [ Continue Reading ]
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, _as_ silver and gold, from your vain conversation _received_ by tradition from your fathers; Ver. 18. _Ye were not redeemed with silver and gold_] These are poor things to purchase a soul with (more likely they are to drown it... [ Continue Reading ]
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Ver. 19. _Without blemish_] Of original pollution. _ And without spot_] Of actual sin: or thus, without blemish, that is, sound within; and without spot, right in the outward parts. A lamb may be fair without tha... [ Continue Reading ]
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Ver. 20. _Who verily, &e._] So careful was God to make all sure concerning our redemption in Christ, saith one here.... [ Continue Reading ]
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Ver. 21. _Might be in God_] And so in a safer hand than our own; he hath laid help upon one that is mighty.... [ Continue Reading ]
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, _see that ye_ love one another with a pure heart fervently: Ver. 22. _Ye have purified_] _Animabus vestris castificatis._ A metaphor from the legal purifications.... [ Continue Reading ]
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. Ver. 23. _Born again_] A man shall never have occasion to curse the day of his new birth. _ By the word of God_] Made prolific and generative by the Spirit, 1 John 3:9. It is the... [ Continue Reading ]
For all flesh _is_ as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: Ver. 24. _All flesh is grass_] To live is but to lie dying. Can a picture continue that is drawn upon the ice? _Faenea quadam faelicitate temporaliter florent, _ s... [ Continue Reading ]
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. Ver. 25. _The Lord of the Lord, &c._] This sentence is the motto of the Dukes of Saxony. (Manlii, loc. com.) See Psalms 119:89. By the word of the Lord understand that which is written _in cor... [ Continue Reading ]