1 Peter 1:10-12

3. Deep Concern of Prophets and Angels 1:10-12

1 Peter 1:10-11 Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.

Expanded Translation

About this salvation the (Hebrew) prophets sought carefully and searched diligently to understand and comprehendthey who had prophesied concerning the grace which was to be bestowed upon youinvestigating to find out to whom or what manner of time was signified by the Spirit of Christ which was in them, when it predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that were to follow such sufferings.

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Concerning which salvation

That of Christians, just spoken of (1 Peter 1:9).

the prophets sought and searched diligently

a phrase which graphically describes the interest of the Old Testament prophets in the salvation through Christ made known in the Christian dispensation. They sought ekzeteo, literally, sought out, hence to search for, investigate, scrutinize, They also searched, exereunao, a word of very similar meaning: to search out, search anxiously and diligently. If there is any technical difference between the meaning of these two words, it is certainly very slight. The Apostle's intention in inserting this phrase is obviously to show that the prophets were deeply and sincerely interested in the salvation of which they prophesied, so much so that much energy and thought was put forth as they made inquiry and research into their own prophecies!

The most humble believer is now able to see very clearly what the most distinguished prophet only saw obscurely. Their revelations were real and inspired, but they were not clear in all details, especially to those of that age. Enough was understood by them to maintain the faith of God's people who looked for a coming Messiah. But these prophecies frequently troubled and perplexed the seers themselves, and they searched them out, as miners seek treasure (for so was exereunao used by the ancients). They were not only prophets, they were men! As such, they could not fathom their own words. Read Matthew 13:17. Compare such passages as Daniel 7:15.

who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you

Grace, charis, here, has specific reference to our redemption, the epitome of God's expression of love, kindness, and favor toward usa favor completely undeserved!

searching what time or what manner of time

The first word rendered time is absent in the best manuscripts, The first what in the phrase is an interrogative pronoun, tina, in the masculine singular. Hence we have, searching (to find out) what person or what manner of time. Their attention was fixed upon both the people of which they prophesied and the times or dispensations to which their predictions pointed.

the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto

i.e., the Holy Spirit which was in them, the third person of the Godhead. (See 2 Peter 1:21 and comments there.) Note that the same Holy Spirit influenced God's spokesmen in the Christian age also (1 Peter 1:12).

when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them

Or, when He (the Holy Spirit, a Divine Personality) testified beforehand. See John 16:13-15.

The glories after the predicted sufferings, were his personal triumphs: His resurrection, ascension, coronation, and reign at God's right hand. But these glories would also include the great plan of redemption and the establishment of the churchcertainly glorious consequences of His coming to earth predicted by the prophets. On this last phrase, compare Daniel 9:24-27, Isaiah 53:3-9, Acts 3:18; Acts 26:22-23, Luke 24:44-47.

1 Peter 1:12 To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

Expanded Translation

To whom it (i.e., this great plan of redeeming mankind through Jesus Christ) was uncovered and made known, that not unto themselves but unto you were they performing this service concerning these things, and they have now been announced unto you by the Holy Spirit which was sent forth from heaven; into which things angels strongly desire to stoop down and peer carefully into.

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To whom it was revealed

The word apokalupto (was revealed) is compounded from apofrom, off, away from, and kaluptoto cover, hide, conceal, throw a veil over. (See 1 Peter 4:8, covereth.) This plan of redemption through Christ was uncovered and that which was hidden was brought to light. Revealed to the prophets? No. The Apostle continues:

that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things

The word minister, diakoneo, is the verb form of the noun, diakonos, deacon. It means to wait upon, attend upon, serve, and specifically to perform a service by commission. Little did those sages of old realize the significance of their words, or to what great extent they were attending to the needs of those who would be living twenty-five hundred years later! What a blessing to live in the Gospel age where many of our privileges are greater than those enjoyed by the prophets themselves!

which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the Gospel unto you

Compare Hebrews 11:39-40. Peter here shows their own great value as Christians by emphasizing the fact that the concern was unto you. We enjoy to the fullest what they could not even comprehend!

This message was carried to the readers by them that preached the gospel. Living in what is now Turkey (See 1 Peter 1:1, notes), they first had the Gospel preached to them by the Apostle Paul and his companions. But the truth here expressed would apply also to every true preacher of the Gospel.

by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven

See also 1 Peter 1:11. The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets who predicted the message AND He also spoke through the Apostles and others who preached the fulfillment of their prophecies. God speaks of the Old Testament as the Holy Spirit's message (Hebrews 3:7, 2 Peter 1:21). And here the Gospel Message is shown to have the same source.

which things angels desire to look into

Note the Expanded Translation. Peter had said before that this great salvation we enjoy through Christ had gained the keenest scrutiny of the most holy men on earththe prophets. Now he turns to the heavensthe inhabitants of the skies!

The which things refer to the matters of prophecy and their fulfillment in the Christian dispensation, mentioned in 1 Peter 1:10-12. The verb desire, epithumeo, is the same word so frequently rendered lust in our New Testament. It means to set one's heart upon, have a desire for, long for, etc., used here in a good sense.

Of particular interest in this phrase is the Greek word translated look into (parakupto). It is from para, beside, and kupto, to bend forwards, stoop down. Thus the meaning is, to stoop to a thing in order to look at it. Notice how the Apostle John employs it: And they (Peter and John) ran both together: and the other disciple out-ran Peter, and came first to the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered not in. But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb. (John 20:4-5; John 20:11). This same word is employed by James to show how the blessed man reads his Bible! (James 1:25, looketh into.) In that passage as well as this, it implies interest and concern on the part of the observer or reader. Christian, read your New Testament as the angels would like to! Look carefully into it!

Why such interest on the part of angels? Perhaps Hebrews 1:14 supplies a partial explanation. But even with their strong desire to understand our salvation, this longing goes on and on unfulfilled on the part of the angels. Is our desire to understand God's scheme of redemption as strong as theirs, when we are capable of understanding it?

The purpose of this latter statement was doubtless to show the greatness of our salvation through the Son of God, and the benefits we have therefromneither the prophets nor the angels being able to ascertain the real nature of this great plan of pardon.