1 Peter 1:18-21

4.

The Christian's Ransom 1:18-21

1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ:

Expanded Translation

realizing that you were freed by ransom, not with perishable things such as silver and gold, from the hollow and useless life handed down from your ancestors; but rather with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

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knowing that ye were redeemed

That is, were liberated by payment of ransom. The word lutroo, according to Vine, signifies the actual deliverance, the setting at liberty. It was frequently used by the ancients when slaves were brought out of captivity. The slave was evaluated by the amount of money paid.[1] Living in the confines of sin, we were captives of Satan (2 Timothy 2:26). But our Saviour tells us, He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives (Luke 4:18). And what was the price the Father paid that He might have us back in His good graces? $100,000? No! Something far more valuable was paid!

[1] See the use of Lurron, the noun form, Leviticus 19:20, Isaiah 45:13 (Septuagint).

not with corruptible things, with silver or gold

Corruptible being used here in the sense of perishablei.e., liable to decay and ruin. The word phthartos, used here, stands opposed to aphthartos (incorruptible) which occurs in 1 Peter 1:4. The two words are vividly contrasted in 1 Corinthians 9:25: And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible (phthartos) crown; but we an incorruptible (aphthartos).

from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers

Their previous life was vain, devoid of success, useless, to no purpose, hence, corrupt, pervertedfor so the word mataios signifies. Surely several of them had been relatively successful in realms of business, politics, music, or farming. But until a man hands his life over to the Master, unconditionally surrendering his whole being to Him, his life is only a hollow void!

Their previous way of living had been passed down to them by their forefathers and ancestors. In the case of the Jews, it meant holding to the Law of Moses, along with all the accompanying traditions of the family's particular sect. In the case of the Gentile, it meant the perpetuation of Idolatry and often some heretical philosophy. It is human nature to want to preserve the status quo in the realm of religion, Ancestor worship is still extant and not only in China!

but with precious blood

Much more precious, costly, and dear in the mind of God than all the gold of Croesus! Here is the ransom money, and only Christ could pay it.

as of a lamb without blemish and without spot

The picture of the sacrificial lamb was familiar to all Peter's readers, but especially to the Hebrews, and the latter well knew the requirements of perfection God demanded (Leviticus 22:21-22). Christ is frequently referred to as such a lamb, sacrificed once and for all (John 1:29; John 1:36; Acts 20:28; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 5:6).

The contrast of these verses is one of values. The blood of our Saviour is far more valuable than any amount of money (silver and gold).

1 Peter 1:20 Who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake.

Expanded Translation

This sacrifice of Christ and the work it would accomplish was known by and provided for ahead of time by God; indeed, even before the world was cast into place (as a foundation is placed down); but this was all manifested at the end of the Mosaic dispensation in your behalf and for your salvation.

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Who

i.e., Christ.

was foreknown

Proginosko. See comments under 1 Peter 1:2, where the noun form of this verb occurs.

before the foundation of the world

The word foundation, katabole, is a compound word made up of kata, down, and ballo, throw or cast. Hence, literally, a throwing, laying, or casting down. The picture is one of God laying or casting the world into place, as likened unto a man who has thrown down a foundation for a building. Here, of course, the word must be taken as a figure of speech and not pressed into something literal! See John 17:24, and especially Ephesians 1:4. The phrase is equivalent to before the world was (John 17:5); i.e., before it existed. The phrase from the foundation of the world occurs in a similar setting in Matthew 13:35; Matthew 25:34.

Though the word world (kosmos) may also mean age, it seems best here to leave it as it stands, for the phrase before the foundation of the world was a familiar expression, going back beyond any particular age or dispensation.

but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake

When was this time? When was the salvation of the world made available through the sacrifice of Christ? At the end of what times? The word end, eschatos, means last, utmost, extreme. The making known of Christ's redemptive work was at, (epi upon, i.e., upon or at the conclusion of) the final stages of some period of history. It seems apparent that the reference can only be to the final times of the Mosaic periodthe period of approximately fifteen hundred years in which the Law of Moses was in force. In Acts 2:17, Peter, quoting the prophecy of Joel, tells us, And it shall come to pass in the last days (eschatais hemerais). which prophecy had very specific reference to the nation of Israel. Concerning the impending doom of the Jews, see under 1 Peter 2:12 and 1 Peter 4:7.

1 Peter 1:21 who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.

Expanded Translation

(you) who through him (Christ) are believers in God, the one who raised him up out of the dead ones and bestowed glory upon him, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

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who through him are believers in God

The only way any man, Jew or Gentile, ever comes to know God is through the person of Christ. John 14:6, Ephesians 2:17-18.

that raised him from the dead

The resurrection and consequent glorification on God's right hand of Christ, gives us a basis or reason for confidence in God. It was obviously His working, and it caused us to believe on Him through Christ. Peter lays great stress on the importance of the resurrection, not only in his epistles, but also in his speeches recorded in the Book of Acts (Acts 2:32-36; Acts 3:15; Acts 4:10).