This chapter may be divided into three parts: I. An exhortation to those whom the apostle addressed, to lay aside all malice, and all guile, and to receive the simple and plain instructions of the word of God with the earnestness with which babies desire their appropriate food, 1 Peter 2:1. Religio... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE LAYING ASIDE - On the word rendered laying aside, see Romans 13:12; Ephesians 4:22, Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:8. The allusion is to putting off clothes; and the meaning is, that we are to cast off these things entirely; that is, we are no longer to practice them. The word “wherefore” (ο... [ Continue Reading ]
AS NEW-BORN BABES - The phrase used here would properly denote those which were just born, and hence Christians who had just begun the spiritual life. See the word explained in the notes at 2 Timothy 3:15. It is not uncommon, in the Scriptures, to compare Christians with little children. See the not... [ Continue Reading ]
IF SO BE YE HAVE TASTED THAT THE LORD IS GRACIOUS - Or rather, as Doddridge renders it, “Since you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” The apostle did not mean to express any doubt on the subject, but to state that, since they had had an experimental acquaintance with the grace of God, they shou... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM COMING - To the Lord Jesus, for so the word “Lord” is to be understood in 1 Peter 2:3. Compare the notes at Acts 1:24. The idea here is, that they had come to him for salvation, while the great mass of people rejected him. Others “disallowed” him, and turned away from him, but they had seen... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ALSO, AS LIVELY STONES - Greek, “living stones.” The word should have been so rendered. The word lively with us now has a different meaning from living, and denotes “active, quick, sprightly.” The Greek word is the same as that used in the previous verse, and rendered living. The meaning is, that... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE ALSO IT IS CONTAINED IN THE SCRIPTURE - Isaiah 28:16. The quotation is substantially as it is found in the Septuagint. BEHOLD, I LAY IN SION - See the Isaiah 28:16 note, and Romans 9:33 note. A CHIEF CORNERSTONE - The principal stone on which the corner of the edifice rests. A stone is se... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO YOU THEREFORE WHICH BELIEVE - Christians are often called simply “believers,” because faith in the Saviour is one of the prominent characteristics by which they are distinguished from their fellow-men. It sufficiently describes any man, to say that he is a believer in the Lord Jesus. HE IS PREC... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A STONE OF STUMBLING - A stone over which they, stumble, or against which they impinge. The idea seems to be that of a cornerstone which projects from the building, against which they dash themselves, and by which they are made to fall. See the notes at Matthew 21:44. The rejection of the Saviou... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION - In contradistinction from those who, by their disobedience, had rejected the Saviour as the foundation of hope. The people of God are often represented as his chosen or elected people. See the notes at 1 Peter 1:2. A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD - See the notes at 1 Peter 2:5. T... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IN TIME PAST WERE NOT A PEOPLE - That is, who formerly were not regarded as the people of God. There is an allusion here to the passage in Hosea 2:23, “And I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shal... [ Continue Reading ]
DEARLY BELOVED, I BESEECH YOU STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS - On the word rendered “strangers,” (παροίκους paroikous,) see the notes at Ephesians 2:19, where it is rendered “foreigners.” It means, properly, one dwelling near, neighboring; then a by-dweller, a sojourner, one without the rights of citizensh... [ Continue Reading ]
HAVING YOUR CONVERSATION HONEST - Your conduct. See the notes at Philippians 1:27. That is, lead upright and consistent lives. Compare the notes at Philippians 4:8. AMONG THE GENTILES - The pagans by whom you are surrounded, and who will certainly observe your conduct. See the notes at 1 Thessaloni... [ Continue Reading ]
SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN - Greek, “to every creation of man,” (ἀνθρωπίνῃ κτίσει anthrōpinē ktisei The meaning is, to every institution or appointment of man; to wit, of those who are in authority, or who are appointed to administer government. The laws, institutes, and appoi... [ Continue Reading ]
OR UNTO GOVERNORS - Subordinate officers, appointed by the chief magistrate, over provinces. Perhaps Roman proconsuls are here particularly intended. AS UNTO THEM THAT ARE SENT BY HIM - By the king, or the Roman emperor. They represent the supreme power. FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF EVIL DOERS - One of th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SO IS THE WILL OF GOD - That is, it is in accordance with the divine will that in this way you should put them to silence. THAT WITH WELL DOING - By a life of uprightness and benevolence. YE MAY PUT TO SILENCE THE IGNORANCE OF FOOLISH MEN - See the notes at Titus 2:8. The reference here is to m... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FREE - That is, they were to consider themselves as freemen, as having a right to liberty. The Jews boasted much of their freedom, and regarded it as a birthright privilege that they were free, John 8:33. They never willingly acknowledged their subjection to any other power, but claimed it as an... [ Continue Reading ]
HONOR ALL MEN - That is, show them the respect which is due to them according to their personal worth, and to the rank and office which they sustain. See the notes at Romans 13:7. LOVE THE BROTHERHOOD - The whole fraternity of Christians, regarded as a band of brothers. The word used here occurs on... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVANTS, BE SUBJECT TO YOUR MASTERS - On the duty here enjoined, see the notes at Ephesians 6:5. The Greek word used here (οἰκέται oiketai) is not the same which is employed in Ephesians, (δοῦλοι douloi.) The word here means properly “domestics” - those employed about a house, or living in the s... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS IS THANK-WORTHY - Margin, “thank.” Greek, “This is grace,” (χάρις charis). Doddridge renders the expression, “This is graceful indeed.” Various interpretations of this expression have been proposed; but the meaning evidently is, that it is acceptable to God, (see 1 Peter 2:20, “this is acc... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT GLORY IS IT - What honor or credit would it be. IF, WHEN YE BE BUFFETED FOR YOUR FAULTS - That is, if you are punished when you deserve it. The word “buffet” (κολαφίζω kolaphizō) - means, to strike with the fist; and then to strike in any way; to maltreat, Matthew 26:67; Mar 14:65; 1 Cori... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVEN HEREUNTO WERE YE CALLED - Such a spirit is required by the very nature of your Christian vocation; you were called into the church in order that you might evince it. See the notes at 1 Thessalonians 3:3. BECAUSE CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR US - Margin, “some read, for you.” The latest edition... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO DID NO SIN - Who was in all respects perfectly holy. There is an allusion here to Isaiah 53:9; and the sense is, that he was entirely innocent, and that he suffered without having committed any crime. In this connection the meaning is, that we are to be careful that, if we suffer, it should be w... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO, WHEN HE WAS REVILED, REVILED NOT AGAIN - He did not use harsh and opprobrious words in return for those which he received: (1) He was reviled. He was accused of being a seditious man; spoken of as a deceiver; charged with being in league with Beelzebub, the “prince of the devils” and condemned... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HIS OWN SELF - See the notes at Hebrews 1:3, on the phrase “when he had by himself purged our sins.” The meaning is, that he did it in his own proper person; he did not make expiation by offering a bloody victim, but was himself the sacrifice. BARE OUR SINS - There is an allusion here undoubtedl... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE WERE AS SHEEP GOING ASTRAY - Here also is an allusion to Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” See the notes at that verse. The figure is plain. We were like a flock without a shepherd. We had wandered far away from the true fold, and were following our own paths. We were without... [ Continue Reading ]