_Wherefore_ Since the word of God is so excellent and durable in itself, and has had such a blessed effect upon you as to regenerate you, and bring you to the enjoyment of true Christian love; _laying aside_ As utterly inconsistent with that love; _all malice_ All ill- will, every unkind disposition... [ Continue Reading ]
_To whom coming_ With desire and by faith; _as unto a living stone_ Living from eternity; alive from the dead; and alive for evermore: and a firm foundation, communicating spiritual life to those that come to him, and are built upon him, making him the ground of their confidence and hope for time an... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye also_ Believing in him with a loving and obedient faith, _as lively_ Greek, ζωντες, _living, stones_ Quickened and made alive to God by spiritual life derived from him, _are built up_ Upon him, and in union with each other; _a spiritual house_ Spiritual yourselves; and _a habitation of God throu... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wherefore also_ To which purpose; _it is contained in the Scripture_ In Isaiah 28:16, the passage before referred to. _Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone_ To support and hold together the whole building. This, as explained Ephesians 2:21, signifies the union of Jews and Gentiles in one fait... [ Continue Reading ]
_But ye Who have been born again of incorruptible seed_, and have _purified your souls by obeying the truth_, &c., (1 Peter 1:22,) and have _tasted that the Lord is gracious_, (1 Peter 2:3,) and are _built up_ upon him _as lively stories; ye_, who bear this character _are a chosen generation_ Εκλελτ... [ Continue Reading ]
_I beseech you, as strangers_ Or sojourners; _and pilgrims_ Who have no inheritance on this earth, but are travelling to the heavenly country. The former word, παροικοι, properly means those who are in a strange house, a house not their own: the second, παρεπιδημοι, those who are in a strange countr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man_ Greek, παση ανθρωπινη κτισει, _to every human constitution_ of government, under which you are placed by Divine Providence, and which is formed instrumentally by men, and relates to you as men, and not as Christians. Macknight translates the clause, _Be... [ Continue Reading ]
_As free_ In the noblest sense, in consequence of your relation to Christ, and your interest in the merit of his death; (see on John 8:32; 1 Corinthians 7:22; Galatians 5:1; Galatians 5:13;) as sons and daughters of the Lord Almighty, and therefore heirs of God; _and not using your liberty as a cloa... [ Continue Reading ]
_Servants_ Οι οικεται, _household servants, be subject to your masters_ Though heathen, in all things lawful; _with all fear_ Of offending them or God; _not only to the good_ The tender, kind; _and gentle_ Mild, easy, forgiving; _but also to the froward_ The ill-natured and severe. “In this verse,”... [ Continue Reading ]
_For even hereunto_ Namely, to suffer wrongfully, and to bear such treatment with patience and meekness; _are ye_ Christians _called; because Christ_ Whose followers you profess to be, pure and spotless as he was; _suffered for us_ Not only hard speeches, buffetings, and stripes, but deep and mortal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Who his own self_ In his own person, and by the sacrifice of himself, and not of another, (Hebrews 9:28,) _bare our sins_ That is, the punishment due to them; _in his_ afflicted, torn, dying _body on the tree_ The cross, whereon chiefly slaves or servants were wont to suffer. The apostle alludes to... [ Continue Reading ]