1 Peter 1 - Introduction

He blesseth God for his manifold spiritual graces, shewing that the salvation in Christ is no news, but a thing prophesied of old; and exhorteth them accordingly to a godly conversation, forasmuch as they are now born anew by the word of God.

Anno Domini 65.

TO comfort the brethren of Pontus, &c. under, their sufferings, St. Peter put them in mind of the glories of that inheritance, of which they were the heirs, by thanking God forgiving them the divine hope of a new life after death, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 1:3.—in order that they may be capable of enjoying that incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading inheritance, which was preserved in heaven for them who by the power of God are kept through faith to salvation, 1 Peter 1:4.—This, he said, might be matter of great joy to them, though they suffered persecution. Then to reconcile them to theirsufferings, he suggested various powerful persuasives: such as, that their sufferings would soon be over; that they were necessary to try and improve their faith; that the improvement of their faith would be of greater value to themselves and to the world than the finest gold, and would procure them great honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ. All these arguments the apostle comprized in two short verses, 6, 7.—Then addressing their strongest feelings, he told them, that, though they had never seen their Master, they loved him; and that though they did not see him now, yet, believing him to be the Son of God, they rejoiced in him with joy unspeakable, 1 Peter 1:8.—knowing that from him they would assuredly receive the reward of persevering faith, even the eternal salvation of their souls, 1 Peter 1:9.—And, to shew the greatness and glory of this salvation, he observed, that it had been foretold and accurately searched into by the prophets, who before testified the sufferings which the Christ was to undergo for our salvation, and the glories following his sufferings; and that the angels desired to look attentively into these things, 1 Peter 1:10.—By mentioning the sufferings of Christ, and the glories following, the apostle insinuated, that if his disciples suffered patiently and courageously after his example, they might expect through his grace to be rewarded as he was, in their measur

The apostle having thus comforted the persecuted brethren to whom he wrote, by recalling to their remembrance the great objects of their faith and hope, he exhorted them to hope strongly for the blessings that were to be brought to them at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 1:13.—and, as became the children of God, the heirs of these great blessings, to avoid the lusts which they formerly indulged while unconverted; 1 Peter 1:14,—and to imitate God in his holiness: 1 Peter 1:15.—and, from the consideration of the future judgment, to live in the fear of God, 1 Peter 1:17.—knowing that they were redeemed from their guilt, their corrupt nature, and their vain and wicked manner of living, not with silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a sin-offering appointed by God himself, before the foundation of the world; that their hope and assurance of pardon might be firmlygrounded on that all-sufficient sacrifice, 1 Peter 1:18.—Next, the apostle told the Christians of Pontus, &c. that, seeing they had through grace purified their hearts from fleshly lusts by receiving the gospel, and had attained sincere brotherly love, he hoped they would love one another always from a pure heart, as brethren, 1 Peter 1:22.—a relation in which they stood to each other, by being born again as sons to God, through the uncorruptible seed of the word: so that the poorest and meanest believer is not only the brother of every other believer, but he is a more noble and estimable person, than the greatest prince on earth, who is not like him a son of God, 1 Peter 1:23.—And in proof of this, St. Peter observes, that the noblest earthly descent, and the highest titles of honour, are short-lived, like the flowers of the field, 1 Peter 1:24.—But that the more honourable nobility which is founded on the belief of the word of Christ, whereby men are made partakers of the nature of God, continues to the faithful through all eternity, ve