II. (l-10) EXHORTATION TO REALISE THE IDEA OF THE NEW ISRAEL. — The Apostle bids them put away all elements of disunion, and to combine into a new Temple founded on Jesus as the Christ, and into a new hierarchy and theocracy.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE. — That is, Because the Pauline teaching is correct which brings the Gentiles up to the same level with the Jews. It may be observed that this newly enunciated principle is called by St. Peter in the previous verse of the last chapter, a “gospel,” or piece of _good_ news, for all parties.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS NEWBORN BABES. — The word “newborn” is, of course, newly, lately born, not born anew, although the birth meant is the new birth of 1 Peter 1:23. They are said to be still but newborn because they are still so far from maturity in Christ, as these sins testified. The metaphor is said to be not unc... [ Continue Reading ]
IF SO BE YE HAVE TASTED. — The “if so be,” as elsewhere (2 Thessalonians 1:6, Note), constitutes a strong appeal to the readers to say whether it were not so. St. Peter confidently reckons that it is so. It should rather be _ye tasted,_ looking back to a quite past time, probably that of the first c... [ Continue Reading ]
TO WHOM COMING. — The word used is that which gives rise to the name of a “proselyte.” (Comp. Note on 1 Peter 2:2.) It is also strangely used in something of the same sense in 1 Timothy 6:3. “Joining Him therefore as proselytes.” Not that St. Peter has any notion of a mere external accession. The Ap... [ Continue Reading ]
YE ALSO, AS LIVELY STONES, ARE BUILT UP. — This is true enough: they _were_ in process of building up; but it suits the hortatory character of the whole Epistle better to take it (the one is as grammatical as the other) in the _imperative_ sense: _Be ye also as living stones built up._ The rendering... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE ALSO. — The mention of Jesus Christ brings the writer back again to his theme, viz., that the whole system to which his readers belong has undergone a radical change, and is based on Jesus and His fulfilment of the sufferings and glories of the Messiah. The right reading here is not “where... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS PRECIOUS. — Rather, _Unto you therefore, the believers, belongs the honour._ So said in reference to His being called “a stone elect, _honoured_,” taken in conjunction with “shall not be ashamed.” Both the Hebrew and the Greek word rendered “precious” may with equal propriety be translated “ho... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENCE. — Another quotation, no doubt suggested by the word “a stone,” but conveying a totally different metaphor. Here there is no thought whatever of the stone as a material for building; the thought is that of a mass of rock on the road, on which the terror... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT YE. — Like St. Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:13, St. Peter turns with an outburst of triumph to the happier and more practical and attractive theme. All the most splendid titles of the old Israel belong in a fuller sense to these Hebrews who have joined the new Israel. In 1 Peter 2:5 they are bidden... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH IN TIME PAST WERE NOT A PEOPLE. — Here at last, say some, we have a distinct proof that the Epistle was written to the Gentiles only, or, at least, to churches which contained a very small proportion of Jews. Such, however, is by no means the case; in fact, the opposite. We have here an emphas... [ Continue Reading ]
DEARLY BELOVED. — “Affectionate and pressing exhortation,” says Bengel. “That which is known to come from love,” says Leighton, “cannot readily but be so received too, and it is thus expressed for that very purpose, that the request may be the more welcome. _Beloved,_ it is the advice of a friend, o... [ Continue Reading ]
CONVERSATION. — A favourite word with St. Peter, occurring (substantive and verb) seven times in this Epistle, and thrice in the second — _i.e.,_ as often as in all the other New Testament writings put together. It means the visible conduct of the daily walk in life. This, as among Gentiles — _i.e.,... [ Continue Reading ]
TO EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN. — Second prudential rule, subordination. Literally, _to every human creation, i.e.,_ to every office or authority which men have established. It is not only to ordinances of directly Divine institution that we are to submit. Mind that he does not say we are to submit to ev... [ Continue Reading ]
GOVERNORS, AS UNTO THEM THAT ARE SENT BY HIM. — This word will include _legati,_ proconsuls, propraetors, procurators, all officers entrusted with the administration of provinces. Of course the person “by” whom they are here said to be (from time to time) “sent” is Cæsar, not “the Lord.” The persons... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SO IS THE WILL OF GOD. — This refers to the command contained in the last two verses, which then is further explained by the clause which follows, “that with well-doing.” See a very similar construction in 1 Thessalonians 4:3. The “well-doing” of this and the last verse bears the most general se... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FREE. — This points at once to what was the gist of the accusation. The Christian took up a position of complete independence within, and professed himself in a certain sense to be above the laws, by virtue of being a member of Christ’s kingdom. This position of independence the heathen state res... [ Continue Reading ]
HONOUR ALL MEN. — “These words have very briefly, and yet not obscured by briefness, but withal very plainly, the sum of our duty towards God and men; to men, both in general, _honour all men,_ and in special relations, in their Christian or religious relations, _love the brotherhood;_ and in a chie... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVANTS — Second division of the second prudential rule: subordination social. This word is not the same as is used by St. Paul — _e.g.,_ Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22 — but is used only besides in Luke 16:13; Acts 10:7; Romans 14:4. It brings forward the _family_ or _household_ relation of servan... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS IS THANKWORTHY. — “This,” viz., what goes before, which is further explained in what follows. Quite literally it is, _for this is grace,_ or else (for, like _grâce_ in French, ‘the word has the double signification) _this is thanks._ The passage has some little importance in controversy, as... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR WHAT GLORY IS IT. — A poetical and pagan-sounding word, not elsewhere found in the New Testament; in the Old Testament it corresponds to the word “fame,” in Job 28:22. The sense may be said to be slightly humorous. “If you make a blunder” (such is the meaning of “fault” here — it might include s... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVEN HEREUNTO WERE YE CALLED. — Namely, to the combination of suffering and well-doing. To this they “were called” by the Gospel which St. Paul had preached to them; it ought not to be a surprise to them when it comes. (See 1 Peter 4:12.) It was a special point in St. Paul’s preaching to forewar... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO DID NO SIN. — This verse is not to be taken by itself, but in the closest conjunction with the following. It is not the sinlessness of Christ by itself that is here set as an example before the servants, but His sinlessness in combination with His ill-treatment, or rather, His meekness under the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO, WHEN HE WAS REVILED. — This “who” might be rendered by _and yet He._ Conscious though He was of being blameless (John 8:46), it did not make Him retaliate upon His accusers by counter-accusations, true though these might have been. The word here translated “revile” is the same which reappears i... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO HIS OWN SELF. — This verse, like the “for you” in 1 Peter 2:21, is intended to make the readers feel the claims of gratitude, not to set before them another point in which Christ was to be imitated. But at the same time it serves to enforce still more strongly the two points already mentioned —... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE WERE AS SHEEP GOING ASTRAY. — The right reading does not attach “going astray” to “sheep,” but as predicate of the sentence, “ye were going astray like sheep.” The “for” introduces an explanation of how they came to be in need of “healing.” “I may well say that ye were healed; for Israelites... [ Continue Reading ]