CHAPTER III. _The duty of wives to their husbands, how they are to be_ _adorned, and be in subjection as Sarah was to Abraham_, 1-6. _The duty of husbands to their wives_, 7. _How to obtain happiness, and live a long and useful life_, 8-11. _God loves and succours them that do good; but his fac... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 3:2. _CHASTE CONVERSATION - WITH FEAR._] While they see that ye join modesty, chastity, and the purest manners, to the fear of God. Or perhaps _fear_, φοβος, is taken, as in Ephesians 5:33, for the _reverence_ due to the husband.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 3:3. _WHOSE ADORNING_] κοσμος. Hebrews 9:1, where the word κοσμος, _world_ or _ornament_, is defined; and also the note on _"_Genesis 2:1_"_. _PLAITING THE HAIR, AND OF WEARING OF GOLD_] Plaiting the hair, and variously folding it about the head, was the most ancient and most simple... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 3:4. _THE HIDDEN MAN OF THE HEART_] Ὁ κρυπτος της καρδιας ανθρωπος. This phrase is of the same import with that of St. Paul, Romans 7:22, οεσωανθρωπος, the _inner man_; that is, the _soul_, with the whole system of affections and passions. Every part of the Scripture treats man as a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 3:5. _FOR AFTER THIS MANNER_] Simplicity reigned in primitive times; _natural ornaments_ alone were then in use. Trade and commerce brought in luxuries; and luxury brought _pride_, and all the _excessive nonsense_ of DRESS. No female head ever looks so well as when adorned with its ow... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _EVEN AS SARA OBEYED_] Almost the same words are in _Rab. Tanchum_, fol. 9, 3: "The wife of Abraham reverenced him, and called him lord, as it is written, Genesis 18:12: _And my lord is old_." The words of the apostle imply that she acknowledged his superiority, and her own subjection to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _DWELL WITH_ THEM _ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE_] Give your wives, by no species of unkind carriage, any excuse for delinquency. How can a man expect his wife to be faithful to him, if he be unfaithful to her? and _vice versa_. _GIVING HONOUR UNTO THE WIFE_] Using your superior strength and expe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. BE YE _ALL OF ONE MIND_] Unity, both in the family and in the Church, being essentially necessary to _peace_ and _salvation_. See on Romans 12:16; Romans 15:5. _HAVING COMPASSION_] συμπαθεις. Being _sympathetic_; feeling for each other; bearing each other's burdens. _LOVE AS BRETHREN_] φι... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _NOT RENDERING EVIL FOR EVIL_] Purposing, saying, doing nothing but _good_; and invariably returning good for evil. _YE ARE THEREUNTO CALLED_] This is your _calling_-your _business in_ _life_, to do good, and to do good for evil, and to implore God's _blessing_ even on your worst enemies.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _FOR HE THAT WILL LOVE LIFE_] This is a quotation from Psalms 34:12, as it stands in the Septuagint; only the aorist of the imperative is changed from the second into the third person, c. He who wishes to live long and prosperously, must act as he is here directed. 1. He must refrain from... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _THE EYES OF THE LORD_ ARE _OVER THE RIGHTEOUS_] That is, He is continually under God's notice and his care; God continually watches _for_ him and watches _over_ him, and he is _under_ his constant protection. _AND HIS EARS_ ARE OPEN _UNTO THEIR PRAYERS_] The original is very emphatic: _T... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _WHO_ IS _HE THAT WILL HARM YOU_] Is it possible that a man can be wretched who has God for his friend? "All the devices which the devil or wicked men work against such must be brought to naught, and by the providence of his goodness be dispersed." _IF YE BE FOLLOWERS_, c.] Εαν Του Αγαθο... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _BUT AND IF YE SUFFER_] God may permit you to be tried and persecuted for righteousness' sake, but this cannot _essentially harm you_; he will press even this into your service, and make it work for your good. _HAPPY_ ARE YE] This seems to refer to Matthew 5:10, c. _Blessed_ or _happy, ar... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _BUT SANCTIFY THE LORD GOD IN YOUR HEARTS_] To sanctify God may signify to offer him the _praises_ due to his grace, but as to _sanctify_ literally signifies to _make holy_, it is impossible that God should be thus sanctified. We have often already seen that αγιαζω signifies to _separate... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _HAVING A GOOD CONSCIENCE_] The testimony of God in your own soul, that in simplicity and godly sincerity you have your conversation in the world. See on the term _conscience_ at the end of Hebrews. _WHEREAS THEY SPEAK EVIL OF YOU_] See the same sentiment in 1 Peter 2:11, and the note the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _FOR_ IT IS _BETTER_] See on 1 Peter 2:19; 1 Peter 2:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _CHRIST ALSO HATH ONCE SUFFERED_] Romans 5:6, Romans 5:6; _"_Hebrews 9:28_"_. _PUT TO DEATH IN THE FLESH_] In his human nature. _BUT QUICKENED BY THE SPIRIT_] That very dead body revived by the power of his Divinity. There are various opinions on the meaning of this verse, with which I n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _BY WHICH_] Spirit, his own Divine energy and authority. _HE WENT AND PREACHED_] By the ministry of Noah, one hundred and twenty years. _UNTO THE SPIRITS IN PRISON_] The inhabitants of the antediluvian world, who, having been _disobedient_, and convicted of the most flagrant transgressi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _WHEN ONCE THE LONG-SUFFERING OF GOD WAITED_] In _Pirkey Aboth_, cap. v. 1 Peter 3:2, we have these words: "There were ten generations from Adam to Noah, that the _long-suffering_ of God might appear; for each of these generations provoked him to anger, and went on in their iniquity, till... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _THE LIKE FIGURE WHEREUNTO_, c.] Dr. Macknight has translated this verse so as to make the meaning more clear: _By_ _which_ (water) _the antitype baptism_ (_not the putting away of the_ _filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards_ _God_) _now saveth us also, through th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 3:22. _WHO IS GONE INTO HEAVEN_] Having given the fullest proof of his resurrection from the dead, and of his having accomplished the end for which he came into the world. _ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD_] In the place of the highest dignity, honour, and influence. The Vulgate, one copy of... [ Continue Reading ]