1 Peter 1

1 Peter 1:1

PEter] Called first Simon, or Simeon, John 21. 1. 2 Peter 1:1. afterwards Peter; but at what time, that is, whether when he first came to Christ John 1:42. or when he was called to be an Apostle, Mark 3:16. Luke 6:14. or when he made that good confession, Matthew 16:18. is not so easie to be determined.

to the strangers] Gr. to the elect strangers. Some understand hereby the Jews onely, others both Jews and Gentiles scattered by persecution.

scattered] Gr. of the dispersion. James 1:1.

1 Peter 1:2

Elect] That is, sequestred and separated from the world. See John 15. 19. Revelation 17:14. in which place, elect, called, and faithfull, are put for the same; so that here we are to understand by [elect] those who were effectually called, or who had obeyed the Gospel.

foreknowledge] Or, preordination; or, foreappointment; that is, as God had before decreed. See vers. 20.

through] Here is set down the principall cause of their effectuall calling, viz. the sanctification of the Spirit. See vers. 22.

obedience] That is, that ye might obey the Gospel, and so be reconciled unto God, through the sprinkling of the bloud of Jesus Christ.

sprinkling] Hebrews 12:24.

1 Peter 1:3

Blessed] 2 Corinthians 1:3. Ephesians 1:3.

abundant] Gr. much.

begotten] That is, confirmed in us a living hope; or quickened, or revived us unto a living hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, because God raised him up, that we might beleeve and hope in God for our resurrection unto glory. See V. 21 Act 13:33; Acts 13:38. Romans 1:4. & Romans 10:9. Christs resurrection being a pledge of ours hence he is called the first-fruits of the dead, 1 Corinthians 15:23. and the first-born from the dead, Colossians 1:15; Colossians 1:18. & Revelation 1:5. Some understand it of Gods renewing us by Christs resurrection. See Romans 6:5, &c.

lively hope] Or, living hope. That is, a constant, permanent, or a hope that shall not fail, as living waters, John 6:51. or to a hope of life.

1 Peter 1:4

To an inheritance] Romans 8:17. Galatians 3:18. Col. 1. 12. Here is set down the object of that hope.

fadeth] Chap. 5. 4.

reserved in heaven for you] Or, for us. Colossians 1:5. 2 Timothy 1:12.

1 Peter 1:5

kept] Or, guarded.

power of God] John 10. 28. 29. 1 Corinthians 1:8.

faith] Because by faith we lay hold on the power of God; and in his power fight against all our spirituall adversaries. See Ephesians 6:10.

last time] 1 John 3:2. That is, at Christs appearance. Vers. 7.

1 Peter 1:6

Wherein] That is, in which hope of salvation. See Mat. 5. Luk. 6. Rom. 12. 2 Cor. 6. Romans 5:2.

for a season] 2 Corinthians 4:17.

if need be] That is, if it be Gods will. See Chap. 3. 17. or, if it shall be your good. 1 Corinthians 11:32.

heavinesse] Hebrews 12:11.

manifold temptations] See. James 1:2.

1 Peter 1:7

the triall] Job 23:10. James 1:3.

more precious] Chap. 4. 13. James 1:12.

1 Peter 1:8

not seen John 20. 29. 1 John 4. 20.

in whom] Considering that great and plentifull redemption which he hath wrought for you.

full of glory] Or, glorious, either because this their rejoycing was a taste of their future glory, or because it made them glorious in the eyes of men. The Originall word may be translated celebrated, or renowned, or spoken of to praise, or glorified, or commended, or honoured. See Luke 4:15. John 13:31.

1 Peter 1:9

end] That is, reward. See Rom. 6. 21, 22. 2 Corinthians 11:15. Phil. 3. 19. James 5:11.

salvation] S. Peter means hereby that salvation which is begun in this life, in the peace of a good conscience, and the joy of the Holy Ghost, and which shall be perfected hereafter in heaven.

souls] By a chief part of man we are here to understand the whole man. See Genesis 12:5. & Genesis 14:21. & Genesis 17:14.Luke 6:9. Romans 13:1. for the body also shall be made partaker of salvation at the resurrection. Philippians 3:20-21.

1 Peter 1:10

searched] Matthew 2:8. & Matthew 10:11.

prophesied] Acts 3:18.

grace] So here the fulfilling of the promises of Christs coming in the flesh, of his preaching the acceptable year of the Lord, of his dying for our sinnes, and rising for our justification, or these things themselves, and the like exhibited, are styled in opposition to the types, figures and shadows of this grace. John 1:17.

1 Peter 1:11

of Christ] Galatians 4:6. So the Holy Ghost by which the Prophets spake (2 Peter 1:21.) is called, because Christ sent the Holy Ghost upon the Prophets, as he did upon the Apostles. See John 12. 15, 26.

in them] See Hebrews 1:1.

testified] Luke 24:25, &c. Acts 17:2-3. Rom. 1. 2, 3. & 16. 26. 1 Corinthians 15:2; 1 Corinthians 15:4.

1 Peter 1:12

the things] That is, the coming of Christ, and those particulars mentioned, verse 10. 11. and not the fruits and effects of them; for the faithfull before Christs coming were saved by the grace of Christ, even as we. Acts 15:9.

with the Holy Ghost] Acts 2:4. That is, by the assistance of the Holy Ghost.

which things] Ephesians 3:10. That is, which mysteries of the Gospel, revealed in the latter times.

look into] Narrowly, as they who bowing or stooping down look upon a thing. See James 1:25. Luke 24:12. John 25. 11.

1 Peter 1:13

gird up the loyns of your minde] Gr. having the loyns of your minde girded. It is a metaphor taken from an ancient custome in the eastern countries, where they were wont to wear long garments, which they girded to their loyns, to make them expedite, nimble, and readie for travail, or some other service, 1 Kings 18:46. 2 Kings 4:29. & 2 Kings 9:1. Luke 12:37. Hence it is translated here, and in other places, as Job 38:3. & Job 40:7. Luke 12:35. to the minde, to import its preparednesse and readinesse for Gods service.

be sober] Gr. being sober. Hereby Saint Peter directs us unto that wherein the preparation of the soul doth consist, or unto the means whereby it must be prepared for Gods service, and that is sobernesse; that is, a moderation not onely in meats and drinks, but in all earthly things. See vers. 4. & Luke 12:35, &c. 1. Thes. 5. 8.

and hope] Gr. hope.

to the end] Gr. perfectly. Luke 21:34. Titus 2:12. Hosea 12:6. Hebrews 6:11.

grace] Some understand hereby that grace which is now revealed and offered unto us by the preaching of the Gospel; as Ephesians 1:6. 7. Titus 2:11. and these reade the words following thus, viz. which is brought unto you by the revelation of Christ; that is, by his preaching of the Gospel unto you, or in, or at his appearing, or being manifested in the flesh. Others understand here by [grace] that salvation and glory which shall be revealed at the second coming of Christ; as Chap. 3. 7.

that is to be brought] Or, that is brought.

at the revelation] 2 Thessalonians 1:10.

1 Peter 1:14

obedient children] Gr. children of obedience.

not fashioning] Gr. not fashioned. Herein S. Peter may seem to allude to those things which receive their figure, form, or shape from a mould, and is as if he had said, Let not your lives or conversations be formed or moulded according to your former lusts; see Romans 12:2. The same is imported, when men are said to walk after their lusts, making their lusts their Captains or Leaders. See Ephesians 2:3. and Ephesians 4:22. 2 Timothy 3:6. Titus 3:3. 2 Peter 3:3. Jude 1:18.

former lusts] Ephesians 4:22.

ignorance] Ephesians 4:18. Acts 17:30. That is, before ye were called to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Peter 1:16

Be ye holy] Leviticus 11:44. & Leviticus 19:2. & Leviticus 20:7.

1 Peter 1:17

who without] Deuteronomy 10:17. Romans 2:11.

according to] Ecclesiastes 12:14.

sojourning] The Original word signifieth a dwelling for a time in a place, which is not native unto us. See Exodus 6:4. Acts 7:6; Acts 7:29. Hebrews 11:9. Hence when it is applyed to our living upon the face of the earth, thereby is implyed, that here we have no abiding Citie. See Chap. 2. 11. Genesis 47:9. Hebrews 13:14.

in fear] Chap. 2. 18. & 3. 2, 16. Ephesians 6:5. Psalms 2:12. 2 Corinthians 2:3. & 7. 1, 15.

1 Peter 1:18

vain conversation] So called because it did proceed from the vanitie of their mindes, Ephesians 6:17. and because of the unprofitablenesse of it. Hab. 2. 13. Romans 6:21.

tradition] That is, either by their example or teaching: Some suppose that here the Apostle intends those idle and Pharisaicall traditions which they had learned from their fathers.

fathers] Ezekiel 20:18.

1 Peter 1:19

precious] 1 Corinthians 6:20.

bloud] Ephesians 1:7. 1 John 1:7. Revelation 1:5.

lamb] Herein Saint Peter relates unto the Paschall Lamb, and the Lamb for the daily sacrifice, both which were to be without blemish or spot. See Exodus 12:5. Numbers 28:3; Numbers 28:19. and both which were types of Christ. John 1:29. 1 Corinthians 5:7.

without blemish] Hebrews 7:26.

1 Peter 1:20

Who verily] Romans 16:25. Colossians 1:26. 1 Timothy 1:10. Titus 1:2.

foreordained] Gr. foreknown. See vers. 2. Acts 10:42. Ephesians 3:11.

manifest] That is, in the flesh. See 1 Timothy 3:16. 1 John 3:8.

last times] See Genesis 49:1.

1 Peter 1:21

by him] For we can have no confidence in God, as reconciled unto us, but through Christ. See John 14. 6. Acts 10:36. Ephes. 2. 14, 15. & 3. 12. Col. 1. 20.

raised] Ephesians 1:20.

glory] See vers. 11.

that your faith] See vers. 3.

1 Peter 1:22

purified] Tit. 3. 5, 6.

obeying] That is, by faith, by which you obey the truth. See Romans 1:5; Romans 1:16; Romans 1:26.

through the Spirit] Acts 15:9.

unfeigned] 2 Corinthians 6:6. 1 Timothy 1:5. 1 Corinthians 6:11.

love] Romans 12:10. Chap. 2. 17.

fervently] Gr. extensively. That is, with a stretched-out love, or extended love.

1 Peter 1:23

corruptible] As they are who are born after the common course of nature.

by the Word] James 1:18. It is usuall in the Scripture, John 1. 13. & 3. 3. to compare the Word of God to seed. See Luke 8:5.

which liveth] Psalms 119:89.

1 Peter 1:24

For] Or, for that.

all flesh is as grasse] Esa. 40. 6. & 54. 10. 2 Corinthians 5:21. James 1:10.