1.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Verse 1
Strangers. This Epistle is addressed to Jewish Christians residing in the various provinces of Asia Minor here specified. Jews residing in countries foreign to Judea were called strangers, being such in the land where they were dwelling.--Asia; a certain province of Asia Minor, including Phrygia, Mysia, Caria, Lydia, &c., being the western and south-western part. The other provinces mentioned here are situated in the northern and eastern part of the same country. So that, in a word, this Epistle is addressed to the Jewish Christians of Asia Minor.
2.
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Verse 2
Elect--unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. The believer is elect unto obedience, inasmuch as, from being a rebellious transgressor, he is made henceforth obedient to the will of God; and he is elect unto sprinkling of the blood of Christ, as, through the atonement made by Christ, his past sins are forgiven. The figure of sprinkling with blood, to denote the spiritual efficacy of Christ's death, seems to be taken from some of the ceremonies of the Jewish law. (Exodus 24:8.)
3.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Verse 3
Hath begotten us again; created us anew.--A lively hope; an animating hope.
4.
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5.
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Verse 5
In the last time; at the end of the world.
6.
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
Verse 6
Wherein; that is, in the joyful hope of which the writer had been speaking.--Manifold temptations; many sufferings and trials.
7.
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Verse 7
That perisheth, though it be tried with fire; that is, though it stands the test of fire, it is not indestructible;--being often lost or consumed by means of other causes.
8.
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9.
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10.
Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11.
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Verse 11
Searching what or what manner of time, &c.; that is, what time, or what manner of time. The distinction, however, which was intended to be marked by these two forms of expression, is not understood. It has been supposed that Peter alludes here to Daniel 9:22,Daniel 9:24, where the prophet is represented as earnestly desirous of understanding when and in what manner the promised redemption was to come.--The Spirit of Christ; the spirit of prophecy respecting Christ.
12.
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Verse 12
That not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister, &c.; that is, when they desired to know, as is stated in 1 Peter 1:11, at what time the events which they predicted were to be fulfilled, it was revealed to them that the promised blessings were not to be bestowed upon them, but upon a future and distant generation. To minister things is to perform any service relating to them; as the prophets, by their predictions, did in respect to the great plan of salvation.--Desire to look into; take pleasure in looking into.
13.
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Verse 13
Gird up, &c. The loose dress worn in those days had to be drawn around the body by a girdle, whenever any exertion or labor was required. Luke 12:35.John 13:4.) Hence the act of girding came to represent earnest preparation for duty. In this case, the direction means, Enter resolutely upon the work before you.--For the grace; the favor,--referring here evidently to the future happiness of the Christian.
14.
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
Verse 14
Not fashioning yourselves; that is, your conduct and character.--In your ignorance; before you became acquainted with the truth in Christ.
15.
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Verse 15
In all manner of conversation; in all your conduct.
16.
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Verse 16
1 Peter 1:16; Leviticus 11:44,Leviticus 19:2.
17.
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
Verse 17
If ye call on the Father; if you are looking to him,--depending upon his favor.
18.
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
Verse 18
Your vain conversation; your life of folly and sin.
19.
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Verse 19
The lamb required for the ancient sacrifice was to be without a blemish. (Leviticus 22:19,Leviticus 22:20.) This perfection may be regarded as an emblem of the spiritual purity and spotlessness of Jesus Christ.
20.
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Verse 20
Was manifest; was manifested; that is, he visibly appeared.
21.
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22.
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23.
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Verse 23
Of corruptible seed; of frail and sinful parentage.
24.
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
Verse 24
All flesh; all that comes from flesh, that is, from corruptible seed, as mentioned in the 1 Peter 1:23.
25.
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Verse 25
The word of the Lord; that is, the incorruptible seed, mentioned in 1 Peter 1:23, as that through which the believer is born again.