Commentari biblici

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

To the strangers — That is, to the provincial Jews. See Trapp on " James 1:1 " These strangers were (probably) those that came up to Jerusalem at Pentecost, and were converted by St Peter, Acts 2:7-11 ; Acts 2:41 , to whom therefore he here writes, as to newly born babes, 1 Peter 2:2 , and such as met with manifold afflictions for Christ’s sake, 1 Peter 3:14 , … He exhorts them therefore to steadfastness in the faith and constancy in trial. Christ’s young plants need watering.

return to '

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.

Through sanctification unto obedience — To the means as well as to the end, to sanctification as well as to salvation. Some there be (saith Mr Philpot in an epistle of his to the congregation) that for an extreme refuge in their evil doings, run to God’s election, saying, If I be elected I shall be saved, whatever I do. But such be great tempters of God, and abominable blasphemers of his holy election; these cast themselves down from the pinnacle of the temple in presumption, that God may preserve them by his angels through predestination. God’s election ought to be with a simple eye considered, to make us more warily walk according to his word, and not set cock in the hoop, and put all on God’s back, to do wickedly at large. Thus he.

Grace unto you, and peace be multiplied — πληθυνθειη , or, enlarged to the utmost, filled up and accomplished. He prays for further measures, that they might be past the spoon and get to a well grown, fully grown age in Christ, Ephesians 4:13 , until they came to be fathers, gray headed, experienced Christians, such as the Psalmist speaketh of, Psalms 90:12-14 .

return to '

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,

Blessed be the God — A stately proem, and such as can hardly be matched again, unless it be that of St Paul to the Ephesians, Ephesians 1:3 .

Unto a lively hope — Sure and solid, clearing the conscience, and cheering the spirit. Vivere spe vidi qui moriturus erat. If it were not for hope, the heart would break; as they do whose lives and hopes end together. True hope lives when the man dies. It hath for its motto, Dum expiro, spero. The righteous hath hope in his death, as St Stephen had; who

" Ibat ovans animis, et spe sua damna levabat, "

Went with good cheer to take his end. (Bembus.) And many of the holy martyrs went as willingly to die as ever they did to dine; they called it their wedding day. They knew it was but winking only, and they should be in heaven immediately; hence their invincible courage at the hour of death. The ungodly are not so; their hopes are dying hopes, they are no better than as the giving up of the ghost, Job 11:20 .

return to '

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Undefiled, and that fadeth not — The two Greek words here used are also Latin; Amiantus is a precious stone (saith Dr Playfere out of Isidore), which though it be never so much soiled, yet it cannot be blemished. And Amaranthus is the name of a flower, which being a long time hung up in the house, yet still is fresh and green, as Clemens writeth (Paedagog. p. 8). To both these possibly the apostle might here allude: and it is as if he should say, The crown that you shall receive shall be studded with the stone Amiantus, which cannot be defiled; and it is garnished with the flower Amaranthus, which is fresh and green, …

return to '

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Who are kept — φρουρουμενοι , as with a guard, or as in a garrison, that is, well fenced with walls and works, and so is made impregnable.

By the power of God — Much seen in the saints’ perseverance. "My Father is stronger than all; none therefore can take you out of my hands, since I and the Father are one,"John 10:29-30; John 10:29-30 .

return to '

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

Wherein ye greatly rejoice — Gr. αγαλλιασθε , ye dance for joy, ye dance a galliard, or as children do about a bonfire; ye cannot but express your inward joy in your countenance, voice, and gesture.

If need be, ye are in heaviness — When our hearts grow a grain too light, God seeth it but needful to make us heavy through manifold temptations. When our water (as it were) looks but a little too high, our heavenly Father, a physician no less cunning than loving (saith Bayn), doth discern it, and quickly fits us, whom he most tendereth, with that which will reduce all to the healthful temper of a broken spirit.

return to '

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:

That the trial of your faith — If affliction (which is the trial of our faith) be so exceeding precious, what is faith then, and the promises whereon faith lays hold? There are those who by the trial of faith understand here a well tried faith, which is called "gold tried in the fire," Revelation 3:18 .

return to '

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:

Whom having not seen — They had not been, belike, at the feast of the Passover (at which time our Saviour suffered), but came up to the feast of Pentecost, and were converted,Acts 2:7-11; Acts 2:7-11 ; Acts 2:41 .

And full of glory — Gr. δεδοξασμενη , glorified already; a piece of God’s kingdom and heaven’s happiness beforehand. Oh, the joy! the joy! the inexpressible joy that I find in my soul! said a dying saint.

return to '