1 Peter 1:4

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, TO AN INHERITANCE - the object of "hope" (1 Peter 1:3); therefore not a dead, but a 'living' hope. The inheritance is the believer's already by title, being actually assigned; the entrance on its possession is future, a hoped-for certainty. Being "begotten again" as a "son," he is an "heir," as earthly fathers beget children to inherit their goods. The inheritance is "salvation" (1 Peter 1:5; 1 Peter 1:9); "the grace to be brought at the revelation of Christ" (1 Peter 1:13;...

4_To an inheritance _(8) The three words which follow are intended to amplify God’s grace; for Peter (as I have before said) had this object in view, to impress our minds thoroughly as to its excellency. Moreover, these two clauses, “to an inheritance incorruptible,” etc., and “to salvation ready to be revealed,” I deem as being in apposition, the latter being explanatory of the former; for he expresses the same thing in two ways. Every word which follows is weighty. The inheritance is said to be _reserved, _or preserved, that we may know that it is beyond the reach of danger. For, were it not in God’s hand, it might be exposed to endless dangers. If it were in this world, how could we regard it as safe amidst so many changes? That he might then free us from every fear, he testifies that our salvation is placed in safety beyond the harms which Satan can do. But as the certainty of salvat...

1-9 This epistle is addressed to believers in general, who are strangers in every city or country where they live, and are scattered through the nations. These are to ascribe their salvation to the electing love of the Father, the redemption of the Son, and the sanctification of the Holy Ghost; and so to give glory to one God in three Persons, into whose name they had been baptized. Hope, in the world's phrase, refers only to an uncertain good, for all worldly hopes are tottering, built upon sand, and the worldling's hopes of heaven are blind and groundless conjectures. But the hope of the sons of the living God is a living hope; not only as to its object, but as to its effect also. It enlivens and comforts in all distresses, enables to meet and get over all difficulties. Mercy is the spring of all this; yea, great mercy and manifold mercy. And this well-grounded hope of salvation, is a...

Verse 1 Peter 1:4. _TO AN INHERITANCE_] Called an _inheritance_ because it belongs to the _children_ of God. Eternal life cannot be a gift to any but _these_; for, even in heaven, the _lot_ is dealt out according to _law_: if _children_, then _heirs_; if _not children_, then _not_ _heirs_. _INCORRUPTIBLE_] αφθαρτον. It has no principles of _dissolution_ or _decay_ in it; and, therefore, must be totally different from this earth. _UNDEFILED_] αμιαντον. Nothing _impure_ can enter it; it not only has no principles or seeds of _dissolution_ in itself, but it can never admit any; therefore its deterioration is impossible. _FADETH NOT AWAY_] αμαρνατον. _It cannot wither_, it is always in _bloom_; a metaphor taken from those

TO AN INHERITANCE - Through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus we now cherish the hope of that future inheritance in heaven. On the word inheritance, see the Acts 20:32 note; Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 1:14, Ephesians 1:18 notes; Colossians 1:12 note. Christians are regarded as the adopted children of God, and heaven is spoken of as their inheritance - as what their Father will bestow on them as the proof of his love. INCORRUPTIBLE - It will not fade away and vanish, as th

EXPOSITIONS 1 PETER 1:1 PETER. It is the Greek form of the name, which the Lord Jesus himself had given to the great apostle; first, by anticipation, in the spirit of prophecy (John 1:42); and again when the prophecy was already in a measure fulfilled, and Simon was proving himself to be indeed a stone, built upon the Rock of Ages, which is Christ (Matthew 16:18). It was his Christian name; he must have prized that name as the gift of Christ, reminding him always, of his confession and of the Savior's promise, urging him to maintain throughout life that rock-like steadfastness which was indeed characteristic of him, but in which he had more than once very sadly failed. The us

TO AN INHERITANCE INCORRUPTIBLE,.... This is a further explanation of the "lively hope", or hope laid up in heaven, which regenerate ones are begotten to: it is an "inheritance"; a large estate, and rich possession, they are born heirs apparent to; what is not to be got by industry, or obtained by the works of the law; for they that are of the law are not heirs; but what is the pure bequest and free gift of God, as a Father to his children; for an inheritance is proper and peculiar to children, nor does it belong to any but them; and it comes to them through the death of the testator, Christ, and of it the Holy Spirit is the pledge and earnest: and here it is said to be INCORRUPTIBLE; it is free from corruption in itself; nor can it be corrupted by others, by moth, or rust, or other things, as gold, silver, and garments may, which are a part of earthly inheritances; nor can it be enjoye...

1 Peter 1:1. _Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 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._ How sweetly the apostle is obeying his Master's command, «When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.» This is the same Peter who once began to sink beneath the waves, yet now he is helping others to stand. This is the very Peter who denied his master, but he begins his Epistle by owning himself to be «an apostle of Jesus Christ.» What wonders the Lord Jesus had wrought for Peter by his grace! It is no marvel, therefore, that he should say to others, «Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.»...

ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. THE SUFFERING OF BELIEVERS AND EXHORTATIONS TO HOLY LIVING CHAPTER 1:1-21 _ 1. The introduction and doxology (1 Peter 1:1)_ 2. Suffering and the coming glory (1 Peter 1:6) 3. As revealed in the prophets (1 Peter 1:10) 4. Exhortations to holy living (1 Peter 1:13) 1 Peter 1:1 As stated in the introduction, Peter writes to believing Jews in the dispersion throughout the provinces mentioned in the first verse. There is at once pointed out a contrast between them as true bel

The section contains a deep and rich thanksgiving to God for the certainty of an eternal fellowship with Christ. This no sufferings can mar, nor death itself break. He is the unseen Friend, and since they know Him by the power of faith, they have a richer inheritance than the prophets, and in their joy is a note that is wanting even in the song of angels. 1 PETER 1:7. REVELATION: lit. apocalypse. Thus was every manifestation of Christ regarded. He is always present, sometimes more clearly seen. 1 Peter 1:11. Spirit of Christ is regarded as the inspirational power of the prophets. As by Paul (2 Corinthians 3:18) the Lord and the Spirit are identified....