1_Peter, an apostle _What in this salutation is the same with those of Paul, requires no new explanation. When Paul prayed for _grace _and _peace, _the verb is left out; but Peter adds it, and says, _be multiplied; _still the meaning is the same; for Paul did not wish to the faithful the beginning o... [ Continue Reading ]
3_Blessed be God _We have said that the main object of this epistle is to raise us above the world, in order that we may be prepared and encouraged to sustain the spiritual contests of our warfare. For this end, the knowledge of God’s benefits avails much; for, when their value appears to us, all ot... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
5_Who are kept by the power of God _We are to notice the connection when he says, that we are kept while in the world, and at the same time our inheritance is reserved in heaven; otherwise this thought would immediately creep in, “What does it avail us that our salvation is laid up in heaven, when w... [ Continue Reading ]
6_Wherein ye greatly rejoice, _or, _In which ye exult_. Though the termination of the Greek verb is doubtful, yet the meaning requires that we read, “ye exult,” rather than “exult ye.” _In which _refers to the whole that is said of the hope of salvation laid up in heaven. But he rather exhorts than... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Much more precious than of gold _The argument is from the less to the greater; for if gold, a corruptible metal, is deemed of so much value that we prove it by fire, that it may become really valuable, what wonder is it that God should require a similar trial as to faith, since faith is deemed by... [ Continue Reading ]
8_Whom having not seen, _or, _Whom though ye have not seen_. He lays down two things, that they loved Christ whom they had not seen, and that they believed on him whom they did not then behold. But the first arises from the second; for the cause of love is faith, not only because the knowledge of th... [ Continue Reading ]
9_Receiving the end of your faith _He reminds the faithful where they ought to direct all their thoughts, even to eternal salvation. For this world holds all our affections ensnared by is allurements; this life and all things belonging to the body are great impediments, which prevent us from applyin... [ Continue Reading ]
He hence commends the value of salvation, because the prophets had their minds intensely fixed on it; for it must have been a great matter, and possessing peculiar excellency, which could have thus kindled in the prophets a spirit of inquiry respecting it. But still more clearly does God’s goodness... [ Continue Reading ]
11. And what they inquired is pointed out when he adds_, Searching what, or what manner of time _There was a difference between the law and the gospel, a veil as it were being interposed, that they might not see those things nearer which are now set before our eyes. Nor was it indeed proper, while C... [ Continue Reading ]
12_Unto whom it was revealed _This passage has been strangely perverted by fanatics, so as to exclude the fathers who lived under the law from the hope of eternal salvation. For it does not deny that the prophets usefully ministered to their own age, and edified the church, but teaches us that their... [ Continue Reading ]
From the greatness and excellency of grace he draws an exhortation, that it surely behoved them the more readily to receive the grace of God, as the more bountifully he bestowed it upon them. And we must notice the connection: he had said, that so elevated was the kingdom of Christ, to which the gos... [ Continue Reading ]
14_As obedient children _He first intimates that we are called by the Lord to the privilege and honor of adoption through the Gospel; and, secondly, that we are adopted for this end, that he might have us as his obedient children. For though obedience does not make us children, as the gift of adopti... [ Continue Reading ]
15_He who hath called you is holy _He reasons from the end for which we are called. God sets us apart as a peculiar people for himself; then we ought to be free from all pollutions. And he quotes a sentence which had been often repeated by Moses. For as the people of Israel were on every side surrou... [ Continue Reading ]
17_And if ye call on the Father _They are said here to call on God the Father, who professed themselves to be his children, as Moses says, that the name of Jacob was called on Ephraim and Manasseh, that they might be counted his children. (Genesis 48:16.) According to this meaning also, we say in Fr... [ Continue Reading ]
18_Forasmuch as ye know, _or, _knowing_. Here is another reason, drawn from the price of our redemption, which ought always to be remembered when our salvation is spoken of. For to him who repudiates or despises the grace of the gospel, not only his own salvation is worthless, but also the blood of... [ Continue Reading ]
19_As of a lamb _He means by this similitude, that we have in Christ whatever had been shadowed forth by the ancient sacrifices, though he especially alludes to the Paschal lamb. But let us hence learn what benefit the reading of the Law brings us in this respect; for, though the rite of sacrificing... [ Continue Reading ]
20_Who verily was foreordained _He again by a comparison amplifies the grace of God, with which he had peculiarly favored the men of that age. For it was not a common or a small favor that God deferred the manifestation of Christ to that time, when yet he had ordained him in his eternal council for... [ Continue Reading ]
21_Who believe _The manifestation of Christ refers not to all indiscriminately, but belongs to those only on whom he by the Gospel shines. But we must notice the words, _Who by him believe in God: _here is shortly expressed what faith is. For, since God is incomprehensible, faith could never reach t... [ Continue Reading ]
22_Seeing ye have purified your souls, _or, _Purifying your souls_. Erasmus badly renders the words, “Who have purified,” _etc_. For Peter does not declare what they had done, but reminds them of what they ought to do. The participle is indeed in the past tense, but it may be rendered as a gerund, “... [ Continue Reading ]
23_Being born again _Here is another reason for an exhortation, — that since they were new men and born again of God, it behoved them to form a life worthy of God and of their spiritual regeneration. And this seems to be connected with a verse in 1 Peter 2:2 respecting the milk of the word, which th... [ Continue Reading ]
24_For all flesh _He aptly quotes the passage from Isaiah to prove both clauses; that is, to make it evident how fading and miserable is the first birth of man, and how great is the grace of the new birth. For as the Prophet there speaks of the restoration of the Church, to prepare the way for it, h... [ Continue Reading ]
25_But the word of God _The Prophet does not shew what the word of God is in itself, but what we ought to think of it; for since man is vanity in himself, it remains that he ought to seek life elsewhere. Hence Peter ascribes power and efficacy to God’s word, according to the authority of the Prophet... [ Continue Reading ]