1 Peter 1:13

διό introduces the practical inference. ἀναζωσάμενοι, κ. τ. λ., the reference to the directions for celebration of the Passover (Exodus 12:11, οὕτως δὲ φάγεσθε αὐτό · αἱ ὀσφύες ὑμῶν περιεζωσμέναι … μετὰ σπουδῆς) is unmistakable. The actual deliverance of the Christians is still in the future; they must be always ready against the coming of the Lord. Oec. refers to Job 38:3. The particular compound occurs only twice in LXX once in this phrase of the manly woman in Proverbs 31:17, ἀναζωσαμένη ἰσχυρῶς τὴν ὀσφὺν αὐτῆς, where it implies preparation for serious work. In 2 Kings 4:29 ff. (Elisha's mission of Gehazi which is in some ways a type fulfilled by Jesus' mission of the Seventy, cf. Luke 10:4), ζῶσαι τὴν ὀσφύν σου is the preparation for an urgent errand. The addition of τῆς διανοίας implies that the readiness required is spiritual. St. Paul uses καρδία in the same way (Ephesians 1:18, πεφωτισμέ νους τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς τῆς καρδίας ὑμῶν) and from Mark 12:30 = Deuteronomy 6:4 f. it appears that διάνοια is a recognised equivalent of לבב heart. νήφοντες τελείως. In cases like this it is natural to take the adverb with the preceding verb. τελείως (only here in N.T.) has much the same force as τῆς διανοίας; so the adjective is applied to the antitype as contrasted with the type in Hebrews 9:11, τῆς … τελειοτέρας σκηνῆς and James 1:25, νόμον τέλειον τὸν τῆς ἐλευθερίας. For νήφοντες cf. 1 Peter 4:7 and 1 Peter 5:8, νήψατε γρηγορήσατε, 1 Thessalonians 5:8, γρηγορῶμεν καὶ νήφωμεν. Sobriety is necessary to watchfulness. The origin of this use of the word (not in the LXX) is to be found in the parable of Luke 12:45 f.; it has special point in view of the κώμοις and πότοις, in which they were prone to indulge. τὴν φερομένην ὑμῖν χάριν is an adaption of the common Greek idiom (Homer downwards) φέρειν χ., to confer a favour (cf. Sir 8:19, μὴ ἀναφερέτω σοι χάριν) and is thus analogous to St. Paul's use of χαρίζεσθαι (see Romans 8:32). The present participle has its natural force. Peter does not distinguish between the present and the climax; already the new age which is the last has begun. The χάρις is the final deliverance and its use here is another link with the type: ἔδωκεν ὁ Κύριος τὴν χάριν τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ (Exodus 12:36). ἐν ἀποκαλύψει Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, Jesus Christ is being revealed or is revealing the salvation. The revelation began with the resurrection cf. φανερωθέντος and continues to the culmination (7).