CHAPTER II. _We should lay aside all evil dispositions, and desire the_ _sincere milk of the word, that we may grow thereby_, 1-3. _And come to God to be made living stones, and be built up into_ _a spiritual temple_, 4, 5. _The prophecy of Christ as chief corner stone, precious to_ _believers... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 2:2. _AS NEW-BORN BABES_] In the preceding chapter, 1 Peter 1:23, the apostle states that they had been _born again_; and as the new-born infant desires that aliment which nature has provided for it, so they, being _born again_-born from above, should as earnestly require that heavenl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 2:3. _IF SO BE YE HAVE TASTED_] ειπερ εγευσασθε. _Seeing ye_ _have tasted_. There could be no _doubt_ that they had tasted the goodness of Christ _who were born again, of incorruptible seed_, and whose _hearts were purified by the truth_, and who _had like precious_ _faith_ with the ap... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 2:4. _TO WHOM COMING_, AS UNTO _A LIVING STONE_] This is a reference to Isaiah 28:16: _Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a_ _precious corner stone, a sure foundation_. Jesus Christ is, in both the prophet and apostle, represented as the _foundation_ on whic... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 2:5. _YE ALSO, AS LIVELY STONES_] λιθοι ζωντες. _Living_ _stones_; each being instinct with the principle of life, which proceeds from him who is the foundation, called above λιθον ζωντα, _a living stone_. The metaphor in this and the following verse is as bold as it is singular; and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 6. _BEHOLD, I LAY IN SION_] This intimates that the foundation of the Christian Church should be laid at Jerusalem; and _there_ it was laid, for there Christ suffered, and there the preaching of the Gospel commenced. _A CHIEF CORNER STONE_] This is the same as the foundation stone; and it is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 7. _UNTO YOU THEREFORE WHICH BELIEVE_] You, both Jews and Gentiles. HE IS _PRECIOUS_] Ὑμιν ουν ἡ τιμη τοις πιστευουσιν· _The honour_ _is to you who believe_; i.e. the honour of being in this building, and of having your souls saved through the blood of the Lamb, and becoming sons and daught... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 8. _A STONE OF STUMBLING_] Because in him all Jews and Gentiles who believe are united; and because the latter were admitted into the Church, and called by the Gospel to enjoy the same privileges which the Jews, as the peculiar people of God, had enjoyed for two thousand years before; therefor... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 9. _YE_ ARE _A CHOSEN GENERATION_] The titles formerly given to the whole Jewish Church, _i.e._ to all the Israelites without exception, all who were in the covenant of God by circumcision, whether they were holy persons or not, are here given to Christians in general in the same way; _i.e._ t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 10. _WHICH IN TIME PAST_ WERE _NOT A PEOPLE_] This is a quotation from Hosea 1:9; Hosea 2:23, where the _calling of the Gentiles_, by the preaching of the Gospel, is foretold. From this it is evident, that the people to whom the apostle now addresses himself had been _Gentiles_, covered with i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 11. _AS STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS_] Hebrews 11:13. These were _strangers_ and _pilgrims_ in the most literal sense of the word, see 1 Peter 1:1, for they were _strangers_ scattered through Asia, Pontus, c. _ABSTAIN FROM FLESHLY LUSTS_] As ye are _strangers_ and _pilgrims_, and profess to seek a... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 12. _HAVING YOUR CONVERSATION HONEST_] Living in such a manner among the Gentiles, in whose country ye sojourn, as becomes the Gospel which ye profess. _THAT WHEREAS THEY SPEAK AGAINST YOU AS EVIL DOERS_] In all the heathen countries, in the first age of the Church, the Christians and the Jew... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _SUBMIT YOURSELVES TO EVERY ORDINANCE OF MAN_] In every settled state, and under every form of political government, where the laws are not in opposition to the laws of God, it may be very soundly and rationally said: "Genuine Christians have nothing to do with the laws but to obey them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _OR UNTO GOVERNORS_] By _king as supreme_, the Roman _emperor_ is meant; and by _governors_, ηγεμοσιν, are meant, leaders, governors, presidents, proconsuls, and other chief magistrates, sent by him into the provinces dependent on the Roman empire. _FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF EVIL DOERS_] This... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _FOR SO IS THE WILL OF GOD_] God, as their supreme governor, shows them that it is his will that they should act uprightly and obediently at all times, and thus confound the ignorance of foolish men, who were ready enough to assert that their religion made them bad subjects. The word φιμου... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _AS FREE_] The Jews pretended that they were a free people, and owed allegiance to God alone; hence they were continually rebelling against the Roman government, to which God had subjected them because of their rebellion against him: thus they _used their liberty for a cloak of maliciousne... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _HONOUR ALL MEN._] That is, Give honour to whom honour is due, Romans 13:7. Respect every man as a fellow creature, and as one who may be a fellow heir with you of eternal life; and therefore be ready to give him every kind of succour in your power. _LOVE THE BROTHERHOOD._] All true Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _SERVANTS_, BE _SUBJECT_] Ephesians 6:5; _"_Colossians 3:22_"_; and _"_Titus 2:9_"_. _WITH ALL FEAR_] With all submission and reverence. _THE GOOD AND GENTLE_] Those who are ever just in their commands, never requiring more work than is necessary or proper, and always allowing sufficient... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _FOR THIS IS THANKWORTHY_] If, in a conscientious discharge of your duty, you suffer evil, this is in the sight of God thankworthy, pleasing, and proper; it shows that you prefer his authority to your own ease, peace, and emolument; it shows also, as Dr. Macknight has well observed, that t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _FOR WHAT GLORY IS IT_] It appears from this that the poor Christians, and especially those who had been converted to Christianity while in a state of slavery, were often grievously abused, they were _buffeted_ because they were Christians, and because they would not join with their master... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _HEREUNTO WERE YE CALLED_] Ye were called to a state of suffering when ye were called to be Christians; for the world cannot endure the yoke of Christ, and they that will live godly in Christ must suffer persecution; they will meet with it in one form or other. _CHRIST ALSO SUFFERED FOR U... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _WHO DID NO SIN_] He suffered, but not on account of any evil he had either _done_ or _said_. In _deed_ and _word_ he was immaculate, and yet he was exposed to suffering; expect the same, and when it comes bear it in the same spirit. It is very likely that the apostle mentions _guile_, bec... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _BUT COMMITTED_ HIMSELF] Though he could have inflicted any kind of punishment on his persecutors, yet to give _us_, in this respect also, an example that we should follow his steps, _he committed his cause_ to him who is the _righteous Judge_. To avoid evil tempers, and the uneasiness and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _WHO HIS OWN SELF_] Not _another_ in his _place_, as some anciently supposed, because they thought it impossible that the Christ should suffer. _BARE OUR SINS IN HIS OWN BODY_] Bore the punishment due to our sins. In no other sense could Christ bear them. To say that they were so _imputed... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 1 Peter 2:25. _FOR YE WERE AS SHEEP GOING ASTRAY_] Formerly ye were not in a better moral condition than your oppressors; ye were like _stray sheep_, in the wilderness of ignorance and sin, till Christ, the true and merciful Shepherd, called you back from your wanderings, by sending you the Go... [ Continue Reading ]