1 Peter 1:3 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

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.

1 Peter 1:12. minister: Rendel Harris, by a slight alteration of the original word, secures a very much clearer meaning, viz. to them it was revealed that they got this intelligence not for themselves but for you (Moffatt's NT). The ordinary reading leads us to think of the prophets as servants of God for our sakes, doing tasks whose full import they could not understand (cf. Esther 13:16-20). For the angels'share in this joyful mystery, see Ephesians 3:10 *. The Jewish apocalyptic books (e.g. Enoch) had much to say of the angels-' concern in human affairs, and these may be the sources of the ideas in the NT.

Related Commentaries of 1 Peter 1:3

1 Peter 1:3-12

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundanta mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

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

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

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

7 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:

8 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:

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.