I Peter 1 · The Lantern

A Greeting from Peter

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Undoubtedly, by not receiving Christ, the "fount of water of life," they have begun to have "worn-out tanks," that is, synagogues for the use of the "dispersions of the Gentiles," in which the Holy Spirit no longer lingers, as for the time past He was wont to tarry in the temple before the advent of Christ, who is the true temple of God.

This apostle was appointed to preach to those of the circumcision, but he deliberately did not limit his preaching to those who lived in Judea.

He said "sojourners" either because they were scattered, or because all who live according to God are called sojourners on earth, as, for example, David says: "for I am a stranger with You and a sojourner, as all my fathers were" (Ps. 39:12).

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, be multiplied.

We must not suppose that the Spirit knows God as we do, only through the historic revelation of the Son. For if the Holy Spirit knows God only in this way, then he has passed from ignorance to knowledge, and it is certainly as impious as it is foolish to confess him as the Holy Spirit and then ascribe a prior ignorance to him.

See how Peter says that he was called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the foreknowledge of God the Father. Furthermore, he explains what his apostleship is like by saying that it is in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ.

"Grace," because we are saved freely, contributing nothing of our own. "Peace," because, having offended the Master, we were numbered among His enemies.

A Living Hope

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

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by His great mercy has regenerated us." For if God generated us of matter, He afterwards, by progress in life, regenerated us. "The Father of our Lord, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:" who, according to your faith, rises again in us; as, on the other hand, He dies in us, through the operation of our unbelief.

They have received immortality and the hope of eternal life. These good things in heaven are better than human things. For this reason they praise God the Father, who shows his great mercy in doing these things faithfully. When God is the giver, the things given are both better and certain to materialize.

From Christ is the fruit of grace. This fruit of grace is fourfold: it consists in steadying the soul through faith, blessing it through divine love, lifting it up through hope, curbing it through divine fear. And in the First Epistle of Peter: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope."

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you,

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

In which you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

And one aim and one end, as far as regards perfection, being demonstrated to belong to the man and the woman, Peter in his Epistle says, "Though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations; that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than that of gold which perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise, and hon…

In which you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, "In which you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary." This is the order: affected by sorrow now, if necessary, that is, if this also should be (for not all saints are afflicted) at the end of time you will rejoice, for the present is accepte…

Just as the Teacher in His promise declares not only joy but also sorrow, saying: "in the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33); so also the apostle added to the word about joy: "having been grieved." But since this too is distressing, he adds "now," and this is in agreement with his Leader.

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

For as gold is tested by fire, and thus becomes useful, so are you tested who dwell in it. Those, therefore, who continue stedfast, and are put through the fire, will be purified by means of it. For as gold casts away its dross, so also will ye cast away all sadness and straitness, and will be made pure so as to fit into the building of the tower.

The glory of the redeemed will never fade after they have been raised from the dead, for it will have withstood the fire of temptation, whereas the gold of this world is said to rust.

By these words the apostle indicates the reason why the righteous suffer evil here, and partly consoles them by the fact that through afflictions they become more glorious, partly encourages them by the addition "at the revelation of Jesus Christ," meaning that it is precisely then that He, through the manifestation of their labors, will bestow great glory upon the strivers.

Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

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

Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come to you:

And they who believed from the eighth mountain, where were the many fountains, and where all the creatures of God drank of the fountains, were the following: apostles, and teachers, who preached to the whole world, and who taught solemnly and purely the word of the Lord, and did not at all fall into evil desires, but walked always in righteousness and truth, according as they h…

Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to come to you searched and investigated carefully, Since Peter had made mention of the salvation of the soul: however, this was not clear, but he brings forth the prophets who inquired and studied about it.

Since the apostle mentioned the salvation of the soul, and it is unknown and strange to the hearing, it is attested by the prophets, who searched and inquired about it. They searched into the future, as, for example, Daniel, whom the angel appearing to him called for this reason "man of desires" (Dan. 10:11)!

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.

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

Admirable sophists, and explorers of the sublimities of the unknown Father, and rehearsers of those super-celestial mysteries "which the angels desire to look into!"-that they may learn that from the Nous of that Father who is above all, the Word was produced blind, that is, ignorant of the Father who produced him!

Into which things the angels desire to look; as if he said: They also have not yet obtained the good things laid up for us in heaven—yea, they have not so much as the privilege of seeing them.

And in these degrees consists the ladder of Jacob, whose summit reaches heaven: and the throne of Solomon, upon which sits the most wise King, truly peaceful and loving as the most beautiful bridegroom and wholly desirable: upon whom the Angels desire to gaze, and toward whom the desire of holy souls sighs, as the hart longs for the fountains of waters.

A Call to Holiness

Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

"Wherefore, girding up your loins," "serve the Lord in fear" and truth, as those who have forsaken the vain, empty talk and error of the multitude, and "believed in Him who raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and gave Him glory," and a throne at His right hand. To Him all things in heaven and on earth are subject. Him every spirit serves.

Having spoken of the greatness of the blessings of the Father's gift, the sufferings of Christ, the Holy Spirit's prediction concerning him, the prophets' proclamation, the desire of the angels—having said all this, Peter tells us to hold on to them all by faith.

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

And Peter in his epistle says the same: "So that your faith and hope may be in God, because you have purified your souls in obedience to the truth," "as obedient children, not behaving after the fashion of the lusts in which in your ignorance you formerly indulged; but as he who has called you is holy, so also must you be holy in all your conduct; as it is written, Be ye holy f…

As children of obedience, etc. Rightly he wishes them to be children of obedience, whom he had called elect in the preface to the obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle calls "conformity" the being carried along by present circumstances. For even now some foolish people say that one must adapt to circumstances.

But as he which has called you is holy, so be holy in all manner of conduct;

Because it is written, Be holy; for I am holy.

And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

Such injunctions of righteousness uttered by those who are conversant with worldly wisdom are not to be refused. Knowing, then, the duty of each, "pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: for as much as ye know that ye were not deemed with corruptible things, such as silver or gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious…

And if you call upon the Father, him which without respect of persons, judges according to every one's work: in fear of turning, you spend your time in your dwelling. Knowing that not with corruptible things, gold or silver, you are redeemed from your vain conversation of your fathers' tradition.

Scripture distinguishes a twofold fear, one — preliminary, the other — perfect. The preliminary fear, which is also the foundational one, consists in someone turning to an honorable life out of dread of accountability for one's deeds, while the perfect one consists in someone, for the sake of perfection of love toward a friend, out of zeal for the beloved, fearing lest he remai…

Since you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conduct received by tradition from your fathers;

For he did not seek a price from us, who paid the price of his own blood for us; for he redeemed us not with gold and silver, but with precious blood. Therefore, you must pay the price for what you have bought; and even if he does not always demand it, you still must. Therefore, buy Christ for yourself not because few have him, but because everyone has him.

If the unfortunate Jews observe the sabbath in such a way that they do not dare to do any secular work on it, how much more should those who have been "redeemed, not with gold or silver, but with the precious blood of Christ," pay attention to their price and devote themselves to God on the day of his resurrection, thinking more diligently of the salvation of their souls?

This is the price of which the Apostle says: "You have been bought with a great price; bear and glorify God in your body." That the price is great, the Apostle Peter says: "You were redeemed not with corruptible gold or silver from your vain manner of life received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood as of a Lamb unspotted and undefiled." This had to be…

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

"By precious blood," he says, [1 Peter 1:19] "as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Here he touches on the ancient Levitical and sacerdotal celebrations; but means a soul pure through righteousness which is offered to God.

And the Jews even now exhibit a figure of this transaction when they mark their thresholds with the blood of a lamb. For when God was about to smite the Egyptians, to secure the Hebrews from that infliction He had enjoined them to slay a white lamb without spot, and to place on their thresholds a mark from its blood.

Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

I think not that you are ignorant that the living church is the body of Christ (for the Scripture, says, "God created man male and female;" [Genesis 1:27; cf. Ephesians 5:22-23] the male is Christ, the female the church,) and that the Books and the Apostles teach that the church is not of the present, but from the beginning.

We have been predestined by God, before the world was, (to arise) in the extreme end of the times. And so we are trained by God for the purpose of chastising, and (so to say) emasculating, the world.

Having spoken of the death of Christ, the apostle added to this a word also about the resurrection. For he fears lest the newly converted might incline again toward unbelief because the sufferings of Christ are humiliating.

Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

The Enduring Word

Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brothers, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently:

"Do you only keep your house pure, as they will delight to dwell in a pure abode. For they are pure, and chaste, and industrious, and have all influence with the Lord. Therefore, if they find your house to be pure, they will remain with you; but if any defilement, even a little, befall it, they will immediately withdraw from your house.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit. Love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.

Having said that Christians are born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which lives and abides forever, the apostle sets before their eyes the insignificance and extreme fragility of human glory, thereby urging the listener to hold more firmly to the teaching previously imparted, since it is constant and extends forever, while earthly things…

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and remains for ever.

"Being born again, not of corruptible seed." The soul, then, which is produced along with the body is corruptible, as some think.

Born not of corruptible seed, etc. Such is in the Gospel of John: To those who believed in his name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1). Therefore, just as the price of the Lord's passion by which we have been redeemed is incorruptible, so also is the sacrament of the holy font by which we are reborn.

The Apostle showed the superiority of spiritual rebirth over fleshly birth, and pointed out the worthlessness of mortal glory, namely, that birth is joined with corruption and impurity, and glory differs in nothing from spring plants, whereas the word of the Lord experiences nothing of the sort.

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away:

This is the nature of all flesh, and the portrait of a man made from clay, I mean someone who loves his own body and lives according to the flesh. Like the grass of the field and like beautiful flowers he will soon wither and die.

Just like grass, the people have dried up and their flower has fallen. God here foretold the salvation of the Gentiles and the sterility of the Jews. For by nature the human race is like grass, and the flowers of the grass are our pride and glory. But just as when the grass withers the flowers fall off, so when men die, their pride and glory are extinguished.

Because all flesh is like grass, etc. Therefore, just as perishable flesh generates perishable flesh, so the word of the Lord, which remains forever, gives eternal life in both flesh and soul to those whom it regenerates from water.

But the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you.