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PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible — I Peter

Gill, John, 1697-1771 · 69,419 words · 62 reading sections

SECTION 1

1 Peter 1:1

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. 1 Peter 1:1 INTRODUCTION TO FIRST PETER That Simon, called Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, was the writer of this epistle, is not questioned by any; nor was the genuineness and authenticity of it ever made a doubt of. Eusebius says {a}, that it had been confessed by all…

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SECTION 2

1 Peter 1:2

1 Peter 1:2 Ver. 2. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,.... Not to any office, as to that of bishops or presbyters; for though the apostle writes to some of them under this character, 1Pe 5:1 yet not all; nor were they so called, as a nation, for they were persons scattered about in several countri…

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SECTION 3

1 Peter 1:3

1 Peter 1:3 Ver. 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,.... The epistle begins here with thanksgiving to God, or an ascription of blessing, praise, and glory to him; for this does not mean an invoking or conferring a blessing on him; neither of which can be, for there is not a greater than he to be…

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SECTION 4

1 Peter 1:4

1 Peter 1:4 Ver. 4. To an inheritance incorruptible,.... This is a further explanation of the "lively hope", or hope laid up in heaven, which regenerate ones are begotten to: it is an "inheritance"; a large estate, and rich possession, they are born heirs apparent to; what is not to be got by industry, or obtained by …

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SECTION 5

1 Peter 1:5

1 Peter 1:5 Ver. 5. Who are kept by the power of God,.... This is a description of the persons for whom the inheritance is reserved in heaven; they are not only chosen to salvation, and begotten again to an inheritance, but they are preserved unto it; their happiness is very great; their inheritance is safe in heaven …

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SECTION 6

1 Peter 1:6

1 Peter 1:6 Ver. 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice,.... The Vulgate Latin version reads, "in which ye shall rejoice": and so the Syriac version, adding, "for ever"; and refer these words to the "last time"; or, times spoken of in the preceding verse; when the saints will greatly rejoice, being in full possession of eterna…

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SECTION 7

1 Peter 1:7

1 Peter 1:7 Ver. 7. That the trial of your faith,.... This is the principal end which God has in afflictive providences, to try the faith of his people; so the faith of Abraham, Job, Habakkuk, and others, have been tried: being much more precious than of gold that perisheth: the grace of faith is much more precious t…

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SECTION 8

1 Peter 1:8

1 Peter 1:8 Ver. 8. Whom having not seen, ye love,.... That is, Jesus Christ, whom they had never seen with their bodily eyes, being Jews, who dwelt not in Judea, when Christ was upon earth, but were scattered about in several parts of the Gentile world; and yet Christ being made known to them, through the preaching o…

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SECTION 9

1 Peter 1:9

1 Peter 1:9 Ver. 9. Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Which is a just and sufficient ground of joy and rejoicing. "Salvation" intends spiritual and eternal salvation; that which God appointed his people to from all eternity, which is obtained by Christ, applied by the Spirit, and will …

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SECTION 10

1 Peter 1:10

1 Peter 1:10 Ver. 10. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired,.... They greatly desired the coming of the Saviour, and to see him; they longed after the salvation to be accomplished by him, and expressed their wishes for him, and that; and inquired into the nature of it, and gave an account thereof, according to…

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SECTION 11

1 Peter 1:11

1 Peter 1:11 Ver. 11. Searching what, or what manner of time,.... The prophets made a very diligent inquiry into the exact time when Christ should come to work out the salvation of his people; to whom it was made known that his coming should be before the sceptre, or tribe of Judah, and all civil government in it, cea…

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SECTION 12

1 Peter 2:1

1 Peter 2:1 INTRODUCTION TO I PETER 2. This chapter consists of exhortations, in general, to a holy life; and, in particular, to obedience to superiors. It begins with an exhortation to lay aside various vices, which were unbecoming regenerate persons, 1Pe 2:1 and, agreeably to their character, as new born babes, to …

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SECTION 13

1 Peter 2:2

1 Peter 2:2 Ver. 2. As new born babes,.... The Syriac version renders it, "be ye simple as infants"; and as if it was a distinct exhortation of itself, and from that which follows; though it seems rather to be descriptive of the persons spoken to, and a character of them, under which the apostle addresses them; which …

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SECTION 14

1 Peter 2:3

1 Peter 2:3 Ver. 3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Reference is had to Ps 34:8, "O taste and see that the Lord is good"; and the Syriac version here adds, "if ye have seen": by the Lord is meant, the Lord Jesus Christ, as the following words show, who is gracious and amiable, and lovely in his pers…

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SECTION 15

1 Peter 2:4

1 Peter 2:4 Ver. 4. To whom coming, as unto a living stone,.... Christ here, as often elsewhere, is compared to a "stone"; and Peter, by the use of this metaphor, shows that he is not the rock, but Christ is the rock on which the church is built, and he is the foundation stone on which every believer is laid; and it i…

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SECTION 16

1 Peter 2:5

1 Peter 2:5 Ver. 5. Ye also, as lively stones,.... Saints likewise are compared to stones; they lie in the same quarry, and are the same by nature as the rest of mankind, till dug out and separated from thence by the powerful and efficacious grace of God, when they are hewn, and made fit for the spiritual building; wh…

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SECTION 17

1 Peter 2:6

1 Peter 2:6 Ver. 6. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture,.... Isa 28:16. This is produced as a proof of the excellency of Christ, as compared to a stone; and of his usefulness in the spiritual building; and of his being chosen of God, and precious, though rejected by men; and of the happiness, comfort, and …

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SECTION 18

1 Peter 2:7

1 Peter 2:7 Ver. 7. Unto you therefore which believe,.... And such are not all they that can say their creed, or give their assent to the articles of it; nor all that believe a divine revelation, and that the Scriptures are the word of God, and give credit to all that is contained in the sacred oracles; or who believe…

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SECTION 19

1 Peter 2:8

1 Peter 2:8 Ver. 8. And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence,.... The apostle alludes to Isa 8:14 and which is a prophecy of the Messiah; See Gill on "Ro 9:33" and had its accomplishment in the unbelieving and disobedient Jews; who stumbled at his birth and parentage; at the manner of his birth, being born of a…

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SECTION 20

1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9 Ver. 9. But ye are a chosen generation,.... Or "kindred"; the phrase is to be seen in the Septuagint, on Isa 43:20, to which, and the following verse, the apostle refers here, and in another part of this text. The allusion is throughout to the people of Israel in general, who, in an external way, were all …

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SECTION 21

1 Peter 3:1

1 Peter 3:1 INTRODUCTION TO I PETER 3 In this chapter the apostle instructs wives how to behave towards their husbands, and husbands how to behave towards their wives; and then exhorts to various things common to all Christians, and particularly to suffer patiently for righteousness sake; to which he encourages them …

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SECTION 22

1 Peter 3:2

1 Peter 3:2 Ver. 2. While they behold your chaste conversation,.... Cheerful subjection, strong affection, and inviolable attachment to them, and strict regard to the honour of the marriage state, and to the preserving of the bed undefiled with lusts and adulteries: coupled with fear; with reverence of their husbands…

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SECTION 23

1 Peter 3:3

1 Peter 3:3 Ver. 3. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning,.... Or that only and principally; let not that be solely or chiefly attended to, nor anxiously sought after, nor ever in order to allure and ensnare others, or to fill with pride and vanity; nor should it be indecent and luxurious, immodest and i…

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SECTION 24

1 Peter 3:4

1 Peter 3:4 Ver. 4. But [let it be] the hidden man of the heart,.... By which is meant internal grace; which gives a beauty and ornament to the soul, far preferable to that which plaiting of the hair, wearing of gold, or any costly apparel, can give to the body: and this is called a man, as it is elsewhere the new man…

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SECTION 25

1 Peter 3:5

1 Peter 3:5 Ver. 5. For after this manner in the old time,.... In ages past, the years of many generations, since the time that God created man upon earth; in the times before the flood, and after it; in the times of the patriarchs, judges, kings, and prophets of Israel, under the Old Testament dispensation. The apost…

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SECTION 26

1 Peter 3:6

1 Peter 3:6 Ver. 6. Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham,.... Going along with him wherever he went, as from Chaldea to Canaan, and into Egypt, and the land of the Philistines, saying the words he put into her mouth, Ge 12:5 and doing the things he bid her do, Ge 18:6 "calling him lord"; or "my lord", as the Syriac and Ethiop…

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SECTION 27

1 Peter 3:7

1 Peter 3:7 Ver. 7. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them,.... "With your wives", as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read; which not only included dwelling together in the same house, and bedding together in the same bed, but the whole of conjugal conversation, and all the offices and duties incumbent on men in a ma…

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SECTION 28

1 Peter 3:8

1 Peter 3:8 Ver. 8. Finally, be ye all of one mind,.... Not that the apostle was about to conclude his epistle; but having finished his exhortations respecting the obedience of subjects to magistrates, and of servants to their masters, and the duties incumbent on husbands and wives, he proceeds to sum up what he had f…

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SECTION 29

1 Peter 3:9

1 Peter 3:9 Ver. 9. Not rendering evil for evil,.... Doing an ill thing in return to one that has done ill to you, and in a way of revenge for it; which is contrary to what is before advised to, and which is taking God's prerogative and work out of his hands, whose vengeance is, and which is to be overcome of evil: o…

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SECTION 30

1 Peter 3:10

1 Peter 3:10 Ver. 10. For he that will love life,.... This, with what follows here and in the two next verses, are taken out of Ps 34:12 and are produced as a proof of what is before said; that it is a good man's duty not to do or speak evil in return for what is done or said to him; but on the contrary, it becomes hi…

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SECTION 31

1 Peter 3:11

1 Peter 3:11 Ver. 11. Let him eschew evil,.... Avoid all kinds of evil, hate it, abstain from the appearance of it, and have no fellowship with it; and particularly should avoid rendering evil for evil, or taking revenge on persons for doing him ill: and do good; everything that is good, all good works, according to …

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SECTION 32

1 Peter 3:12

1 Peter 3:12 Ver. 12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,.... Who are so not merely in the sight of men, but of God; nor in their own account, and by their own works, but in the esteem of God, through the imputation of the righteousness of his Son unto them: and because he loves this righteousness, and is…

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SECTION 33

1 Peter 3:13

1 Peter 3:13 Ver. 13. And who is he that will harm you,.... Or "can harm you". God will not; for his eyes are upon the righteous, to protect and defend them, and, his ears are open to their cries, to avenge them; he is on their side, and he is the only lawgiver that is able to save, and to destroy. Christ will not; fo…

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SECTION 34

1 Peter 4:1

1 Peter 4:1 INTRODUCTION TO I PETER 4 In this chapter the apostle goes on to exhort to an holy life and conversation, and to the several duties of religion, and to suffer cheerfully for the sake of Christ. From the consideration of Christ's sufferings, he exhorts the saints to arm themselves with the same mind, and c…

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SECTION 35

1 Peter 4:2

1 Peter 4:2 Ver. 2. That he no longer should live,.... The Arabic version reads, "that ye no longer should live". This expresses the end of being armed with the above thought, that a suffering saint after death is clear of sin; and the use that is to be made of it in the present time of life, and the remainder of it, …

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SECTION 36

1 Peter 4:3

1 Peter 4:3 Ver. 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us,.... The word "our" is left out in the Alexandrian copy, and in the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions. The Arabic version reads, "the time of your past life"; and to the same purpose the Ethiopic version; and which seems to be the more agreeable reading,…

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SECTION 37

1 Peter 4:4

1 Peter 4:4 Ver. 4. Wherein they think it strange,.... Here the apostle points out what the saints must expect from the men of the world, by living a different life; and he chooses to mention it, to prevent discouragements, and that they might not be uneasy and distressed when they observed it; as that they would wond…

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SECTION 38

1 Peter 4:5

1 Peter 4:5 Ver. 5. Who shall give account to him,.... "To God himself", as the Syriac version reads; of all their blasphemies, and hard speeches spoken by them against God, Christ, the Gospel, and good men, and receive their just punishment. This the apostle says, to calm the minds of God's people, and make them to s…

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SECTION 39

1 Peter 4:6

1 Peter 4:6 Ver. 6. For, for this cause was the Gospel preached also,.... Not for what goes before, because Christ was ready to judge quick and dead; and because wicked men must give an account to him, and therefore the Gospel is preached to them also, that they may be left without excuse; but for what follows, and wh…

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SECTION 40

1 Peter 4:7

1 Peter 4:7 Ver. 7. But the end of all things is at hand,.... With respect to particular persons, the end of life, and which is the end of all things in this world to a man, is near at hand; which is but as an hand's breadth, passes away like a tale that is told, and is but as a vapour which appears for a while, and t…

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SECTION 41

1 Peter 4:8

1 Peter 4:8 Ver. 8. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves,.... Not but that charity, or love, is to be exercised towards all men, even towards enemies, but more especially towards the saints, and that under such a consideration in which it cannot be exercised towards others; namely, as their breth…

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SECTION 42

1 Peter 4:9

1 Peter 4:9 Ver. 9. Use hospitality,.... Or, "be lovers of strangers", as the phrase may be rendered, and as it is in the Syriac version; that is, such as are of a distant country, or come from afar, and are unknown by face, especially good men, that are obliged to remove from their native country for the sake of reli…

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SECTION 43

1 Peter 4:10

1 Peter 4:10 Ver. 10. As every man hath received the gift,.... That is, from God, as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions add. This is a general rule laid down by the apostle, according to which, distribution of every kind, whether in things temporal or spiritual, is to be made, even according to the nature, quality, and …

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SECTION 44

1 Peter 4:11

1 Peter 4:11 Ver. 11. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God,.... This is an application of the above general rule to a particular case, the public ministry of the word, for that is here meant: "if any man speak"; not in any manner, or on any subject; not in a private way, or about things natural and ci…

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SECTION 45

1 Peter 4:12

1 Peter 4:12 Ver. 12. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial,.... By which may be meant either the destruction of Jerusalem, which was at hand, and of which the apostle may be thought to give the Jews he writes to notice of before hand; that they might be prepared for it, and not be overwhelmed with …

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SECTION 46

1 Peter 4:13

1 Peter 4:13 Ver. 13. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings,.... Not of his personal sufferings; though they were partakers of the benefits and blessings which come through them, and result from them, such as justification, peace, and pardon, and which are matter and ground of rejoicing; but…

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SECTION 47

1 Peter 4:14

1 Peter 4:14 Ver. 14. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ,.... For being called by his name; for bearing the name of Christians; for believing in him, and professing him; and for the sake of his Gospel, which is sometimes called his name, Ac 9:15 not that the apostle makes any doubt of this, for nothing is more…

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SECTION 48

1 Peter 4:15

1 Peter 4:15 Ver. 15. But let none of you suffer as a murderer,.... The punishment for murder was death by the law of God, Ge 9:6 or as a thief; whose fine or mulct, according to the Jewish law, was a fivefold or fourfold restitution, according to the nature of the thing that was stolen, Ex 22:1 or as an evildoer; a…

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SECTION 49

1 Peter 4:16

1 Peter 4:16 Ver. 16. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian,.... Because he is one, and professes himself to be one. This name was first given to the disciples at Antioch, either by themselves, or by the Gentiles; however, it being agreeable to them, was retained; it is only mentioned here, and in Ac 11:26, let him not…

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SECTION 50

1 Peter 5:1

1 Peter 5:1 INTRODUCTION TO I PETER 5 In this chapter the apostle first exhorts pastors and members of churches to their respective duties as such; and then to those which were common to them all, as Christians; and closes the epistle with prayers for them, salutations of them, and with his apostolic benediction. He …

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SECTION 51

1 Peter 5:2

1 Peter 5:2 Ver. 2. Feed the flock of God which is among you,.... Some read, "as much as in you is"; that is, to the utmost of your power, according to your abilities, referring to the manner of feeding the flock, doing it in the best way they are capable of; but the phrase is rather descriptive of the flock to be fed…

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SECTION 52

1 Peter 5:3

1 Peter 5:3 Ver. 3. Neither as being lords over God's heritage,.... Or "clergy"; meaning not ecclesiastical persons, as presbyters, and deacons, who are supposed to be under the government of bishops, though not to be governed with tyranny, and in a haughty, imperious, and arrogant manner; to which sense the Arabic ve…

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SECTION 53

1 Peter 5:4

1 Peter 5:4 Ver. 4. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear,.... This is the encouraging motive and argument to engage the elders and pastors of churches to discharge their office faithfully, cheerfully, and in an humble manner: by "the chief Shepherd" is meant Christ, who may well be called so, since he is God's fel…

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SECTION 54

1 Peter 5:5

1 Peter 5:5 Ver. 5. Likewise ye younger,.... Not in office, as if inferior officers to bishops were here intended, who ought to be subject to them; for elders and pastors are the same with them, nor is there any other office but that of deacons; nor younger pastors and overseers, such an one as Timothy was; not but th…

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SECTION 55

1 Peter 5:6

1 Peter 5:6 Ver. 6. Humble yourselves therefore,.... Or be ye humbled before God, and in his sight; quietly submit to his will; patiently bear every affliction without murmuring, repining, or replying against him; be still under the rod, and despise not the chastening of the Lord; mourn over sin as the cause, acknowle…

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SECTION 56

1 Peter 5:7

1 Peter 5:7 Ver. 7. Casting all your care upon him,.... "Upon God": as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read. The words are taken out of, or at least refer to Ps 55:22, where, instead of "cast thy burden upon the Lord", the Septuagint have it, "cast thy care upon the Lord"; the care of the body, and of all the affairs…

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SECTION 57

1 Peter 5:8

1 Peter 5:8 Ver. 8. Be sober, be vigilant,.... The apostle had exhorted to each of these before; see 1Pe 1:13 but thought fit to repeat them; sobriety and watchfulness being exceeding necessary and useful in the Christian life; and the one cannot well be without the other: unless a man is sober in body and mind, he wi…

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SECTION 58

1 Peter 5:9

1 Peter 5:9 Ver. 9. Whom resist,.... By no means give way to him, by indulging any sin, or yielding to any temptation, but oppose him, and stand against his wiles, his cunning and his power: steadfast in the faith; both in the doctrine of faith, which Satan endeavours to remove from, or cause to stagger in; and in th…

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SECTION 59

1 Peter 5:10

1 Peter 5:10 Ver. 10. But the God of all grace,.... Who has riches of grace, an immense plenty of it in himself, has treasured up a fulness of grace in his Son; is the author of all the blessings of grace, of electing, adopting, justifying, pardoning, and regenerating grace; and is the giver of the several graces of t…

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SECTION 60

1 Peter 5:11

1 Peter 5:11 Ver. 11. To him be glory, and dominion, for ever and ever, Amen. The Syriac version begins this doxology in the preceding verse, reading the words thus, "to the God of grace", and then putting what follows, "who hath called us", &c. into a parenthesis, connects them with these, "be glory, and power, and h…

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Source & rights

Public domain; John Gill (1697–1771). Source item is marked Public Domain on Internet Archive.

Project Gutenberg source record →

Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.