PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter
B.C. Caffin [1826-1894] · 223,592 words · 241 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 1
'l'HE PULPIT COMMENTARY, EDITED DY 'l'IIE VERY RKV. H. D. M. SPENCE, D.D., DEAN OF GLOUCESTER; AND BY TTIE REV. JOSEPH S, EXELL, M.A. Wl'l'H INTRODUCTIONS BY THE VERY REV. F. W. FARRAR, D.D., F.R.S., DEAN OF CANTERBURY. RIGIJT REV. H. COTTERILL, D.D., F.R.S.E. VERY REV. PRINCIPAL J. TULLOCH, D.D. REV. CANO…
1,164 wordsSECTION 2The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 2
bring to oar thouglat,,i Luko xji. 42. In vor1. 11, lZ, 14 of the same d,aptm• we ag11lo ice three allraLCJDJI t.> the Lord'• great ,ernu,n (<'.mnp. Matt. v. lli, 12, 10) J while in vn. 19, wl1ero tlie apr,,,tJe bid• the 1affering CJJJ';11ti.an11 to commit (1ra.patr,IJur01MTa.J1) the keeping of theu IOUI, to Ood, we…
1,290 wordsSECTION 3The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 3
grounds) the genuinenoRs of Polycarp's epistle.· Eusebius tells us that the Epistle was used by Papias. There are manifest traces of it in the 'Shepherd' of Herrnas, in Justin Mai·tyr, and Theophilus of Antioch. Irenrous, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian quote it expressly, often by name. Origen refer.3 to it freq…
1,105 wordsSECTION 4The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 4
arises-Is he writing to all the Christiane in those provinces, or to Jewish believers only ? St. Peter is regarded as the apostle of the circumcision ; there was an understanding (see Gal. ii. 9) that Ja.mes, Cephas, and John, "who seemed to be pillars," should go to the circumcision, and that Paul and Barnabas sho…
1,132 wordsSECTION 5The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 5
Apostles. Now, we know from Col. iv. 10 tbat St. Mark was nt Rome when St. Pnul wrote the Epistle to the Colossians, but was thinking of going into Asia. Minor; while St. Paul's Second Epistle to Timothy (iv. 11) makes it probable that he was at Ephesus abont the year 67. He may, therefore, have spent some portion of t…
1,092 wordsSECTION 6The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 6
Asia Minor by directing their thoughts away from the sufferings which were gathering round them, to dwell in holy hope upon the inheritance reserved for them in heaven. Another, not the primary object, but secondary and incidental, was to show hie entire sympathy with the teaching of his brother apostle. There had been…
1,141 wordsSECTION 7The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 7
Here (eh. ii. 11) begins the practical part of the Epistle. Men who havo these high privileges ond these lofty hopes must live a~ pilgrims and strangers here. They mnst abstain from fleshly lusts; their life shonl<l exhibit a moral beauty which might attract the heathen to follow their example. St. Peter singles out th…
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FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. EXPOSITION. OHAPTER L direct from Christ. Bat he calls himsell simply an apostle, not the prince of the Ver. 1.-Peter. It is the Greek form of apostles; he claims no superiority over the the name, which the Lord Jesus himself rest of the apostolic college. The impulsive harl giveu to…
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~<'Clk one to romc ; " they were dispersed us to tbo choice or election of Gmt The here nnd U1C're among 1.ho unbelievers, but Mcred writers do not cntor into the ma.ny they werC' onCI hedy in Christ. CompRre difficulties which lie around this contml RC'n/!'<'1'8 briC'f C'omment, "Advenis in term, doctrine; they do …
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Thue In ver. 20 "foreknown,'' the more hold the blood of the covenant, which the oxo.ct renrlering of the Ilevieed Version muet Lord bath mrL<lo with you." V{e observe imply the "forcordo.ined" of the old tro.11e- tho.t in t.his plnco alsn ceremonial ao.nctifice.- lation. But tho.t foroknowledge ie the fore- tion (Ex…
1,070 wordsSECTION 11The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 11
Poter adopts the doJ:ology ueed by St. Paul Bengel, oto., oonneot the words, " by tho in writing to the Churohee at Corinth and resurrection," etc., not with " bath begottou Ephesus (2 Oor. i. 3; Eph. i. 3), the lllllt us again," but with the word "lively" or being one of those to whioh this Epistle is "living "-a h…
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you. The many mansions in our Fllther's God; others give the verb a quasi-fntnre house h11ve been kept from the beginning, sense-"wherein yewillgreatlyrejoice." Bnt 1111d still are kept for his elect; Snto.n cannot the former connection eeemR more ne.tural ; rob them of H, as ho robbed man of the the Christian rejoice…
1,021 wordsSECTION 13The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 13
is the instrument of fa inl, nnt even tho &! St. Paul doee, though with him the prO{'CBB of trial, much less the thing tried ; antithesis is ritther between fl\ith nnd sight while it is only the thing tried that can be than between faith nnd works. As a lnot, <'Ompared, as liero, to gold refined in tho St. Peter's r…
1,021 wordsSECTION 14The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 14
rovolo.tion. That Blllvation wo.s so mllgnifl- Whntwonld ho the diatinctivo charadcr, th,, oont o prospeot that it ooncentmted upon marks, the sign~, of tho.t time?,~ "Prnph0tm iteolf the re.pt attontion o.nd deepest interoet nb ipso hahentes donum in ilium pr0- of those to whom the promise w11e reveo.led. phelarnnt" (…
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u•h ich t!'ere noir reported to you through them of his responsibilities; he must seek to love tlwt preached f.he gospel unto you (liternlly, God with &ll his mind (8.\71 ,,.fi 3,avo('i'), 118 ev11119elized yrm) by tM Holy Ghost. St. well &s with &ll his heart and soul. Be reter o!Aims for those who evangelized Asil…
1,056 wordsSECTION 16The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 16
e.ttrihuted to the Jews (Acts iii. 17; Rom. x. but bath committed all jnclgment to the S; 1 Tim. i. 13), it wo.s ignoro.nce, not of the Son." But the Father is " Fons judicii ," aR moro.l lBw, o.s here, but of the Person and Diclymue says(quoted by Alford), "judicante office of Christ. The Jews had the oracles of Filio…
1,050 wordsSECTION 17The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 17
f11.ct trnnsccncls hnm11.n reason, nnd cannot Peter derived tho comparison from the well- be cimctly <lefined in human words. But remembered words of the Daptist, reported tho Lord himself describes it H.S n mn@om- by his brother Audrow, "Dohold the Lnmb " I\ r1rnsom for many," giYen in their at0Rcl, of God I" The r…
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mnnuscripts, wlin through him are failhfril condition of p111•ifl,,ntion. Gorl's people nro towards God. 'fhrough himeoH, not only elect nnto ohe<lienee nnrl 8prinkling of tl,o through his inco.rnation and a.toning death, blood of Jesna Christ. Wl,ilo they w,il k in but through his gro.co o.nd a.biding presence, tha pa…
1,065 wordsSECTION 19The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 19
W0rd. The use of different prepnsitions, ire him we both have access in one Spirit to and ~,cl., apparently implies a dift'erenee be- the Father" (Eph. ii. 18). It is through the twC'en the sN·d and the Word. In the oon- Lord Jesus Obrist that we receive the grace vt>r~otion with Nicodemus the Lord bad of the new bi…
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shcop by n11me said to the son of Jona, "Thou art Simon." He knew him by name, and ho knew his character; he gave him a. new name descriptive of that character when matured and strengthened in the faith. He had been a hearer; he was to be a stone, o. living stone in the spiritual temple, built upon that Rock which is C…
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that it is GO<-l who eaves us, a.nd not we ourselves I All that is really good within ua comes from his grace. Then, if there be any sense of sin it1 us, any yearning for forgi,cness, nny hunger after righteousness, we may humbly and hopefully look upon these as indications of the work of God's good Spirit in our he…
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in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ is exerting its living power, cleansing him daily nnd hourly from every stain of sin. Thus we may well pray that the grace of our Lord Jesus Obrist, nrnl the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost may be with us e.11, and that for evermore; for the love of God first oa…
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of the livi!1g hope on which St. Peter loves to dwell" (Leighton). 4. The obJect of tliat hope. It 1s the henvenly inheritance. It is God who fills his people's hearts with. the hope of th~.t inhe~itance. He enli~hten~ the e.ves of their ?11dersta.nding, that they may know what 1s the hope of his callmg-, and what t…
933 wordsSECTION 24The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 24
and solf-confidonco and worldliness, and keeps us humble, distrustful of onrscl vos trusting only in God. '£Le joy of the Lord, realized amid sorrow, helps the ChriHtia~ to beliovo that these trials, so grievous now, will be found unto praise and honour and glory at the nppcaring of Jesus Christ. 4. It springs <YUt ef …
1,173 wordsSECTION 25The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 25
Yers. 13-25.-Practical exhortations. I. To PROGRESS m HOLlNEBB. 1. The necessity of earnest effort. Christians are pilgrims and strangers; they must not loiter 0n their way, they must press toward the mark. The journey is long and laborious; they must gather up their robes, for there are many miry places, there is m…
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'l'ho essence of religion consists in tho imitation of him we worillhip" (Leighton). The gods of the henthen were repreoonted as actuated by human passions and stained with hntofu\ sins; their character must have reacted upon their ignorant worshippers; their worship wns degrading. Our God is the most Holy One, awful i…
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there is need of ~ear. Indeed, "perfect love casteth out fear," but (I) our lovt>, "las I is not perfect, and imperfect love must be more or less accompanied with fcnr. And (2) the fear w~ich love cas:cth ou~ is that servile fear which simply dreads tho punishment, hecdrng neither the gmlt of sm nor the love or Chri…
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often usurp the sacred name of love; but these are only forms of eel fisbnc8s; there iH love on the tongue; there is only lust, loathsome and wicked, in the heart. Trno lov" is a very bm1utiful and holy thing; it springs only out of a pure heart. (3) It m""t be fervent, intense. For it must bo like the love of Christ: …
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HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 1.-The tl.rrefold condition of a Ohristian. "To the strangers scattered [' sojourners of the dispersion,' Revised Version] throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithyn.ia." "The dispersion" was unquestionably the designation of Jewish residents in Gentile countries (Joh…
547 wordsSECTION 30The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 30
utter these words with a mclnncholy face and a eigb, as s0 many of ns clu wh0°~ h~c,rt, hanker after the world, and would fain have it for our own. The Jew, tl,c PLilir)p':111 ooloniat, the roving Englishman were and are proud of their nationality, and knew tha~ it was a descent to be naturalized in their places of res…
1,085 wordsSECTION 31The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 31
Ver. 4.-The inheritance reserved for the beirs. The reference to the inheritance is especially appropriate, as following the designation of Christians as " strangers of the dispersion," homeless wanderers in a foreign land. The prospect which made Abraham dwell in tabernacles, and which shone before Israel during the…
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Ver. 5.-The heirs kept for the inheritance. The power of God works on both sides of the veil-preserving the inheritance for the heirs, and here keeping the heirs for the inheritance. Both forms of the Divine energy are needful if either is to be effectual. It were little joy to know how secure the riches of the future …
533 wordsSECTION 33The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 33
II. v'i-HAT WE ARE KEPT THROUGII, Faith is the condition, the necessary condition, on which God's power works in and on us. 'l'he garrison which God sends to hold our hearts cannot enter unless we open the gate and let down the drawbridge to receive them. Our faith has no power in itself, but as our receptivity for …
903 wordsSECTION 34The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 34
lypsc-theso nro the golden thrends from which the bright tissue is woven. So this is the first disUncUon between tho majestic Christian joy and the lighter-winged fluttering mirths and pleasures. It flows from no surface-pools, but from deep fountains, and is feel from everlasting fields of pure snow high on the mou…
917 wordsSECTION 35The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 35
t~at rrovidcncc neither f~rg~ts the general mass in care for t.l1e individual, nor loses s1g!i~ of the wants of the 1nd1vidual in the crowd, but is at once special aud general. 3. "J!'.mally, obsei:e the tra'nsiency of sorrow. It is for a season. 'fhat is the highest attamrnent of faith, to see how short are the lon…
918 wordsSECTION 36The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 36
Teacher, Exnmple, and the like, do not really unite us to him. Th,iy mfly lead on to lnfUer and truer thoughts of him, but till we are united to him there will he nn mtl love, nncl therefore no real union. Faint and feeble our love may be, unworthy of him it over is; but ifwe have none we are not Christians. We shall h…
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like an angel's from the reflected light of the open he.'\vcns. IA our joy lofty nnd touched with Heaven's own light, the common emotion being transfigured into likeness to the lofty hopes and visions on which it is nourished? II. 'l'HE UNFAILING FOU1'TAINS OF TIIE CnnrsTIAN JOY. Two conditions are set forth in the…
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that ho had como; 11nd both were taught by the Spirit, whose chiefest office in the past Rnd in tho present is to take of the things of Christ, and to show them to us. 'l'hus round him move all ages; to him tum all eyes; of him speaks all revelation; for man's salvation is the crowning work of God, and Christ effects m…
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the fact of Christ's sufferings in the past and glories in the presmt, the better for their success And for the world. • III. THE LISTE?-.'TNG, GAZING ANGELA. "To look into" is literally" to bend the body so as to gaze upon an object," as the apostles did at the sepnlchre. 'l.'his graphic figure 111ay, perhaps, be …
879 wordsSECTION 40The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 40
I. We ho.ve to consider THE PERFECT OD.JECT OF CHRISTIAN' HOPF,. There arc three striking idoas s11ggested by the remarkable language here. 1. We hcwe a very unu.mal designation/or that object, namely," grace." Usually the future blessinas are called "glory," and in common religious language," grace" and "glory" arc co…
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a trifler, robbing us of energy, making the present flat, and withdrawing us from work- ing in order to dream. But Chtistian hope is an armrd warrior, grave and calm, ready for conflict because &Ssured of victory. It will be as wings to lift us above care and sorrows, and as cords to bind us to duty and toil. III. …
886 wordsSECTION 42The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 42
tho encl of all the gmncl manifestations of Divine love an,\ power is just this-to make men liko Goel. What is all revelation for? Not, surely, that men may know ab0ut Goel, nor tha.t they may feel devout emotion towards him. We know that we may feel, nnd we know and feel that we may be and love like Goel ancl do his w…
909 wordsSECTION 43The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 43
int.o judgment? Is not its central revelation that of a Father who hath not dealt with us nccording to ou_r s~ns, nor rewarded us according to our transgressions? Ye.,; God be thanked that 1t 1s ! We cannot too earnestly assert that, nor too jealously guard these truths from all ta.rupering or weakening. But these sole…
1,262 wordsSECTION 44The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 44
Vers. 18, 19.-The scope, means, and purpose of redemption. The immediate con- nection of these words is with the solemn exhortation to habitual" fear"-a reverential awe of our Father-Judge, and a consequent dread of sin which disturbs our filial relation e.nd incurs his judicie.l displeasure. The consciousness of the p…
538 wordsSECTION 45The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 45
comequeuces and to break away from its dominion. But besides this implication that all sin is sla,•ery_. '_"hich lies in the idea of redemption, we have here, secondly, the thought tha~ all sm 1s empty and profitless. 2. 'l'here is a whole world of meaning in that epithet "varn." It is the condensat.ion into one lit…
929 wordsSECTION 46The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 46
III. WHAT WE ABE REDEEMED FOB. The text is a motive urged by the apostle to enforce his previous exhortn.tion: "Pass the time of your sojournincr here in fear." The consciousness of our redemption and the fact of our redemption° should lead, cot to easy confidence or indifference, but to reverential awe and dread of" r…
840 wordsSECTION 47The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 47
Vers. 10-12.-Salvatt"on a matter of universal interest. Christ is given in order to awaken faith, and faith is exercised with a view to the possession of salvation. This being so, it must be impossible to over-estimate the importance of a blessing to secure which is the purpose of this great and Divine economy. In t…
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sin ; in cum r,nssion to the human race he came to save; in achieving the redemption which it was his aim and mission to effect. The humiliation, the cross of our Saviour, were endured for the highest purpose; they give no countenance to the ascetic notion that pain is in itseH a 11:ood; but they show us how it may be …
806 wordsSECTION 49The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 49
Yer. li.-C!!l?'istia.n feai'. Fear is an emotion which is much misunderstood and misrep:c~_cntcd. It is sometimes denounced as something radically and necessarily bad. But tins 1s not the case; all depends upon what is feared, for this determines whether th<> emotion is justifiable and capable of tending to some goo…
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Christ endured pa.in, humiliation, a.nd death. But it was also by the will of the Father that Christ partook of glory. This glory was partly external and palpable, yet chieOy spiritual. 111. 'l'HE MEANS OF FAITH AND HOPE ARE BY THIS RISEN SAVIOUR THUH A8SURED TO MEN. It is not asserted that, before and apart from Chri…
898 wordsSECTION 51The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 51
11. CERTAIN PARTICUl,ARS RESPECTING TJIIS DIVINE ELECTION. Father, Son, and 1'pirit-thc whole Godhead, 1:10 to speak, combine to the redemption of a single soul. 1. The .•0 1·rre ef election : " The foreknowledge of God the Fathei·." The word "to know" in Script uro is often used for" to know with favour" (Matt. vii. …
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trco.t it in different aspects. "Incorruptible;" that is, spiritual, not material. The blessedness of that state will not depend on anything that can decay. The blessed- ness of heaven will be in the development of our spiritual nature. "Undefiled;" that is, untainted, unblemished. Here our spiritual blessings have som…
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experience recorded here is the possible experience of the believer. Comp. ver. 5, "Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the lost timo," .~v(th Yer. 9i "~eceiving [now] the end of your faith, eve_n the salvation of your souls; • i.e. salvation 1s not a future matter only. \Ve…
825 wordsSECTION 54The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 54
II. Tum BAINTB' JOY GROWING OUT OF THIS HEAVINESS. Sorrow and joy at thP. ea.me time I The believer ought to be" always rejoicing," and that is a puzzle to many. But there is great difference between always rejoicing and only rejoicin". The idea thar, the believer ought only to rejoice is as foolish as it is false, Bn…
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and tben glorified. 1. Old Testament eveni& were but stPps leading up to it. Promised in Eden, again to Noah, again with additions to Abraham and to Isaac and to Jncob, ck. Prepared for in the work of Moses, in the calling out and training of Isrnel, to the choice of their land, in their being made the depositary of…
858 wordsSECTION 56The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 56
Vera. 13-16.-Sctlvalion by Christ is.~uinq in holines.~. The modern demand for a relig~on which is practical is but an echo of the deman<l of Scripture. Right being and domg are the aim and proof, yea, the very substance, of Christianity. But Scripture adds that on which the moralists are silent-how this right living…
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)ntoxicated_ m~n hRS no clear _Perception of anything; he sees nothing 11s it is. There ~s nn. mtox1ca_tion of_ soul which operates thus on spiritual perceptions. W c may be m tox1catcd w~t~ busmes!'., worldly pleasure, pride of intellect, etc. 'l'o understand God's grace, a rcst.r:umng hand must be put on this. 3. …
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(Vere. 20, 21.) Characteristic of Peter to emphasize the foreordination of Christ. It occurs here naturally when we see that it is a point in perhaps all his recorded sermons. What a redemption this is which is based on God's eternal purpose! and what a hope which goes back through all time, and finds its foundation in…
891 wordsSECTION 59The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 59
l. SALVATfON IS HERE SPOKEN OF AS THE PURtFICA'l'ION OF TIIE SOUL IN ODEYING '1'111!: TRUTH: "Seein_g ye have })Uiified your souls iu obeying the truth ; " only another wny of sarm.g, " Seemg you have received this salvation of which I speak, which issues in holiness." For : 1. This is a suitable and comprehensive expr…
984 wordsSECTION 60The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 60
Vera. 1-3.-The introductory greeting. Hue is for our consideration, as introductory and preparatory to an intelligent study of this Jetter, some suggestions about- I. 'l'IIB GREETER. "Peter." 'l'he allusions to incidents in hiA life, and the chcckcred light thrown upon his character, which are found in this Epistle, a…
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Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.