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 61
miseries need many mercies." Hence we have revelations of God's mercy, as great mcl'(,y, abui1da11t mercy, plente()'ll,S mercy, tender mercies, muUitude of mercies, mercy that "endttreth for ever." The heart of man may well glow with gratitude as he vows, "I "·ill sing of mercy," etc. II. PRAISE TO Gon FOR A BRIGHT…
861 wordsSECTION 62The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 62
"When I draw this fleeting breath, When my eyelids close in death .. , Rock of Ages, cleft for me, Let me hide myself in thee." IV. How DOES GoD INSPIRE AND PRESERVE THE HOPE? 1. It is a lwpe tlvit is born with man's new birth. A man is an heir, by birth, of his father's patrimony; a Christian is an heir, by regene…
851 wordsSECTION 63The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 63
Joseph, Davi<l., Poter, our blessed Lord, were most blessed products of the experience rcncbed by the fires of suffering. ( 4) Lead, to hi,ghest destiny. Praise ; honour; i;lory.-U. R. T. Ver. 8.-Love-tmst~oy. Hero is- I. LovE FOR THE UNSEEN. 1. This appears difficult. Many say," If we could only bear, see, touch Chr…
803 wordsSECTION 64The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 64
man but to ensure him holiness. Holiness is the supreme purpose of reliaion. 0 So now, in his own direct, glowing, practical manner the apostle voices the call of God- " De holy." And in doing tbi8 be sets forth- I. THE ONE MODEL AND MoTIVE OF TRUE HOLINESS. Does he not, however, in passing, show what is not a standa…
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Vers. 17-21.-The awe of the ?·edeemed. 'l'he one injunction of this passage is, "PI\Ss your time i~ fear"-~' the time of your sojourning." Peter had already addressed them as SOJourners as to country; now he addresses them as sojourners in this "'orld altogether. "In fear" does not mean in dread or in terror; that mean…
920 wordsSECTION 66The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 66
Vers. 1, 2.-lntroduction. 1. ADDRESS. 1. Writer. "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ." The name is chosen which was most familiar to the readers. It is also the name which belonged to him as an apostle. He was commissioned by Jesus Christ to do important work for the Church, including the composition of this letter. 2. …
699 wordsSECTION 67The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 67
if we are much exercised on whe.t God is or has done, it is a relief and delight to us. It is not the Go<l of Christ (as the language might seem to imply) that is here prnised, but Gc1d generally. It is the exalted Name that is fitte,l. to call forth all sacred feel- i1,gs. But there is added the Christian interpret…
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This salvntion is viewed as hidden, but already in existence, only waiting God's time for its revelation, which is not to be till the last time (also bidden). II. 'l'm,; BOUltOJll OF JOY IN 1TB COMPLETION. 1. 'l_'he last time is a.1.1ociatPd with foy. "Wherein yo greatly rejoice." Peter has a way of moving from one se…
933 wordsSECTION 69The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 69
these facts, and have our hearts touched with love to him, then the first condition ie fulfilk-d of our having joy at his revelation. (b) Faith. "On whom, though now yo sec him not, yet believing." A point has been raised regarding love coming here before belief. " ·why is the natural order of thino-s reversed? How …
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removed from us, for in Rom. viii. 9 it is said of us that we have the Spirit of Christ. 'L'he Spirit of Christ was in them to fit them for their prophetic function. The language is remarkable as pointing to the pre-existence of Christ, and also to the Spirit in the prophets as proceeding, not directly from the Father,…
902 wordsSECTION 71The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 71
Yers. 13-25.-The pilgrim-life. I. PREPAREDNESS, 1. Unity of the energies, "\"l\'hcrefore ~rding up the loins of your mind." The apostle hns been dwelling on tho bright future before the people of God. \Ve are pilgrims on our way to our inheritance. Jt hecom(ll,l us therefore to gird up the loins of our mind. It belo…
927 wordsSECTION 72The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 72
tiving hero of lusl.9, which nrc just self in Mme form or other. If, like many of thoM addressed in this EpiRtlo (Gentile converts), lusts once had the fashiunin>( of us, that belonged to our former life when we were in i,qnorance of Divine things. :Now that we are enlightened, let them not have the fashioning of us…
934 wordsSECTION 73The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 73
fear_first when _he thinks of the life he lrn~ C$Capc,.1, nnd also when he thinks of the cost of Ins red(•mpt1on. (1) The fear of the life escaped. "From your vain manner of life han,1cd dow~1 !'r:m1 your fathers." The life of sin is a •1:ain manner of life, i.e. e111pty of the holy ac11nt1es and pleasures which are…
931 wordsSECTION 74The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 74
somo lnstnnceA, upon men's bodies. In redemption reaching iu its operation ':.hrough preceding times far back into the etern11,l counsels r;,f Goel, is there not reason for fear- the fear that we do not sufficiently endeavour to appreciate wh'l.t haa ~ntered so lon,g; 11nd so deeply into the thought of God? Manifested …
928 wordsSECTION 75The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 75
a li,·ing, acfrve power in it, which can 11fver fail. 'l'he bearing of thi1 is t-lrnt, being alike in having been born into the new abiding life, we a.re plainly intended for loving onc :mother. As on the way to the same inheritance, we are to keep up good brother- hood. (2) Confirmation of the a.bidi'11g power of the…
906 wordsSECTION 76The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 76
eervice of the sonctlflod reoson ns oppose<l to passes first to the figure of labomers on tha the mcchonical obsorvonce of formal rites. land, anrl then to that of builders upon th., It is explained by Chrysostom as oboiv one foundation "which is Jesus Cbri.<it." lxovcrav uwµaT<1<~v, oM~v ,rax~, obli~v al,r917- 'fhis, …
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to point to a r£>0exit'e rer:deriug here; offered once for o.11 by the great High Lut the verb used by St. Jude is active, Pricft np~n the alto.r of the cro,s. Dut hr-01,co~oµoiivru. St. Jude is apparently there is 8till socritice in the CluiHtio.n thinking of the human siJe of the work, Cirnrch. 'l'lrnt ono S:tcrifice…
988 wordsSECTION 78The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 78
the etone hC1s It lms for you who believe" refer back to ver. 5; God hrvl Clppointetl (Wieeinger, quotetl by liuther). But the them to he built up in his spiritual house, first explC1nritiou ie nearer to the Greek. but they were di8ohedient. It must refer 21ut unto them which be disobedient, the stone either to li,,,.,…
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.,..,p,1rol71<Tn•, by the Authorized Version ''my to pl'l\cticnl topics : he he gins liis exhortation jewels." The cl1ildren of Israel are called in the affectionate manner common in Holy ~-,: ;,S,19, ns the peculium, the private, Scripture. Ho calls his renders "strnngers sper.ial, treasured possession of God. God …
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tee.n banquets, etc., came later. They may powers that be a.re ordained of God," anrl in by your good works, which they shall be- obeying them we obey the ordinance of Gori. hold, glorify God in the day of visitation. Christians were commonly accused of in- The word rendered, "which they eue.11 be- subordination, of…
1,003 wordsSECTION 81The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 81
whic-h prescnte no real difficulty; the mean• lead us to givo due honour to cnrthly princes ing being t.hnt Christinn freedom must ahow who rule by his controlling providc11ce. It itself, not in licence, bnt in willing obedience WI\S especially necessary to urge the fonr of to constituted authorities: "Not only for …
1,021 wordsSECTION 82The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 82
posgible cxplo.no.tions 11re, "This is the work "even," for which there is no authority. of God's gro.ce; " or, '' 'rhis is lovely;" or, St. Peter is speaking of slaves, but what he "Thi~ is favour;" or "This implies" or "This says of slave, is true in some sense of ail c11uscs fovour with Go<l." If a man for Christian…
1,030 wordsSECTION 83The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 83
his strongest inve<>tiYe against the sins and chapter. In the Old Testament "to hcl\r hollow unrenlity of Pharisaism there is an 6ius" or "iniquity" ruenns to suffer the pu- ontbur11t of the deepest love, the tenderest nishment of sin, whether one's owu sin or cnneem (MRtt. xxiii. 27). But committed the sin of other…
1,070 wordsSECTION 84The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 84
the genitivo, not tho da.tivc, Tair l,,µ.c,p.,./rrn; rcpro,luce3 the worcls of the sixth verse, a.nd the ordinnry trnns!n,tion is more suitable "All we like sheep ha.ve gone a.stra.y." He to the following context. 'fhe word is who h-1d been thrice charged to feerl the severnl times used in Herodotus in the eeme shee…
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HOMILETICS. Vers. 1-10.-The regenerate life. I. lTs GROWTH. 1. What must be shunned. St. Paul bids us work out our own salvation. The new bidh is the beginning; that comes from God-from his free grace. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, hut according to his mercy he saved us, hy the washing of reg;ener…
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shnll bo fully completed, all tho present frame of things in the world ancl in the Church itseli' shall be taken away, ancl appear no more" (Lc;ghton). 2. The C'hurch is a npiritual priesthood. As Christ is in a transcendent sense the Temple of Goel, and yet Christians individually and the Christian Church as a whole &…
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shall 1wt be put to shame. "For God bath laid this precious Stone in Zion for this very purpo~e that weary souls may rest upon it" (Leighton): and he that so resteth need not make haste; he need not run hit.her and thither for help, for his soul is established liis mind is stayed upon God. Nothing can shake him from…
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of the great i~visible Ki_ng.. And they re: n 1;1P?n the earth ; for they have given their hearts to Christ to be his kingdom; and 7this 1s the benefit of receivincr the kincrdom of Christ into a man's heart, that it make~ him a king himself. All the subje~ts of Christ are kings, not only in regard of that pure crow…
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tho11d1t and life; they must live as citi1.e1;s of the heavenly -countr~. 2. Tlie necessay nf the exhortation. (1) l!'or the salvation of the soul. Fleshly lusts are not only beiwat.h the dignity of God's peculiar people; they are full of danger, for they war nf!:ainst the soul; they nre, as it were, the dark hosts …
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thnt obedience is for bis sake; therefore it cannot extend to unlawfnl commands. St. Peter himself hnd once said to the high priest, "We ought t0 obey God ratl,er than man" (Acts v. 29 ; comp. also Acts iv. 19); and the time was comina when brn.ve Cbristi:iu men and women woulcl have to choos<J between renouncing Chri~…
1,857 wordsSECTION 91The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 91
and deed ; let us not complain. 8. The patience of Ohrist. He w11.s buffeted and epat upon and cruelly mocked, yet he opened not his mouth; he was scourged, he was nailed to the cross; he suffered through all those six hours the intensest agony; he threatened not, he did not call for the twelve legions of angels. He co…
1,149 wordsSECTION 92The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 92
HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Ver. 2.-Jnfants' food. There has just been a reference to regeneration as effected by the incorruptible seed of the Word. The metaphor is carried on in these words, which speak of the nourishment and growth of the regenerate. 'l'here does not, how- e,,er, appear to be any limitation of th…
647 wordsSECTION 93The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 93
men!~. If we gorge ourseh·es on tho sugared delights of earth, or on the rank "leeks and garlic" of Egypt, how can tbo manna but taste insipid to our palates? 'l'herelore abstinence from these, and a tight hand on our desires and passions, are esseutial if we are to have any healthy hunger for wholesome food. Again, th…
886 wordsSECTION 94The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 94
seen in vision the head-stone of the completed and transformed theocracy brought fort.h with triumphant acclaim, Daniel had prophesied of a Stone cut out without hands, which should crash among the kingdoms of the earth like a boulder hurled by an a.alauche among peasants' cottages and gardens. .And all these stream…
891 wordsSECTION 95The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 95
approach of the soul to Christ, and we IJuch when, with the reliance of our whole nature, we grasp his cross, and him who died on it, as our only Foundation. But that act of faith must be continuous, if we o.re to draw life from him in an unbroken stream. 'l'he form of expression in the Greek shows that the "coming" is…
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3-od.. 'l'herefore ,he ta~es one of bis t.ribe, and sets him apart to stand bet,veen bim md bis deity. 'I be pnest has to represent man to God and God to man. Ria chief '.unction is sacrifice, and, iu addition to it, he has to be intercessor and media.tor-to m1!g the messages of the god to his worshippers, to represent…
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the preciousness." What preciousness? The definite article pmuts us back to the attribute of the "Corner-stone" in the previous verse. It is "elect, precious." Peter'_; thought, then, is that all in Christ which makes him precious belougs or passes on to us by faith. That is a profound thought put in very simple and ho…
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through which his grace pours, How can it enter if there be no channel P Faith ia the sole condition. Let us learn, then, how much and how little it takes to put us in possession of the preciousness of Christ. How much? Nothing lesa than the sur- render of our hearts to him in entire self-distrust and nbasement, and…
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end creation came into being, that it might be a mirror of Go<l, and eyes were made that in the mirror they might behold him and rejoice in the vision. Every creaturn hos this for its highest end, to glorify God, because that was God's end in its creation. Of creatures man is the highest revelation of the Divine charac…
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Ver. 21.-Chn$t'S Passion our peace and pattern. Christianity brings its highesh principles to bear on the lowliest duties. If it did not regulate these, what would there be for it to regulate? Life is made up of a great many little things and a very fow great ones. The clock only strikes twelve twice in the twenty-f…
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his own body on tho tree," says the context. His death was a sacrifice; by thl' spri11- kling of his blood we are lrnllowe<l, No other view <loes justice to the plain import of these nnd other passages than that which takes Christ's sufferings to be substitutionary in their character and propitiatory in their operation…
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Yer. 25.-Tlie S11epl1erd and Bishop of souls. This letter is addressed to scattered i;trangers. But though locally separated, over wide lands, a handful here, a single soul 1here, they were in spirit united, aud, seen truly, were a flock gathered round the one Shepherd. Long ago Peter had heard the great words, "Oth…
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which is our only real enemy, will not harm us. Our docile submission is the corre- lative of his guidance, and ou; trust should answer to his defence. Ir he guard, let us press close to the shelter of his presence, and ever look for the benediction of his eye. 3, The third thought is provision. He will not lead whe…
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Jews, Hr.'.· nntu_rally mnd~ use of langu:1ge and of metaphors based upon the usages and 1wacl1ces ,,i the Jewish religion. l'eter knew well tb:i.t the temple oflices 11ud (lbser,ances, the building and its purposes, to which ho here referred, had all their meaning in their relation to the Saviour in whom he and his…
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preachers of the ~ospel proclaimed Christ, they represented him as "approved of God," who had raised ond exalted him, and had "set him at his own rjc,J,t hand." In the Epistles, as for example in tbo first chapter of tho Epistle to the Hebrews, the approval and favour of the Father are mentioned with the view of inspir…
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Yer. 16.-11rue freedom. The change was great which even an enlightened and rions Jew passed through when he received Jesus as the Messiah. Finding in Chris• tian doctrine and privilege the substance of which he had so long been conversant with the shadow, his mind expanded and his best feelings were touched with a b…
1,056 wordsSECTION 107The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 107
Vers. 18-25.-Servitude and subJection. Writing to slaves, Peter, like Paul-who was himself a Roman citizen and a Christian freeman-exhorts to patient endurance of the ills and wrongs too often inflicted by irresponsible power upon the unprotected and despised. Beside the specially Christian motives to which the apostle…
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Ven:. 21-24.-The p1wpose of the Savio1w's su_ferings. One thing must be obsrrved &nd admired in the religious life and the religious teaching of the inspired apostles- everything they did and everythinii; they said led thei1· minds to the Lord Jesu~. If Christ be the Son of God and the Saviour of mankind, this is no…
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injustice. Upv!I himself Jesus had turned the glance of affectionate reprnach, wl,ich Mnote him to the htart, and opened the fountain of bis tears. It was Peter who ent3red the empty grave of tho risen Immanuel. It was Peter who, when forgiven his faith- lessness and fear, was assured by the Lord of a share in the humi…
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endure the humiliations of his life and the agonies of his death was no personal end; he suffered " for our sake." There were two distinct and yet closely related purposes which th~ Saviour, bad before him in his sufferings. Doth are stated in this passage very exphc1_tly. 'I he~e are some minds that look only at th…
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righteousnesR. No power but that of the cross could be "the power of God unto salvntion" to such men. And in this they were representatives of mankind. The gospel of Christ both kills and makes alive. It slays the principle of sin ; it quicken., the principle or obedience to God. Those who are pardoned and justified by…
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llim-iis _on the walls of_ the catacombs. Christ not only 11iticd the lost sheep, he nct1w•ly rnterposo<l. on their behalf, to save them from <l.cstruction. ln .:arrying out his purp0Se of mercy he suffered on their behalf and in their stead; he laid down his lifo f,,r his sheep. 2. He is represented as the Overseer…
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l[J. Tmr. ARGUMENT DY WIIICII THE SOUL TS T'F.ll';UADF:D TO USE THESE UIU),'S, "If 60 be ye have tnsted," etc., that is, seek this spiritual growth: 1. Because your experience of Divine grace has been only a ea~te of what is possible. \Ve are predes- tined to-be conformed to the image of God's Son. 'l'hink what that in…
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wants find ~- Such a sanctuary is the Church of Christ, the world's one temple, through which alone_can flow from God the healing for its woes. 'l'he Church is the fulfilment of the ancient predictions of the temple that should rise on Zion in the latter days, to which 1111 nations should flow, and from which all sh…
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I. TnE DEMAND FOR A BECOMING LIFE ON THE PAltT OF TIIE CHURCH. There is a certain behaviour which becomes God's people, if only becanse they are closely observed by the ungodly; the world has a standard of character it expects the Church to reach. We may discourage ourselves by overestimating that standard (prohably …
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Ye:-,. 13-1 i.-77ie Christian's dufy to the state. We might regard vers. 11 and 12 as ibe text of which the rest of the E1,istle is the sermon. Tho apostle first writes at kngt h on their possession of personal redemption, and then says, "Now for the life that brcomes it." And he begins with tbat citizenship which b…
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Vers. 18-25.-Servants urged to patient enduran~ of undeserved suffering. Ilaving dealt with the charactel' becoming tho Christian citizen, he rasses to that bcc0ming the Christian servant. Prnbably the Churches addrestiecl were composed largely uf that class, who, however, were scarcely above the rank of slaves; and th…
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treatment from others, which is often due to our moral unlovclinesR. The apostle, however, thinks of that which is unmeriterl-suffering, e.g., for right doing. 'l'here is a mystery in thiR, but it is something that Scripture recognizes this, yea, even says it is this" wbereunto ye are called." 2. This endurance is d…
1,028 wordsSECTION 119The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 119
Vers. 4-8.-Tlie soul-temple, and soul-service. The critic may read these verses and simply complain that he finds hero a confusion of metaphors-that Christian souls are here described as builders and a building. But in truth these figures illustrate two sides of ono great fact, namely, that the worth of life, whether i…
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Vers. 11, 12.-Tlie threefold plea agai11,5t disorderly passions. What is meant here by "fleshly lusts"? Not alone the desires and appetites that are gratified through the flesh-" sensuality," as we sometimes say. No; for three reasons. 1. The flesh in itself is neither good nor bad; it has no moral qualities. 2. 'l'…
1,008 wordsSource & rights
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.