10. Have inquired and searched diligently (€&e&jrncav— éEnpedvnoav). Rev., properly, renders the aorists sought and searched diligently. The é& in composition has the force of out, searched out, and is rendered by diligently.
Sought. Used of Esau’s seeking carefully for a place of repentance, in Heb. xii. 17.
Searched. Used nowhere else in the New Testament. Com- pare Septuagint, 1 Sam. xxiii. 23, of Saul’s searching out David.
11. Did signify (é57\0v). Imperfect tense: better, was de- claring, all along through the prophetic age, in successive prophets. See the same verb in 1 Cor. iii. 18; 2 Pet. i. 14.
When it testified beforehand (spouaprupdpuevor). Only here in New Testament.
Of Christ (ets Xpiorov). Lit., wnto Christ. So Rev., in margin. The sufferings destined for Christ, as. in ver. 10 he
Cu, 1] THE FIRST GENERAL EPISTLE OF PRTER, 635
speaks of the grace, eis buds, wnto you ; 1.e., destined to come unto you. Peter was especially concerned to show that the sufferings of Christ were in fulfilment of prophecy, because it was a subject of dispute with the Jews whether the Christ was to suffer (Acts iii. 18 ; xxvi. 22, 23).
The glory (ras Sd£as). Rev., correctly, the glories. The plural is used to indicate the successive steps of his elorifica- tion; the glory of his resurrection and ascension, of the last judgment, and of the kingdom of heaven.
12. Did minister (Senxdvovv). Imperfect tense, were monis- tering. See on Mark ix. 35. The term is applicable to any kind of service, official or not. Compare 2 Cor. iil. 3.
Desire (éruIvupotcw). The word commonly denotes intense desire. It is used by Christ in expressing his wish to eat the passover (Luke xxii. 15); of the prodigal’s desire to satisfy his hunger with the husks (Luke xv. 16); and of the flesh lusting against the spirit (Gal. v. 17).
To look into (mapaxinpat). A very graphic word, meaning to stoop sideways (mapa). Used by Aristophanes to picture the attitude of a bad harp-player. Here it portrays one stooping and stretching the neck to gaze on some wonderful sight. It oceurs in Jas. i. 25, describing him who looks into the per- fect law of liberty as into a mirror; and in Luke xxiv. 12; John xx. 5, 11, of Peter and Jolin and Mary stooping and look- ing into the empty tomb. Possibly the memory of this inci- dent unconsciously suggested the word to Peter. The phrase illustrates Peter's habitual emphasis upon the testimony of sight (see Introduction). Bengel acutely notes the hint in srapa, beside, that the angels contemplate the work of salvation Srom without, as spectators and not as participants. Compare Heb. ii. 16; Eph. iii. 10.
13. Gird up (avatocdpevor). Lit., having girded up. Used here only. The metaphor is suggested by the girding up of
636 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. (CuI.
the loose eastern robes preparatory to running or other exertion. Perhaps recalling the words of Christ, Luke xii. 35. Christ’s call is a call to active service. There is a fitness in the figure as addressed to sojourners and pilgrims (ch. i. 13; i. 11), who must be always ready to move.
Mind (Scavolas). See on Mark xii. 30.
Be sober (vydovtes). Lit., being sober. Primarily, in a phys- ical sense, as opposed to excess in drink, but passing into the general sense of self-control and equanimity.
Hope to the end (redelws édmicate). Better, as Rev., set your hope perfectly: wholly and unchangeably ; without doubt or despondency.
That is to be brought (rv depomévnv). Lit., which is being brought, as Rey., in margin. The object of hope is already on the way.
14. Obedient children (réxva brraxofs). Literally, and more correctly, as Rev., children of obedience. See on Mark iii. 17. The Christian is represented as related to the motive principle of his life as a child to a parent.