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— *E xXzxroTg, elect) in heaven ; elect out of the whole people, out of mankind. Comp, this and ver. 5, with Matt. xxiv. 24. — rra pzvi- d'/j/xcig, strangers) on the earth, [with reference to their heavenly country .
— V. g.] — diutKop ag n ov-ov, of the dispersion of Pontus) He addresses the dispersed Jews, James i. 1 ; although he afterwards addresses believers of the Gentiles, who are mixed with them, ch. ii. 10, note, iv. 3. He mentions five provinces in the order in which they presented themselves to him, writing from the East : ch. v. 13. Cappadocia , Pontus , and Asia , is the order in which they are men- tioned, Acts ii. 9. The Epistles of Peter were formerly placed before those of John, James, and Jude: and from this circum- stance all of them appear to have been called u Catholic” ( General ) Epistles, because that title is especially applicable to the first. It is not agreed upon whether Peter first sent this Epistle into Pontus, or to Jerusalem, where the Jews flocked together.
2. Kara Kpoyvuw, according to the foreknowledge) This depends upon elect . Foreknowledge is also praised (referred to), ver. 20.
It includes also good-will and love. — ©sou, of God) The mystery of the Trinity, and the economy of our salvation, are intimated in this verse, and indeed these constitute the sum of the Epistle.1 — Uarpbc, Father) even our Father. — lv ayiat^ti Uvzvfiarog, in sanctification of the Spirit) 2 Thess. ii. 13, note. — zig -brruxoriv, to obedience) That obedience is meant which is rendered through faith ; ver. 22, note.
St Paul undoubtedly joins together, in the passage quoted above, sanctification of the Spirit and faith . Observe also the particles, xara, zv , zig ; by means of which the bearing of the three cardinal benefits upon election, and their mutual order, is indicated. Comp. Apocalypse i. 4, 5, 6. — %a\ pavrityPov, and sprinkling) The obedient are sprinkled to the remission of their sins : 1 John i. 7. But here the sprinkling is passive, by means of which the sprinkling is obedi- ently received. On the subject of obedience , see again ver. 14; on the blood of sprinkling, ver. 19. — <rX>j0uv0g/?7, be multiplied) to a further extent. The same word occurs, 2 Pet. i. 2. So Dan. vi. 25, z ipyjvri ‘7r\y}QvvQziriy peace be multiplied unto you.
3. EuAoy?jros, blessed) The sentiment is, God has regenerated us. * The Mode2 (expression of feeling) is added, that is to say, an ex- pression of thanks. — narijp, the Father) The whole of this Epistle closely agrees with the Fordis prayer , and especially with its earlier
1 He treats of the Father in verses 3, 15, 17, 21, 23 ; of Christ, in verses 3, 7, 11, 13, 19, ii. 3; of the Spirit, in verses 11, 12, 22. — V. G.
2 See Append, of Techn. Terms on Sermo Modalis.
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