The 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 readers had never seen the Lord; fire." Compare the uso of the cognate word now, though not eeeiug him with the out- ~o,c1µ.f, in 2 Cor. ii. 9; Rom. v. 4 ; Phil. ii. ward eye, th~y r<'llli11:ed his presence by 22. Being muoh more precious than of gold faith, and in thnt presence they rejoiced, the.t perieheth, though it be tried with fire ; The verb is thitt used in ver. G-thoy rejoiced rnthor, ns in the Revised Version, more greatly, they exulted, nnd thnt thon?'h they preciou~ than gold. Gol<l. is the most prC'cious saw him not. Hum:1n lovo needs tno seen of metals, faith is more precions far; the presence of the beloved one to complete the proof of faith i~ more momentous beyond all fulness of its joy(;! John 12); but their joy compnrison thRn the proof of gold. Gold was even amid offlictions unspeRkEtble-like perishes; "Consumitur annulus nsn," says nil our deepest and holiest feelings, not to the poet ; " Aurum cum mnndo perit," says be expressed in words ; nnd it was glorified Dengel; but "Now abideth faith, hope, by the unseen presence of Christ. His chosen charity," says the apostle. Gold is tried behold even now, as in a glass, the glory of with fire; as by the purifying fire gold the Lord, and, beholding, Rre ohRnged into is purgc;d of dross (Isa. i. 25), so by the the same imago from glory to glory. Joy refining fire of temptations the faithful nre in the Lord is a fol'etaste of the joy of heaven, cleansC'cl from pride and self-reliance and and is irrndiated by glimpses of the glory the pollutions of sin. Kight be found unto that shall be revealed. Others, o.s Huther praise and honour and glory at the appearing o.nd Alford, again give to the verb a-ycz>..- of .TeBllS Christ; "might be found" at the >..,iiu9e, "ye rejoice," o. quasi-future sense. judgment, in the searching investigation of The word for" unspeakable" (civ,ic>..a>..11Tos) the great day. Praise; in words, "Well is found only here. done, good and fe.ithfnl servant." Honour; Ver. 9.-Receiving the end of your faith, in the distinctions granted to the faithful- even the se.lvation of yo1ll' souls. The the crown of righteousness, the white robe, present participle "1·eceiving" (,cop.1(&µ.,va,) the palm. Glory; the glory which was implies that the believer realizes the deep Christ's before the world was, which he blessing of salvation gradually while he is giveth to his chosen (John xvii. 22). At the being saved as one of ol uo,(oµeva, (Acts ii. appearing; rather, re-oelation. Now we see 47). Salvation is present as well e.s future. him only by faith; then his elect shall see "By grace ye are saved through fo.ith" him as he is-the veil will be withdrawn (Epb. ii. 8); "According to his mercy he (see ver. 5). saved us" (Titus iii. 5). God's elect receive Ver. 8.-Whom having not seen, ye love. it in variou~ measures now; in its blessed Some ancient manuscripts read 0~1e ,loons, fulness it will be manifested hereafter. It "dthongh ye lmow him not ; " but the is the end which faith ever holds in view, rfeading la&,,.,-,s is brst supportEd, and gives pressing towards it as the prize of the high the betkr sense. The Christians of Asia. calling. It is the so.I vation especially of Minor bud not seen the grac-ions face of the Eonls; for, as Bengel says," Anima prmcipue Lord, as St. Peler had. But though they salvatur; corpus in resurrectione participat." ta.cl never known him after the flesh, they Ver. I 0.-0f whioh salvation the prophets kuew him by the inner knowledge of have inquired and aearohed diligently ; spiritual communion, nnd, having learned rather, prophetB inquired and searched, to love him, had attained the blessing There is no article, and the verbs are aorist. promised to those who ho.d not seen, but yet St. Peter illustrates the glory and greatness ha<l believed. St. P<oter may possibly be of our salvation (mark how he loves to repeat thiuking of his well-remembered iuterview the word) by showing that it was the subject with the risen Lord (John xxi.15-17). He of the searcliing study of prophets and of the llil.s l1ere the word a")'cnriiv, expreasi ve of contemplation of angels. St. Peter was a re:verential Jo~'), which Christ had used in diligtnt student of the prophetic books, and Lis first two q uc,,tious; not the word of constantly quotes them, both in his Epistles warm human affection (,p,>..,iv) which he and in his speeches recorded in the Acts. himself ho.d employed in his three answers. Here he gives us a very remarkable glimpse In whom, though now ye see him not, yet into the conditions of tho prophetic con- 'le!ieving, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable scious!1ess.r The scheme of our salvation e.nd full of glory, The words, " in whom" was in somo way revealed t.o the prophets; (••• 8v, literally, ••on whom now not looking, tlie mode of the revelation, whether by vision but believing"), o.re to be taken with the or otherwise, is not me.de known to us. participles "seeing" and " believing," not Every point of contact between the infinite witli "ye rejoice." St. Peter iusiala on the and the finite is enveloped in myetery; we nt--'et5itynnd bless0dness of faith as eamestly ean only know the fact-there was such a orr. r. 1-26.] 'l'HE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER 7