The 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 reference m&y be to the Rr,-crencc keeps us from pressing tlie illus- Pe.schnl Jamb(" Christ our Pa.ssover is snori- tration in all its details. It m~y be that the ficod for us," l Cor. v. 7)-the blood of that ~rrcspondencc between the atonement and lamb cannot, indeed, bo rognrded as B ransom I.ho redemption of a slave from an euthly from Egyptian bondaga, but it saved tho master is not exact in all points. But the Israelites from tho destroying a.ngel-or to illustration cornea from the Lord himself, any sac1·ifioial lamb. The apostle seems who is the Truth; it must be true as far as to be passing from the idea of mnsom or human language permits, as far as human price to that of expiation. The verb " ye reason can comprehend. It te.'l.ches, as were redeemed," the silver and gold, direct plainly R.s words oa.n express, the <loctrine the thoughts to prioe ; the blood and tho of vicarious satisfaction : he gave his life, lamb, to expiation. The two ideas a.re closely 1101 only in behalf of us, but also instead of connected; the two illustrations combined us-11, ransom for our sins. Compare the use give a fuller view of the blessed meaning of of the word l.-yop&(e1v (l Oor. vi. 20), "Ye the Saviour's death than either of them are bought with a price; " and (2 Pet. ii. alone could do. 1), "The Lord that bought them;" also Ver. 20.-Who verily was foreordained i!a:-yop&(flV (Gal. iii. 13), " Christ hath re- before the foundiition of the world ; rather, deemed ns from the cnrsc of the Law." From as in the Revised Version, •oho was fore- your vain oonversa.tion received by tradition known indeed ; literiilly, toho hath been fore from your fathers; literally, out of your known. But the forelmowledge of God 11ain manner of life or conduct. The word implies the exercise of his will, therefore here rendered "vain" is used of idolatry in the "foreord&ined" of the Authorized Ver- Ar.t.s xi"f". 15, and also the corresponding sion, though not here an exact translation, verb in Rom. i. 21. St. Peter seems to be is trae in doctrine. St. Peter had asserted the thinking mainly of Gentile Christians; he same great truth in his sermon on the Day would s~rcely deEcribe the sinful conversa- of Pentecost (Acts ii. 23; comp. also iii. 18 tion of Israelites as " handed down from e.nd iv. 28). He had heard the words, "be- your fathers" (Revised Version) without fore the foundation of the world," again and some qualification. Habits are transmitted again from the lips of Christ; he may pos- from fathers to children; he.bitue.l custom sibly have read them in the Epistle to the is ma.de e.n excuse for m11,ny shortcomingd, Ephesians (i. 4). The incarnation, de&th, but "nnns Prrter imite.ndus" (Bengel). and resurrection of Christ were not the Ver. 19.-:Bnt with the precioilB blood of result of a change of purpose to meet un- Christ, e.s of a lamb without blemish and foreseen eircumste.nces ; they were foreseen without spot; rather, as in the Revised and foreordained in the eternal counsels of V ereion, but with precioU8 blood, as of a God. Those counsels e.re wholly above the lamb mitlwut blemish and without spot, ( e11en range of OW' understanding; we cannot see the blood) of Christ. Precious, as opposed through the veil of mystery which smTounds to the "corruptible things" of ver. 18; it is them; we ce.nnot fathom the awful necessi- precious, because it is the blood of Christ. ties which they imply. Bnt was manifest Christ's holy body saw not corruption; gold in these last times for you; mther, as in the and silver wnst perish nt last; the precious Revised Version, with tho best manuscripts, blood in its virtue and efficacy e.bideth ever- was manifested at the end of the times for more. The blood of Chri6t is compared with your salce. The aorist (,pa.v,pw9evros) marks that of e. lamb. The lambs e.nd other the Incarnation e.e an event which took e.nimo.ls offered as sacrifices were to be place in time; the purpose of God we.s without blemish (Exod. xii 5; Lev. xxii eternal, before all time. ]:''or the phrase, 19, 20, 21); Christ was without sin, pure, "at the end of tl1e times" (E,r' ,crxci:ro11 ,,.if,,, harmless, undefiled. The blood of animals xp6vwv), compare the reading of the most could nernr take away sin; yet it is written, ancient manuscripts in He]j. i. l U..-' err- "The life of the flesh is in the blood ; e.nd I x&,,-ou ,,.;;,., 71µ.<p&v ,,-o6rwv, " e.t the end of have given it to you upon the altar to make these days "j; o.lso in Jude 8 (,..-' icrxchou e.n atonement for your souls; for it is the xp6vou), "This is the last time," St. John blood the.t ma.keth atonement for the soul" says; or, rather, "the lo.st hourUrrx&,,..,1 &pa:)" (Lev. xvii. 11).( That blood prefigured the (l John ii. 18); the last period in the de- precious blood· of Christ, which cleanseth velopment of God's dealings with mankind from e.ll sin. 'l'he sacrifices of the Law is the time which intervenes between the directed the faith of the pious Israelite to first e.nd the second ad vents of Christ. the one great Sacrifice, the Propitiation for Ver. 21.-Who by him do believe in God; foe din& of the whole world. J;'robably St. or, according to two of the most ancie'.li 011. 1. 1-25.J 'l'HE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. 11