The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 68

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 section to nnothcr by catching up the last word. The preceding section concluded with the words "in the last time;" this section commences with the words "in which," i.e. in which last time. If" in" retains the same force (which is only natn ral), then the present tense following comes to have (as it sometimes has) the force of a future. 'l'his view greatly helps to clear up the thought in this section. The use of the present in this way has the effect of "emphasizing the certainty of the future joy." In the last time we are greatly to rejoice (originally, "dance for joy"). vVe are to have a joy which cannot be repressed, but must find expression in outwaro. signs of triumph. 2. The present time may be associated with being put to grief. "Though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold temptations." Instead of rejoicing (as we shall do in the future), we may now be put to grief. The being put to grief is regarded as from without. The grief arises within us from temp- tations, which we may think of as events of an adverse natnre. Those make an assault on us, and, from our imperfect spiritual life, would lead us into sin. It is said in 2 Tim. iii. 12, "Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer per- secution." '!'here are events in the lives of us all that, instead of making us sad, make us glad. But none of us are exempted from the coming on us of sorrowful events. If they do come, there is a "need be" for them. As our needs are manifold, so the temptations appointed for us as suited to them are manifold too. The view that the apostle has reference to future joy is confirmed by the language here. For first, the being put to grief in manifold temptations i8 regarded retrospectively. Looking back from the time of rejoicing, it is said," Ye have been put to grief." Again, the "little while" has its due force only when compared with the length oi the future joy. 3. The end sought in our now being put to grief is the joy of future recognitioo. "That the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, might be found unto praise and glory and honour." We are not to think here of the putting to proof, nor of the means of proof (untoward events), but of the approving that comes out in the result. What comes out in faith, when brought into contact with temptations, is its sincerity and its strengthening. F&ith thus sincere and strengthened is more precious than perishable gold : are we to wonder at the treatment being similar? Gold is subjected to fire for the purpose of being tested and purified: shall not imperishable faith be similarly tested and purified'? "Gold is committed to the fire, not for its destruction, but for glory;" so our faith, after having r,assed through "fiery trial," as the result of judicial investigation, is to be "found unto praise and glory and honour." There is an accumulation of words to bring out what there will be, in contrast with the present needful fire, to make us glad. 4. Our joy will be completed at the revelation of Jesus Ghrist. (1) What there is in the revelation of Jesus Ghrist to give us joy. "At the revelation of Jesus Christ." In 2 'l'im. i. 12 there is reference to the first" appearing of our Saviour Christ Jesus;" the reference here is to his second appearing, for which Peter uses what Trench calls the grander word (grand as "appearing" is). '!'here was revelation in his first appearing. There was a bringing out into accomplished fact of the hidden counsel of God. It was made clear how God was to proceed in laying the foundation of human salvation. In the Incarnation we have the essential revelation. But even in revealing Jesus Christ was hidden. It was not known what depth of love there was in his heart, and what glory properly belonged to him. His revelation will be a. joyful eveut, because it will be the full discloR11r,• nf his grace, with such gloriou8 accompaniment as is fitted to exalt him as Saviour. (2) The foregoing conditions of joy at the revelation of Jesus Ghrist. (a) Love. "Who,u not having seen ye love." Peter was not among those who had not seen Christ; he therefore does not include himself. We are told ot' one who had three wishes-that he had seen our Lord in the flesh, thnt be had heard Paul preach, cmd that he had seen Rome in its glory. 'l'here is a certain advantage to OLtr loving in our standing at a distance from our Lord's day. Wo stand clear of prejudices con- nected with our having seen him; nnd we have 1111 the facts before us, so that we can form an accurate conception of what he was and did. If we got at the meaning .,f 62 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PE'l'EH. [oa. 1. 1-20,