The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 82

posgible cxplo.no.tions 11re, "This is the work "even," for which there is no authority. of God's gro.ce; " or, '' 'rhis is lovely;" or, St. Peter is speaking of slaves, but what he "Thi~ is favour;" or "This implies" or "This says of slave, is true in some sense of ail c11uscs fovour with Go<l." If a man for Christians (comp. Acts xiv. 22). Because oonucienoe toward God; literally, for wn- Christ also snfi'ered for us ; rather, for you, ecience of God; tho.t is, consciousness of God's with the oldest manuscripts. You clo not presence, of his will, of our duties to him. suffer alone ; Christ also suffered, and that This is better tho.n to to.ke the genitive ns for you sln,vcs, on your behalf. " Christ subjective, o.ncl to interpret," because of the himself," says Bengel, " was treated as a. consciousness of God," beco.use he sees ancl sln.ve; he deigns to exhibit his owu co1Jtluct J·•10ws all that we do ancl say and think as an example to slaves." Lea7ing us an (comp. 1 Cor. viii. 7, where "conscience of exa:rn.ple, that ye silould follow his steps. the idol" seems to mean a belief or half- The oldest manuscripts have the seco1Jd belief in the real existence of the god sup- person here in both places. Leaving ( /i,ro11.Cµ.• posed to be represented by the idol). Endure ,r&vwv), leaving behind; Bengel says, "in grief, snfioring wi·ongfully; literally, griefs, abita ad patrem." The Greek for "ex- A~,ras (comp. Au1r.,,8'11TEs, eh. i. 6). St. Pet8r ample" is {nro-ypaµ.µ.&s-a. word which occurs echoes our Lord's teaching in the sermon on nowhere else in the New Testament. It the mount (Matt. v. 89). means a copy set by a writing or drawing Ver.20.-Forwhs.t glory is it? The-word mai;ter, which was to be exactly reproduceJ. translated " glory" ( KAlos ), common in Greek by his pupils (see 2 llfacc. ii. 28, in the poetry, occurs nowhere elee in the New Greek). The life of Christ is our model. •restament. It means, first, "rumour, re- In particular St. Peter urges us to imitate port;" then "fome, renown.'' If, when ye the Lord's patience in suffering undeserved be buJfeted for your faults, ye shall take it o.ffiictions. In the last clause: the figure is patiently; literally, if sinning and being changed to that of a guide along a difficult buffeted. The word translated "buffeted" route, so difficult that those who follow must (K'1Aa</J1(&µ..,,01), used by St. Matthew and put their feet in his footprints. We should St Mark in describing our So.viour's suffer- follow his steps, one by one, closely follow- ings, bas a figurative meaning in 1 Cor. iv. ing him, as the word braKo>.ou81/<T71Te meo.ns 11; 2 Cor. xii. 7. It is probably used lite- (comp. 111ark xvi. 20; 1 Tim. v. 10, 21). rally hc1·e; blows were o. common occurrence Yer. 22.-Who did no lllll, neither w:u in the life of slaves. 'l'o be patient when guile found m his mouth. St. Peter is suffering de,crved punishment is often diffi- quoting the Septuagint Version of Isa. !iii. cult, but it is no more tha.n a simple duty; 9, almost exactly, the word l&µ.apTlav, sin, it would not be for the glory of rdigiou. being substituted for clvoµ.iav, lawlessness Christian slaves ought to <lo their duty to (''violence" in our version). We should no- their masters, and not deserve punishment. tice that the Mc~siab, whose exo.mple is here But if, when ye do well, and suJfer for it, ye set before Christian sl11 v es, is called by the take it patiently; literally, but if doing well, prophet "the Servant of J chovah" (Isa. and su_t)'ering. The words "for it" nre not lii. 13). Slaves were often tempted to de- in the Greek. This is acceptable with God. ceit 11.ml guile; they must look to the Lord If we read "for" ( ToiiTo ')'<Ip), with some of Jesus, and strive to copy bis innocence aml the best manuscripts, we must supply his truth. The verb •vpkKE<T6a,, to he "there is glory " nfter the Inst clause. "If, found, is sometime~ said to be used, by a. doing well 11.nd suffering, ye take it patiently, Hebraism, for the simple Yerb "to be." there is glory (KAlos), for this is thank- \Viner says, "Between these two verbs, worthy (xdp,s) with God." Such conduct however, there is always this distinction, will bring honour to Christinnity, for it is that, whilst ,Iva, intlicatcs the qun.lity of a. thankworthy even in the sight of God. thing in itself, ,iipi<TKeCT6a, indicates the When Christian men e.nd women took cruel qu11.Jity in so for as it is di,covercd, de- sufferings patiently and joyfully, as tho tected, ret'Ognizccl, in the subject" (' Greek apostles did (Acts v. 41; x,·i. 25), that wus Grammar,' !xv. 8). more tho.u o. mere recognized duty-that Ver. 23.-Who, when he was reviled, showed the power of Christian motives, that reviled not again; when he suffered, he brought glory to Christianity, and was held threatoned not ( comp. Isa. liii. 7). The to be tho.nkworthy (such is God's graci<)US Lorcl again 11nd again clououncecl the hypo- condescension) oven in the sight of God. cl'isy aacl unbelief of the Pho.ri~ees; be The word for "o.cceptable" here is that ho.de Caiaphns remember the coming judg- tmnslnted '' thunkworthy" in vcr. 19, whore ment. But that was the lo.ngu11.ge of pro- see note. phetic w11.rning, the sternneBll of love. Ho Ve1·. 21.-For even heraunto were ye sets before them the impending punishment, oalled; that is, to do good 11.nd to suffer that they may to.ke heed in time o.nd escape pationtly (comp. I Thess. iii. 3). Omit from the wrath to come. In the midst ol  76 'l'HE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETE:R. [ctt. 11. 1-25