The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 138

Lord Jesus Christ were not truly God. (quoted by Ruther) says, "Quia pnrum "Sanctify him," the apostle say3 (as the Lord auctorite.tis ha.bet sermo abaque vita," That, hirn8elf teaches us to say, in the first words whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil- of tho Lord's Prayer); that is, regard him as doers. The Revised Version follows the most holy, awful in sanctity; serve him Sinaitio Manuscript in reading, "Wherein with reverence and godly fear; so yon will ye are spoken against,'' o.nd omitting "o.s not "be afraid of their terror." The holy of evil-doers." It is possible that the re- fear of God will lift you above the fee.r of ceived ree.ding may have been interpolated man. "Let him be your fear, and let him from eh. ii. 12, where the same words occur; be your dread" (lse.. viii. 13; see e.lso Lev. except that there the mood is indicative, x. 3; Isa. xxix. 23; Ezek. xxxviii. 23). St. here, conjunctive, "wherein they may pos- Peter adds the words, "in your hearts," to sibly speak evil of you." They may be teach us that this reverence, this hallowing ashamed that falsely accuse your good of the Name of God, must be inward and conversation in Christ; rather, as the Re- spiritual, in our inmost being. And be vised Version, they may be put to shame; ready always to give an answer to every that is, "proved to be liars" (comp. 2 Cor. man ; literally, re,idy always for an apology vii. 14). The word translated "falsely to every man. The word a...-oll.o-yla is often accuse" is that which is rendered "de- usE>d of a formal answer before a magistrate, spitefully use" in Matt. v. 44: Luke vi. 28. or of a Wl'itten defence of the faith; but It is a strong word. Aristotle defines the here the addition, "to every man," shows corresponding substantive as a thwarting that St. Peter is thinking of informal of the wishes of others out of gratuitous answers on any suitable occasion. The.t malice (' Rhet.,' ii. 2). For "good con- asketh you a reason of the hope that is in versation," see eh. i. 15, 18. Tlle Chris- you; literally, an account concerning the tian's life is in Christ, in the sphere of his hope. Hope is the grace on which St. presence, he dwelling in us, and we in him Peter lays most stress; it lives in the hearts (comp. 2 Cor. v. 17, etc.). of Uhristiaus. Christians ought to be able Yer.17.-For itia better. St. Peter meets to give an account of their hope when the common objection that suffering could asked, both for the defence of the truth be borne more easily if it were deserved : and for the good of the asker. That ac- the Christian must te.ke the cross, if it- count may be very simple; it may be the comea, as from God, sent for his good (comp. mere recital of personal experience-often eh. ii. 19, 20). If the will of God be BO; the most convincing of arguments; it may literally, if the will of God should so will. be, in the case of instructed Christiana, 0,11.71µ,a. denotes the will in itself; 6,11.,111, its profound and closely reasoned. Some an- active operation (Winer, iii. 65. /3). That "wer every Christian ought to be able to ye su1Fer for well-doing, than for evil-doing. give. With meekness and fear. The best The construction is participial, as in eh. ii. man nscri pts read, " but with meekness and 20. As there, the participle expresses, not fear." The word "bnt" (d1111.c/.) is em- merely the circumstances, but the cause of phatic; argument always involves danger the suffering; they would have to suffer, not of weakening the spiritual life through simply while they were doing well, but 1•1ide or bitterness. We must sometimes because they did well. " con tend earnest! y for the faith ; " but it Ver. 18.-For Christ also bath once su1Fered. must be with gentleness and awe. We for sins ; rather, because Christ also once isbould fear lest we injure oar own souls suffered. Two of the oldest manuscripts by arrogant and angry controversy; we read "died ; " but "suffered" corresponds ishoulri seek the spiritual good of our op- beat with the previous verse. The con- pouents; and we should entertain a solemn nexion is-It must be better to suffer for well- awe of the presence of God, with a trembling doing, because Clirist himself, the All-inno- anxiety to think and to say only what is cent One, thus suffered, ond they who so acceptable unto him. suffer are made most like unto him. The Ver.16.-Having a good conscience, This apostle refers us again to that tre.nscendent word "conscience" (crvv•ili71cris) is one of the Example which was ever before his eyes many links between this Epistle and the (compR.re the close parallel in Heh. ix. 26- writings of St. Paul. St. Peter uses it 28). Christsuffered once for all (4..-a.£); so the three times; St. Paul, very frequently. sufferings of the Chriatie.n aro soon over- There is a close connection between this " but for a moment." For sins (..-,pi); con- clause and the preceding verse. A good cerning sins, on account of sins: he, himself conscience is the beet reason of the hope sinless, suffered concerning the sins of others. the.t is in us. .An apology way be learned, The preposition ..-.pt is conste.at.ly used in well-expressed, eloquent; but it will not connection with tho sin offering in the be convincing unless it comes from the Septuagint (see Lev. vi. 25, l,P&,~oucr, Ta 'll'<pl bee.rt, and is backed up by the life. Calvill T,is o.J,La.p.,.[a.s; comp. Lev. v. 8-11, etc.; ulso cm. m.1-22.J THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER.