The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 178

os he commonly does, but translating from would be safe for them. Hence the use of the Hebrew. The Septuagint rendering is the "letters of commendation," mentioned quite different, n&:v-ras 6~ robs µ¾) <1>1>..ov«• by St. Paul (2 Oor. iii. 1). Those who ,coiiv..-as Kll.l\01r..-« <1>1>..la. But it may be that brought such lett..:rs were to be received in the words had become proverbial. We Christian homes. The well-known 'Teach- find them also in Jae. v. 20, "He which ing of the Twelve Apostles' speaks of this converteth the sinner . . . shall hide a right of hospitality, and gives cautions multitude of eine." St. James means that against its abuse. The apostle is not he will obtain God's forgiveness for the speaking of ~>r<linary social gatherings; converted sinner; but in Prov. x. 12 the they have their place and their utility in meaning (e.s is plain from the context) is the Christian life, but they do not, as a that love covers the sins of others; does not rule, afford scope for the higher self-denials stir up strifes, as hatred does, but promotes of Christian charity (comp. Luke xiv. 12, concord by concealing and forgiving sins. 13). Without grudging. Such hospitality Thie is probably St. Peter's meaning here: would be always costly, often inconvenient, "Take care that your charity is intense, sometimes attended with danger, as in the for only thus can you forgive as you are case of the first British martyr; but it was bidden to forgive, 11s you hope to be for- to be without murmuring. Murmuring given." Perhaps he was thinking of the would take from the hospitality all its "seventy times seven," to which the Lord beauty; it should be offered as a gift of had told him that forgiveness was to extend. love, 11nd Christian love can never murmur But his words may well be understood as (comp. 2 Cor. ix. 7). implying more than this. Lo,e shown ill Ver. 10.-As every man hs.th received the forgiving others will win forgiveness for gift; rather, according as each rece-fred a yourselves : " Forgive, and ye shall be for- gift. The aorist (>..a~•v, "received," seems given." Love manifested in converting to point to a definite time, as baptism, or others will cover their sins, and obtain the laying on of hands (comp. Acts viii.17; God's forgiveness for them. In the deepest xix. 6; 1 Tim. iv. H). For the gift sense, it is only the love of Christ energiz- (xrJ.purµ.a), comp. Rom. x.ii. 6; 1 Car. xii. 4, ing in his 11toning work which can cover "'l'here are diversities of gifts." Even so oin; but true charity, Christian love, flows minister the same one to another; literally, from that holiest love. "Love is of God, and ministering it to,oards one another. The every one that loveth is born of God, and gifts of grace, whatever they may be, are knoweth God." Therefore in some sense talents entrusted to individual Christians Chlistian love, flowing from the love of for the gootl of the whole Church; those Christ, and bringing the Christian very who have them must use them to minister near to Christ, covers sins; for it keeps the to the Wi>Ut.s of others (comp. eh. i. 12, Christian close to the cross, within the where the same word, o,aicov,i'v, to immediate sphere of the blessed influences minister, is used of the gift of prophecy). of the atonement, so tho.t he becomes a As good stewards of the mo.nilold grace of centre of gro.ce, a light kindled from the God. We seem to see here a reference to the true Light, a well of living waters fed by parablo of the talents (comp. also 1 Cor. iv. the oue fountain which is opened for sin 1 ; 'l'itns i. 7). Christians must be "good aud for uncleanness. The mutual love of stewards (Ka>..ol ol1Cov6µ.o,)." There should be Christiaus, their kindly words and deeds, not only exactness, but also grace and check the work of sin ; their prayers, their beauty in their stewardship-the beauty intercessions, call down the forgivenes~ of which belongs to holy love, and flows from God. Therefore, in the viuw of the the imitation of him who is "the good approaching end, charity is before ull Shepherd ( d .,,.o,,,.¾iv d 1Ca>..6s)." 'l'he gifts thiugs precious for our own souls and for (xapiuµ.a-ra) are the manifestations of the the souls of others. grace (xrJ.p,s) of God; that grace from which Ver. 9.-Use hospitality one to another; all gifts issue is co.lied manifold (1ro1,c{l\71), literally, being hospitable ( comp. Rom. xii. because of the dfrersities of it~ gifts, the 13; 1 Tim. iii. 2; Heb. x.iii. 2; 3 John 5). variety of its manifestations. Hospitality must have been a necessary, Ver. 11.-If any man speak, lot him and ofton a costly, duty in the early ages of speak as the ore.oles of God. St. Peter the Church. There was no publio provision proceeds to give examples of the proper use for the poor. Christians travelliug from of gifts. Ono of those gifts is utterance. place to place would find no suitable shelter The apostle means 1111 Christian utterance, except in the houses of Christians. 'fhoy whether public in the Church, or private in would bo obliged to o.void the publio houses Christian conversation or ministrations to of entert11inment, where they would be the sick. The second clause may be also exposed ofteu to d11nger, always to tempta- rendered, 11s in the Revised Version, "speak- tion; only the pn,·,1,te houses of Ohristi11ns ing us it were oracles of God." It is more 174 THE FIRST ErISTLE GENERAL m' PETER. [en. IV. 1-19.