The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 214

tho brothorhnod. (For the wm·rle, "in lho Peter e.nrl Andrew, James and John, by tha world," comr. John xvi. 33, "In the world Sea of Galilee, when the two last were in ve shall hcwe tribulation : but be of good the ship with Zebedee their father, mendin1: Jheer; I hn.ve overcome the world.") '!'here (1<'?'-rap-rl(ov-ras) t~cir nets. God will repair, is another way of toking the elaueo. The brmg to complet10n, what is lacking in the unusual construction (in the Greek Testa- charact~r of his chosen, if they persevere in ment) of the accusative and infinitive, prayer, _if they are sober_ and vigilant (comp. which, indeed, occurs nowhere elee with l Cor. 1. 10; 2 Cor. xm. 11, etc.). Stabluh ,160:s, ho.e led Hofman o.nd others to take (u-r11pi!ei). The Lord had said to St. Peter, the verb bran~<iu0a., o.s middle, e.nd to con- "When thou art converted, strengthen ( cr-rfi- nect the dative, "for the brotherhood," with p•!ov) thy bre_thren" (Luke xxii. 32); Peter -ra ab-rd, the ea.me. Thus the translation remembers his Master's words. Strengthen will be, "Knowing bow to pay the same (u0,vcfoe,). The word occurs only here. tribute of affliction e.s your brethren in the Settle (0<µ<A1d,uei); literally, "shall !rl'ound world." This seems forced and nnnecessary. yon, shall give you e. firm found;tion." Huther gives another possible translation, "Digna Petro oratio, 'Confirmat fratres which he thinks preferable to a.II others: suos,"' says Bengel ( comp. Eph. iii. 17; "Knowing [ or better rather, • considering '1 2 Tim. ii. 19; 1 Cor. iii. 11). The word is that the same sufferings are e.ccomplishin~ omitted in the Vatican and Alexandriue .themselves in the brethren." Manuscripts; but it is found in the Sinaitio Ver. 10.-Bnt the God of all grace (comp. and other manuscripts and versions, and 2 Cor. i. 3, "the God of a.II comfort"). St. ought to be retained. Peter has :finished bis exhortations; he he.s Ver. 11.-To him be glory and dominion told his readers what they must do: he now for ever and ever. Amen. This doxology bids them look to God, and tells them where occurs also in eh. iv. 11, where see notes. they will find strength. God will work The best manuscripts omit the word" glory" within them both to will e.nd to do of his in this pince. St. Peter has been directing good pleasure; for he is the God of o.11 the thoughts of his readers to the power of grace. All that grace by which we a.re God. He will mo.ke them perfect, stablish, saved, without which we oo.n do nothing, strengthen, settle them ; he can, for " his is comes from him as its Author and Source. the might for ever and ever." The Chris- Who hath oalled us unto hiB eternal glory tian may well say bis ".Amen" with a. by Christ Jesus; rather, who called you ... thankful e.nd adoring bee.rt. in Christ JesU,B. All the beet manuscripts Ver. 12.-By Silvanus, e. faithful brother read "you" instead of ue. Two of the most unto you, as I suppose, I have written ancient omit "Jesus" here. God oalled ne brieff.y; rather, as in the Revised Version " in Christ : " that ie, through epiri tuo.l by Silvanus, our faithful brother, as 1 ac~ union with Christ; the glory is promised count him, I have written unto you briefly. to those who are one with Christ; for the The preposition "by" (6,a.') he.a the same glory is Christ's, and hie members will sense as 6cct xecpo~ in Acts xv. 23. Silvan1IS sho.re it. The very end and purpose of our was the bearer of the Epistle; he may have calling was that we might inherit tbe.t been the amanuensis also. In a.II probability glory. This is the apostle's great topio of he is tllo Silas of the Acts of the Apostles, oonsolation. After that ye have su1fered CLu,I the SilvCLnus whose nnme St. Paul a while; literally, a little. The word me.y associates with his own in the address of refer to the degree, as well as to the d ura- botll Epistles to the Thesse.lonie.ne ; he is tion, of the sufferings. '!'hey are transient: mentioned also in 2 Cor. i. 19. As the the glory is eternal. They me.y seem very companion of St. Pcm!, he must have been severe, but they a.re light in comparison known to the Churches of Asia Minor. with that "far more exceeding e.nd eternal The word rendered in the Authorized Ver- weight of glory." Make you perfect, stablish, sion "I suppose" (Ao')li(oµac) does not strengthen, settle you. The manusoripts imply any doubt (comp. Rom. iii. 28; viii. vary between the future and the optative 18; Heb. xi. 19). The Christians of Asia in these four verbs: the preponderance of Minor knew Silvanus e.s a faithful brother; evidence seems in favour of the futtue. St. Peter adds his testimony. Some connect The empbatio pronoun a.irros must not be it with the clause, "I have written unto omitted. Translate therefore, "shall him- you briefly," as if St. Peter meant to ee.y self make you porfeot." He only ce.n "per- thnt he regarded his letter as a short one, fect what is lacking in our faith" (1 Thess. th0 subjects being eo important; but this iii. 10, where the same verb is used); and does not seem natural. It is better to take he will do it. This is our hope and en- the pronoun u,u'iv, unto you, with the verb" I courCLgement. The verb 1<11-ra.p-rl(w means have written," than with the words," a faith- "to finish, to complete, to repair." It is the ful brother,'' as in the Authorized Version. word used in the acoount of the calling of The verb t"fp«,i,11 is the epistolcuy aorist, T, PETER, p  210 THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [cu. v.1-14.