1 Peter 1:12-17
The prophets knew their words would be fulfilled in a distant generation (Gen. 49:10; Num. 24:17; Deut. 18:15; Dan. 9:24-27; Joel 2:28; Habak. 2:1-3)
The believers of Peter’s day and ours did not learn about Christ because of these prophets or because the scriptures true meaning was discovered.
Believers learned of Christ because of:
1) The Spirit sent from heaven
2) Spirit inspired messengers who told them the message
Without the coming of the Spirit and His work the message still would not be clear.
We then are living in an age of extreme privilege.
Even if we suffer and are persecuted the privilege is of knowing the truth is greater and with tremendous power.
Even the mighty angels do not participate nor understand
this great privilege.
Salvation has come to us in such a powerful way through the Holy Spirit that it
even surpasses the angels understanding and experience.
eiV INTO a WHICH epiqumousin DESIRE
aggeloi ANGELS parakuyai TO LOOK
“Desire” or “Long” is epiqumousin (present, indicative, active or epiqumew) it means “to desire, to long for, to eagerly desire.
“Angels” is aggeloV
“To Look” is parakuyai (aorist active infinitive) it
means “to stretch forward the head, especially
through a window or door, sometimes inward, more often than outward. When used figuratively, it commonly implies a
rapid and cursory glance. The word means
to bend down to look and often suggests a fleeting glance such as ‘to peep’,
‘to catch a glimpse of’. The main idea
here rests on their intense interest in what has taken place and on the
limitations of their power and knowledge.” (Linguistic and Exegetical Key” by Cleon Rogers)
1:13
Peter begins a call to holiness:
1) his theme of hope is introduced as the basis for holiness
2) he then moves to the relationship aspect as reason for holiness
3) he finalizes the discussion on holiness with a call to live holy
“Prepare” is anazwsamenoi (Aorist Middle) – “to bind
up, to gather up, to gird up. The word refers to the habit of the Orientals,
who quickly gather up
their loose robes with a girdle or belt when in a hurry or at the start of a
journey because the easterners’ long flowing robes would impede physical
activity unless tucked under the belt. One worker describes tavern keepers who
worked in front of their taverns with their tunics belted high.” (Linguistic
and Exegetical Key” by Cleon Rogers)
“Mind” refers to not just the intellectual side of man but the whole inner part of man that leads him, motivates him, sets his attitude and helps him make decisions.
nhfonteV BEING SOBER teleiwV PERFECTLY elpisate HOPE epi IN thn THE feromenhn BEING BROUGHT umin TO YOU carin GRACE en AT apokaluyei REVELATION ihsou OF JESUS cristou CHRIST
“Being Brought” (or, NIV “given”) is feromenhn (present passive participle) means “to carry, to bear, to bring. The Present Participle pictures the process like ‘that is being brought’ Although a present participle can have a future force, it is used here in keeping with the writer’s conviction that the object of
their hope is already virtually within his readers’ grasp.” (Linguistic and Exegetical Key” by Cleon Rogers)
Hope is to be in the reward at the return of Christ and not on the rewards of this age.
There is a grace that is received upon hearing the revelation of Jesus.
Two ways to totally place hope in Christ and his future:
1) Getting your minds ready
2) Be balanced.
Both of these are participles in the Greek that explain the imperative in the Greek: The command to Hope!
In the English “prepare your minds for action” and “be self-controlled” appear as imperatives themselves. There is only one imperative: Hope! These other two are the way you fulfill the command to Hope.
1:14
“Conform” is suschmatizomenoi (present middle particlple) and means “to form together, to conform.”
The Middle Voice means here “do not fashion yourselves” or “do not allow yourself to be fashioned,”
1:15
1:16
1:17
“Strangers” is paroikia. It means temporary residency or a temporary stay as a resident in a place without taking out or being granted citizenship and the
rights of being a citizen.