THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. CHAPTER I. 1 PETER, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the sojourners scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, 2 and Bithynia; elect', according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctification of the spirit, to obedience, and to the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: favour and peace be multiplied to you. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his great mercy, hath begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the 4 dead; even to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, 5 and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God, through your faith, to salvation ready 6 to be revealed in the last time: wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a short time (if need be) ye be grieved by 7 various trials; that the proof of your faith, which is a much more precious proof than that of gold, which perisheth though proved by fire, may be found to praise, and honour, 8 and glory, at the manifestation of Jesus Christ; whom, though ye have not known him, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with glad9 ness unspeakable, and full of glory; being to receive the 10 end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls3. Of which salvation the prophets, who prophesied concerning the favour of God which was to come unto you, inquired and 1 i. e. chosen, N. m. inheritance," N. a" to an incorruptible, and undefiled, and upfading 3 i. e. yourselves. N.m. 11 searched diligently; searching what time, or what kind of time, the spirit of Christ * which was in them signified, when it witnessed beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the 12 glories which were to follow: to whom it was revealed, that they ministered not to themselves, but to you', the things which have now been told you by those that have preached the gospel to you through the holy spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into t. 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and fully hope for the gracious gift which will be given you at the 14 manifestation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children?, not fashioning yourselves according to your former desires in 15 your ignorance: but according as he that hath called you 16 is holy, be ye also holy in all your behaviour: because it is 17 written, "Be ye holy; for I am holy." And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every one's work, pass the time of your sojourning 18 here in fear: knowing that ye were not redeemed ‡ with corruptible things, as with silver and gold, from your vain 19 behaviour delivered down by your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a spotless and unblemished 20 lamb: who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for your 21 sake, who by him believe in God that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope are 22 in God. Having therefore purified your souls by obeying the truth [through the spirit] to unfeigned brotherly-kind1 us, N. and R. T. Gr. children of obedience. 3 Or, fore-appointed, N. m. * i. e. the spirit which prophesied concerning Christ. See Lindsey's Seq. p. 281. the spirit of an “anointed one," or "prophet." Sn. + Perhaps the meaning of the apostle may be, that the messengers who are now employed to promulgate this glorious doctrine cannot fully comprehend its import, and are desirous of improving their acquaintance with it. See Eph. iii. 18, 19. i. e. delivered from your former state of heathenism, prejudice, and vice, by the gospel, which was ratified with the blood of Christ. 2 ness, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervent23 ly: having been born again, not from corruptible seed but from incorruptible, by that word of God which liveth and re24 maineth'. For "all flesh is as the herb, and all its glory as the flower of the herb: the herb withereth, and [its] flower 25 falleth off: but the word of the Lord remaineth for ever:" and this is the word which is preached to you by the gospel. CH. 11. Wherefore lay aside all maliciousness, and all guile, 2 and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speakings, and, as new-born babes, earnestly desire the sincere spiritual milk, 3 that ye may grow thereby to salvation3: since ye have tasted 4 that the Lord is kind. Coming to whom as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but elect and honourable with God, 5 ye also as living stones, being built up, are a spiritual temple, and an holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, 6 acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore it is contained in the scripture, "Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner-stone, elect, honourable: and he that believeth on him 5 7 shall not be ashamed." To you therefore who believe, he is honourable: but to those who disbelieve," that stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the cor8 ner," and "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence," even to those who stumble at the word; disbelieving that to 9 which they were even appointed. But ye are an elect generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people; that ye may show forth the virtues of him who hath called you out of darkness into his wonderful light: 10 who in time past were not a people *, but are now the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 3" to salvation" 1 for ever. N. and R. T. 2 all the glory of man, R. T. **This language is applicable to gentiles only. See also ch. i. 18. iv. 3." Newcome. 11 Beloved, I beseech you as strangers and sojourners, to abstain from carnal desires, which war against the soul; 12 having your behaviour good among the gentiles: that, in whatsoever they speak against you as evil-doers, because of your good works which they have seen, they may glorify 13 God in the day of visitation. Submit yourselves [there fore] to every appointment of man for the sake of the Lord: 14 whether it be to the king', as supreme; or to governors, as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of those 15 who do evil, and for the praise of those who do well. For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye put to silence 16 the ignorance of inconsiderate men: as free, and not using your freedom for a cloke of wickedness, but as the servants 17 of God. Honour all men: love the brotherhood: fear God: honour the king. 18 Servants; be subject to your masters with all fear; not 19 only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. For this is well-pleasing, if a man for conscience toward God 20 endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye are beaten for your faults, ye shall bear it patiently? But if, when ye do well and suffer, ye shall bear it pa21 tiently, this is well-pleasing to God. For to this ye were called: because even Christ suffered for you, leaving you 22 an example, that ye should follow his steps: who did no sin, nor was guile found in his mouth; who, when he was 23 reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not: but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 and himself bare our sins in his own body on the cross that we should die to sins, and live to righteousness: by 25 whose stripes ye have been healed. For ye were as sheep 1i. e. the emperor, N. m. So ver. 17. of reward.-Luke vi. 33. 5" for us," Mss. 2 Gr. Domestics. 3 Or, worthy Wakefield. N. m. 4 ye have been called: N. Gr. tree, N. m. i.e. he removed them and carried them away: so Christ is said, Matt. viii. 17, " to bear our sicknesses," when he healed them by his miraculous power. 2 going astray; but ye are now turned to the shepherd and guardian' of your souls. CH. III. In like manner, ye wives, be subject to your own husbands; that, if any believe not the word, they also, without preaching the word, may be won by the behaviour of 2 their wives; having seen your chaste behaviour joined with 3 reverence. Let not whose ornament be that outward one, of plaiting the hair, and of wearing gold, or of putting on 4 apparel; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which3 in 5 the sight of God is of great price. For thus the holy women also, who trusted in God, formerly adorned themselves, 6 being subject to their own husbands; as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him her lord: and ye are her children while ye do well, and are not afraid with any terror. 7 In like manner, ye husbands, dwell together with your wives according to prudence, giving honour to the woman as to the more infirm person3, and as being joint-heirs with her of the gift of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 8 Finally, be all of the same mind, be compassionate, be full of brotherly kindness, be tenderly affectioned, be hum9 ble-minded: not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but, on the contrary, uttering blessings: [knowing] that ye are hereunto called', that ye may inherit 10 a blessing. "For he that wisheth to love life, and to see good days, let him refrain [his] tongue from evil; and 11 [his] lips, that they speak no guile. Let him avoid evil, 12 and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against 13 those who do evil." And who is he that will hurt you, 14 if ye be imitators of that which is good? But if ye even suffer for the sake of righteousness, happy are ye: and be So N. m. overseer, N. Or, bishop. 2 Gr. hidden man. 3 which spirit, N. N. m. 6 be courteous, R. T. 8 zealous of, &c. R. T. and N. 7 Or, |