Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comRobertson Word Pictures - 1 Peter 1:2 - 1:2
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
According to (kata). Probably to be connected with eklektois rather than with apostolos in spite of a rather loose arrangement of words and the absence of articles in 1Pe 1:1, 1Pe 1:2.
The foreknowledge (prognōsin). Late substantive (Plutarch, Lucian, papyri) from proginōskō (1Pe 1:20), to know beforehand, only twice in N.T. (here and Act 2:23 in Peter’s sermon). In this Epistle Peter often uses substantives rather than verbs (cf. Rom 8:29).
Of God the Father (theou patros). Anarthous again and genitive case. See patēr applied to God also in 1Pe 1:3, 1Pe 1:17 as often by Paul (Rom 1:7, etc.). Peter here presents the Trinity (God the Father, the Spirit, Jesus Christ).
In sanctification of the Spirit (en hagiasmōi pneumatos). Clearly the Holy Spirit, though anarthrous like theou patros. Late word from hagiazō, to render holy (hagios), to consecrate, as in 1Th 4:7. The subjective genitive here, sanctification wrought by the Spirit as in 2Th 2:13 (where the Trinity mentioned as here).
Unto obedience (eis hupakoēn). Obedience (from hupakouō, to hear under, to hearken) to the Lord Jesus as in 1Pe 1:22 “to the truth,” result of “the sanctification.”
And sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ (rantismon haimatos Iēsou Christou). Late substantive from rantizō, to sprinkle (Heb 9:13), a word used in the lxx of the sacrifices (Num 19:9, 13, 20, etc.), but not in any non-biblical source so far as known, in N.T. only here and Heb 12:24 (of the sprinkling of blood). Reference to the death of Christ on the Cross and to the ratification of the New Covenant by the blood of Christ as given in Heb 9:19.; Heb 12:24 with allusion to Exo 24:3-8. Paul does not mention this ritual use of the blood of Christ, but Jesus does (Mat 26:28; Mar 14:24). Hence it is not surprising to find the use of it by Peter and the author of Hebrews. Hort suggests that Peter may also have an ulterior reference to the blood of the martyrs as in Rev 7:14.; Rev 12:11, but only as illustration of what Jesus did for us, not as having any value. The whole Epistle is a commentary upon prognōsis theou, hagiasmos pneumatos, haima Christou (Bigg). Peter is not ashamed of the blood of Christ.
Be multiplied (plēthuntheiē). First aorist passive optative (volitive) of plēthunō, old verb (from plēthus, fulness), in a wish. So in 2Pe 1:2; Jud 1:2, but nowhere else in N.T. salutations. Grace and peace (charis kai eirēnē) occur together in 2Pe 1:2, in 2Jo 1:2 (with eleos), and in all Paul’s Epistles (with eleos added in 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy).