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1Pe_2:3. εἰ [ εἴπερ ] ἐγεύσασθε , ὅτι κ . τ . λ .] Based on the Old Testament passage, Psa_34:9 : γεύσασθε καὶ ἴδετε , ὅτι χρηστὸς ὁ κύριος ; the words καὶ ἴδετε are omitted, not being suitable to the figure γάλα .
εἰ is here, as in 1Pe_2:17, hypothetical indeed: “if,” but it does not express a doubt; thus Gerhard correctly explains εἴπερ : non est dubitantis, sed supponentis, quod factum sit. Comp. Rom_8:9; 2Th_1:6.
γεύομαι is used here of inward experience, comp. Heb_6:4-5; it alludes to the figurative γάλα , inasmuch as the Christian tastes, as it were, of the kindness of the Lord in the spiritual milk tendered to him. The apostle takes for granted that the Christians had already made inward experience of the goodness of their Lord ( κύριος ; in the Psalms, God; here, Christ), not merely in the instruction which preceded baptism, or in baptism itself (Lorinus), or cum fidem evangelii susceperunt (Hornejus), but generally during their life as Christians; as the new-born child, not once only, but ever anew refreshes itself on the nourishment offered by a mother’s love. With such experience, it is natural that believers should ever afresh be eager for the spiritual nourishment, in the imparting of which the χρηστότης of the Lord is manifested: nam gustus provocat appetitum (Lorinus).[113]
ὍΤΙ , not equal to quam (Grotius), but: “that.”
χρηστός , “kind, gracious,” not exactly suavis (Grotius: ut a gustu sumta translatio melius procedat); in this sense it would be more applicable to γάλα than to ΚΎΡΙΟς .
Several interpreters assume that in ΧΡΗΣΤΌς Peter plays upon the word ΧΡΙΣΤΌς ; but this is more than improbable.
[113] Schott insists “that the apostle is not here anxious about the readers’ desire in general for the word, but that such desire should be combined with the purpose of finally attaining salvation.” But is there anywhere a desire after the word of God without such intent?—Nothing in the context indicates that that in which the χρηστότης of the Lord is manifested is “those rare moments of heavenly joy in which this life is a foretaste of eternal glory” (Schott).