Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadBob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - 1 Peter 1:10 - 1:12
(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)
This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Pe_1:10-12
10As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, 11seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.
1Pe_1:10 "As to this salvation" This has been the topic since (1) 1Pe_1:2, which describes the work of the Triune God in salvation; (2) 1Pe_1:3-5, which describe God keeping and protecting this salvation; and (3) 1Pe_1:6-9, which describe these believers' suffering because of this salvation.
▣ "the prophets" This refers to the OT prophets (cf. 1Pe_1:12). In rabbinical thought all inspired writers were considered prophets. Moses is called a prophet (cf. Deu_18:18) and what we call in English the historical books (i.e., Joshua through Kings) were called by the Jews "the former prophets."
▣ "of the grace that would come to you" This phrase implies that the OT prophets knew something of the new covenant. This is also the implication of Jesus' statement concerning Abraham in Joh_8:56 (cf. 2Es_3:14). This same implication is stated in Heb_11:13 b. It is difficult to know exactly how much the OT prophets knew about the gospel. Jeremiah's description of the New Covenant in Jer_31:31-34 (also Eze_36:22-38) points toward an acceptance based on God's love and actions, not human performance. Mat_13:17 states that many OT prophets see and hear what Jesus was doing and saying.
Even Isaiah's prophecy about a virgin birth (cf. Isa_7:14), when interpreted in context, refers to a natural birth with supernatural timing (cf. Isa_7:15-16), not exclusively a future Messianic birth. It is Matthew and Luke who see the full implication of Isaiah's prophecy. This would be true of other specific prophecies in Hosea (cf. Hos_11:1) and Zechariah (cf. Zec_9:9; Zec_11:13; Zec_12:10). It was the Greek-speaking Jews of the NT and the Apostles who fully reveal Jesus from the OT (Christological typology). They may have learned this from Jesus Himself as He taught the two on the road to Emmaus (cf. Luk_24:13-35, especially 1 Pet. 1:27).
▣ "made careful searches and inquiries" These seem to be synonyms (cf. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: based on Semantic Domains, Vol. 1, p. 331).
1Pe_1:11
NASB "seeking to know what person or time"
NKJV "searching what, or what manner of time"
NRSV "inquiring about the person or time"
TEV (footnote)"tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come"
NJB "searching out the time and circumstances"
This implies both a person and a time. They expected a Davidic Messiah to break into history at a specific God-appointed time. Like us, they "looked through a glass darkly" (cf. 1Co_13:9-13).
▣ "the Spirit of Christ within them" The Spirit and the Messiah are linked in the OT (cf. Isa_11:1-2; Isa_48:16; Isa_61:1). Notice that the Holy Spirit is called "The Spirit of Christ" (cf. Rom_8:9; Gal_4:6). Note also the indwelling aspect of the Spirit, even in the OT. Jesus' and the Spirit's tasks are overlapping. See the same truth expressed in 2Pe_1:21.
hyperlink
▣ "predicted the sufferings of Christ" This was what surprised the Jews (cf. 1Co_1:23). The Suffering Servant became a central pillar of the early sermons of Peter and Paul in Acts which we call the kerygma (i.e., that which was proclaimed, cf. Act_2:23-24; Act_3:18; Act_4:11; Act_10:39; Act_17:3; Act_26:23). This is exactly what Jesus had tried to tell the Twelve during His time with them (cf. Mat_16:21; Mat_20:17-19; Mar_8:31; Luk_9:22), but they could not receive it (cf. Mar_9:31-32; Mar_10:32-34; Luk_9:44-45; Luk_18:31-34).
There are hints of the Messiah's suffering in the OT (i.e., Gen_3:15; Psalms 22; Isaiah 53), but the OT Israelites were expecting the Messiah to come as a conquering hero to judge all mankind and restore Israel to a place of prominence and power. They simply missed the two comings of the Messiah which are revealed by Jesus' life and teachings (i.e., Savior, Judge).
Below is an interesting chart of the kerygma found in H. Wayne House's Chronological and Background Charts of the New Testament, (p. 120).
hyperlink
▣ "and the glories to follow" This is alluded to in Isa_53:10-12.
1Pe_1:12 "they were not serving themselves, but you" There are several places in Paul's writings where he asserts this same truth (cf. Rom_4:23-24; Rom_15:4; 1Co_9:9-10; 1Co_10:6; 1Co_10:11). This is basically the same theology revealed in 2Ti_3:15-17. God's actions (revelation) and their recording and interpretation (inspiration) were for all future believers (illumination).
If Peter was writing to mostly Gentile believers, this phrase has the added theological affirmation of the inclusion of the Gentiles, which has always been God's plan (cf. Gen_3:15; Romans 9-11; Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13).
hyperlink
▣ "through those who preached the gospel to you" This seems to imply that Peter did not start all of these churches. They may have been started by believing Jews returning from Pentecost (cf. Acts 2), or by the preaching of Paul or other evangelists.
▣ "by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven" The Holy Spirit is mentioned at several key places in 1 Peter (cf. 1Pe_1:2; 1Pe_1:11; 1Pe_4:14). This phrase was a Hebrew idiom for asserting that the new age of righteousness, which was from God, brought by the Spirit, had fully come (cf. Acts 2).
▣ "things into which angels long to look" This is literally "to stoop over to see" as in Joh_20:5; Joh_20:11. In Jas_1:25 it is translated "look intently." This refers to both good and evil angels (cf. Eph_3:10; 1Co_4:9).
In rabbinical Judaism angels were seen as the mediators between YHWH and Moses on Mt. Sinai (cf. Act_7:53; Gal_3:19; Heb_2:2). They were also depicted as jealous of God's love and attention to humans. In Heb_1:14 angels are described as servants of "those who will inherit salvation." Paul even asserts that believers will judge the angels (cf. 1Co_6:3).
God uniquely revealed Himself to angels through His dealings with fallen humanity (cf. 1Co_4:9; Eph_2:7; Eph_3:10).