1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:1

VVHerefore laying] See James 1:21. Hebrews 12:1. Ephes. 4. 22, 25. Col. 3. 8.

all malice] 2 Corinthians 7:1. 1 Thessalonians 5:23.

1 Peter 2:2

desire] Or, earnestly desire. Psal. 119. 20, 81, 82.

sincere] That is, uncorrupted, unfalsified: hereby is meant the puritie of Gods Word, it is without falshood: see Psalms 14:8. and herein it is compared to milk, which of it selfe is uncompounded.

milk] What is here meant by milk, is expressed, Chap. 1. 25. viz. the Gospel, or the Word of God revealed in the Gospel: Compared to milk; first, because of the sweetnesse of it, Esa. 25. 6. Psalms 19:10. & Psalms 119:103. Proverbs 24:13. 14. Secondly, because of the puritie thereof. See the note before. Thirdly, because of the nourishing propertie thereof; so especially here. See Ephes. 4. 11, &c. 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

of the Word] The Syriak Translation renders it [spirituall] and not without good probability, it being here opposed or compared to that bodily milk which new-born babes earnestly desire, and because it is the food of the soul, which is a spirit. Hebrews 12:9. and so the Originall word may be taken. Romans 12:1.

1 Peter 2:3

If so be] As you professe and perswade you self.

tasted] That is, have had any experimentall knowledge of the goodnesse and mercy of God in Christ; by our taste we make experience what is sweet, and what is fowre, or bitter. It may seem that S. Peter relates to Psalms 34:9. It is conceived by some, that hereby the Apostle followeth the former similitude, because children do by their tastes easily discern their nurses milk.

Lord] Christ Jesus.

gracious] Understand it of that grace which is manifested and offered in the Gospel. See Eph. 6. 9, 27. Titus 3:4. Hebrews 6:5.

1 Peter 2:4

coming] That is, by faith. See John 6:35. and 5. 40, 43, 44. Hebrews 10:22.

living stone] When Christ in the Scriptures is compared to a stone, it is either to the foundation-stone, to shew that the whole Church is built upon him. See 1 Corinthians 3:11. or else unto the chief corner-stone, to shew that the whole Church, or all the faithfull, are coupled and united together in him. See Ephes. 2. 13, 14, 20. and 4. 16. Colossians 1:19. He is further called; 12 living stone, because he giveth life unto all those who by faith are united unto him, John 5:26.

disallowed indeed of men] Luke 2:24.

chosen] See chap. 1. 20.

1 Peter 2:5

lively stones] That is, as having received life from him. See v. 4.

are built] Or, be ye built. Or, build up your selves: that is, more and more. Verbs passive, both in Hebrew and the Greek, have sometime a reciprocall signification. See chap. 1 14. 2 Samuel 20:10. Malachi 2:15. Genesis 46:29.

spirituall] Usually in the Scriptures the Church of God is compared unto an house, and that both the Church militant, Psalms 27:4. and Psalms 69:10. and 84. Isaiah 56:5; Isaiah 56:7. Ephesians 2:19. 22. 1 Timothy 3:15. Hebrews 3:6. and Hebrews 10:21. as also the triumphant, John 14:2. 2 Corinthians 5:1-2. And the reason may be, because God dwelleth in the Church, by his grace and glory. It is further compared unto a spirituall house, either in opposition to our materiall houses, or else because it is built up by the Spirit of God. See chap. 1. 22.

holy priesthood] So all the faithfull are styled, because (as the priests under the law) so these are separated from the world to the service of God, as the words following import. See chap. 1. 2. Isaiah 61:1.

spirituall] That is, your selves, and all that spirituall service which ye perform unto God. See Psalms 4:6. and Psalms 50:14. and Psalms 51:19. and 107. 22. and 141. 2. Isaiah 56:7. Hosea 14:3. Romans 12:1. Philippians 2:17. Hebrews 13:15.

by Jesus Christ] See Hebrews 13:10; Hebrews 13:15-16.

1 Peter 2:6

scripture] That is, partly, Isaiah 8:14. and Isaiah 28:16. and partly, Psal. 118. out of which places the apostle alleadgeth these words, keeping faithfully the sense, though not the very words.

Behold] Isaiah 28:16. Romans 9:33.

confounded] See Romans 9:33.

1 Peter 2:7

precious] Or, an honour.

disobedient] That is, unto the Gospel.

the stone which the builders disallowed] Psalms 118:22. Matthew 21:42. Acts 4:11.

1 Peter 2:8

And a stone of stumbling] Isaiah 8:14. Romans 9:33.

a stone] A metaphor taken either from those, who, making haste, stumble at a stone in their way, and so hurt themselves: or from mariners, who split their ships upon rocks. See 1 Corinthians 1:23. So that by stumbling, here, the cause being put for the effect, we are to understand that judgement which unbelievers incur, through their infidelity.

at the word, being disobedient] Or, being disobedient unto the word.

disobedient] That is, because they are disobedient unto the Gospel. Participles oftentimes imply the cause of that which went before. See Hebrews 11:31.

whereunto] This clause hath reference, not to disobedient; for God ordains no man thereunto, Psal. 5, 5. James 1:13. but unto stumbling: whereby is signified, that hurt and condemnation which unbelievers receive from the word through their infidelity: thereby it becomes the savour of death unto death unto them, 2 Corinthians 2:16. See before. Hence the sense of this clause is this, viz. whereunto: that is, unto which hurt or condemnation, expressed by stumbling. They: that is, those unbelievers were appointed or ordained by God, through his judgement, for their infidelity. Some, by stumbling, understand disobeying, or unbelieving: and these make this the meaning of the words, viz.

Into which disobedience or unbelief God suffered them to fall, through his just judgement, for their former sins. Others refer this clause to word, and make this the apostles meaning, viz. Unto the obeying or believing of which word they were called of God.

1 Peter 2:9

chosen] That is, whom God hath effectually called out of the world. See chap. 1. 2. Deuteronomy 7:7.

royall] That is, kings and priests. See Exodus 19:6. Revelation 1:6. and Revelation 5:10. Kings, because of that power which they have, through Christ, over their lusts. See Philippians 4:13. Priests, because separated to the service of God. See v. 5.

holy nation] See Exodus 19:6. and Deuteronomy 7:6, &c.

a peculiar people] Or, a purchased people.

peculiar] Or, a people for possession: that is, a people whom God hath purchased to be his own. See Exodus 19:5. Deuteronomy 4:2. and Deuteronomy 7:6. and Deuteronomy 26:18. Psalms 135:4. Titus 2:14. Acts 20:18. Ephesians 1:14. 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

praises] Or, vertues. That is, that we might glorifie God in our conversations, thereby shewing forth the abundant mercy and great power of God in calling us, Isaiah 8:13.

called you out of darknesse] Colossians 1:13.

darknesse] That is, ignorance, chap. 1. 14. whereby is meant our sinfull and miserable estate by nature, under which men are kept, through the ignorance of the Gospel, Ephesians 4:18. and Ephesians 5:8. Colossians 1:13.

his marvellous] Hereby is meant our estate of grace, through the effectuall calling of God, by the knowledge of the truth. See 2 Corinthians 4:6. Acts 13:47. and Acts 26:18. Ephesians 1:18. and Ephesians 5:8. called marvellous, because of the great mysterie of godlinesse, which is revealed in the Gospel: and called his, because God revealeth it. See the places before.

1 Peter 2:10

Hence it is gathered by some, that this epistle was not written to the Jews onely, but also to the Gentiles; because that of Hosea 2. 23. is to be understood of the calling of the Gentiles, Romans 9:25.

1 Peter 2:11

strangers] 1 Chron. 9. 15. Here is a reason given why we ought to live holily, viz. because in this world we are strangers and pilgrims, and therefore we ought not to live according to the laws and lusts of the world, which is most corrupt.

pilgrims] See chap. 1. 17.

abstain from fleshly lusts] Romans 13:14. Galatians 5:16. Colossians 1:5. 1 Thessalonians 2:5.

fleshly] Flesh is often taken for corrupt nature, as Romans 7:25. and 8. 1, 5, 9, 13. Galatians 5:19; Galatians 5:24. Hence those lusts are called fleshly lusts, or, the lusts of the flesh, which proceed from corrupt nature, Galatians 5:1. Romans 13:14. Ephesians 2:3. 2 Peter 2:18. Sometimes the lusts of the flesh are taken for those lusts which are against the seventh commandment, as 1 John 2:16.

war] Romans 7:23. Galatians 5:17. James 4:1.

1 Peter 2:12

Having your conversation honest] Chap. 3. 16. 1 Thess. 4. 12.

whereas] Or, wherein.

speak against you] Chap. 3. 16.

they may by your good works] Matthew 5:16.

visitation] When God in mercy shall call them to the fellowship of the Gospel, Psalms 106:4. Luke 19:44.

1 Peter 2:13

Gr. Therefore] Hereby two things are implyed 1. that disobedience to the civill magistrate proceeds from fleshly lusts. See James 4. 1. 2. that disobedience unto the civill magistrate opens the mouth of unbelievers against the professours of the Gospel. See v. 11.

Submit your selves] Romans 13:1. Titus 3:1.

ordinance of man] By ordinance is meant, the framing and ordering of civill government: called the ordinance of man, not because it is invented by, or hath its originall from men: (for all power is from God, Romans 13:1-2. though sometimes he useth men as means to derive power or government to such or such a person or persons, that so they might be the the more willing to yeeld obedience) but because it is proper to men, or because it is discharged by men.

for the Lords sake] That is, out of obedience and conscience unto God, who hath ordained the civill magistracie, and also hath commanded obedience unto it, v. 14. Romans 13:1, &c.

supreme] That is, under God. There is therefore no other supreme on earth above the king, in his dominions.

1 Peter 2:14

for the punishment of evil-deers] Romans 13:3.

1 Peter 2:15

silence] Gr. step or binde up the mouth of, &c. See Matth. 22. 12, 34. 1 Corinthians 9:9.

men] Who are ready, out of their ignorance and folly, to charge the Gospel, and to blaspheme it, as if it countenanced those sins which the professours thereof practise.

1 Peter 2:16

free] 1 Corinthians 7:22. Here the apostle seems to prevent a secret objection. Some might reply; We are free, and therefore owe no obedience to any above us. The apostle granteth the antecedent, understanding it of their freedome from the burthen and curse of the law, and from the bondage of sin and Satan; but withall he admonisheth them, not to withdraw, under the pretext of this their freedom, their obedience due unto the magistrate.

using] Gr. having.

1 Peter 2:17

Honour] Or, esteem. Romans 12:10. Phil. 2. 3.

all men] According to every mans state and calling.

brotherhood] Those who are brethren in Christ.

1 Peter 2:18

Servants, be subject to your masters] Ephesians 6:5. Col. 3. 22. Titus 2:9.

all fear] Not onely of punishment, but also of offending God.

good] Who gently and kindly bear with you in your religious profession and practices. The apostle seems here to speak of such servants who lived under unbelieving masters, as it may be gathered from the next verse.

froward] Gr. crooked: that is, who use your forwardly, hardly and scornfully, because of your Christ: an profession.

1 Peter 2:19

thank-worthy] Or, thank.

for conscience] Gr. of God; that is, because of that religion which you professe, and those religious duties which you perform, out of obedience or conscience, unto God.

1 Peter 2:20

glory] Luke 6. 33.

acceptable] Or, thank.

1 Peter 2:21

called] 2 Tim. 3. 12. Acts 14:22. As disciples of Christ, to bear his crosse. See Matthew 10:38. and Matthew 16:24.

for us] Some read, for you. Hebrews 2:9. Romans 5:7-8. 2 Corinthians 5:14.

example] John 13:15. It is a borrowed kinde of speech, taken from painters or school-masters.

1 Peter 2:22

Who did no sin] Isaiah 53:9.

1 Peter 2:23

committed himself] Or, committed his cause. That is, gave up or delivered over his will unto his Fathers, in his suffering, Matthew 26:39. Or, he committed the revenge of his innocencie unto God, giving us an example hereby not to revenge our own cause, though never so innocent.

1 Peter 2:24

bare our sins] Isa. 53. 4, 5, 6. Or, bare up our sins, Hebrews 9:28. That is, the punishment of our sins. See Leviticus 5:1. and Leviticus 10:17. Galatians 5:10.

on] Or, to.

tree] That is, the crosse, whereon he did consummate and perfect his satisfaction for our sins, Ephesians 2:16. Colossians 1:20.

dead] Luke 1. 95. Romans 6:1-2, &c. Titus 2:11-12, &c. 2 Corinthians 15:5. See Romans 6:2.

stripes] See Isaiah 53:5.

1 Peter 2:25

For] Here he calleth servants back from the consideration of those injuries which they suffered for Christ, unto those benefits which they received by him, that so he might work them unto patience.

sheep going astray] Isaiah 53:6.

Shepherd] Ezekiel 34:25. and Ezekiel 37:24. John 10:11. Hebrews 13:20.