1 Peter 2

1 Peter 2:1-99

Chap. 2:1-10. Exhortations to nourish and perfect this new life, under the image, α . of newborn babes (1-3), β . of God’ s spiritual temple and priesthood (4-10).

1. Laying aside therefore (on the connexion, see above, ch. 1 ult.) all (manner of) malice (κακία here proper; “ nocendi cupiditas,” as Hemming (in Huther): not as Aretius, ib., the genus, of which the following are species. This cannot be well, on account of πάνταδόλον below, which shews that clause to be parallel, not subordinate, to this) and all guile (cf. ver. 22; ch. 3:10: John 1:48] and ἄδολον below) and hypocrisies (closely connected with δόλους , and therefore not requiring πάσας , which is supplied from πάντα preceding. δόλος is the abiding disposition, ὑποκρίσεις are the acts of personation and deception which are some of its manifestations) and envies (again embraced under δόλον , but not perhaps so closely connected with it. The guileless disposition knows not envy), and all slanderings ,

2. as newborn babes (so the Rabbis, of their neophytes: see Wetst. h. l.), long after (ἐπι - gives, not intensity, but direction) the (the art. confines the reference to the gospel alone) spiritual (I thus render λογικόν , for want of a better and more distinctive word. Its sense is as in ref. Rom., to distinguish the γάλα spoken of from mere σαρκικὸνγάλα , and to shew that it is spoken figuratively and spiritually: “ Lac illud animi, non corporis, lac mente hauriendum.” Our English is too poor in psychological distinctions to be able to express it by any appropriate adjective: “ reasonable” (vulg.) is decidedly wrong, as E. V. in Rom.; and “ of the word,” as E. V., here after Beza, is just as bad) guileless (not ‘ unadulterated,’ in contrast to less pure human teachings (cf. δολοῦντὸνλόγον , 2 Corinthians 4:2): but, in contrast to δόλος above, ‘ that is without guile,’ has no byends, no one purpose but to nourish and benefit the soul) milk (not here in contrast, as in 1 Corinthians 3:2 and Hebrews 5:12, Hebrews 5:13, to strong meat: but simply in reference to its nourishing qualities), that on it (as τεθραμμένοςἐν , ‘ fed on,’ see Winer, § 48. a (3). d, note [3, p. 485, Moulton’ s edn.]) ye may grow (properly passive: be nourished up) unto salvation (the growth is the measure of the fulness of that— not only rescue from destruction, but— positive blessedness, which is implied in σωτηρία ; see on the word above, ch. 1:5):

3. if, that is (wenn anders of the German. The περ conditions the εἰ , see reff. and notes there: and Æ sch. Ag. 28, εἴπερἸλίουπόλιςἑάλωκεν , ὡςὁφρυκτὸςἀγγέλλωνπρέπει [if so be expresses the same, viz. that the necessary condition of the above exhortation is assumed as having place in the readers]), ye tasted (have tasted. The infant once put to the breast desires it again: the Apostle appeals to this their first taste as an incentive to subsequent ones) that (the formula, from the well-known and beautiful Psa_34) the Lord (“ quod subjicitur: ad quem accedentes, non simpliciter ad Deum refertur, sed ipsum designat qualis patefactus est in persona Christi.” Calv.) is good (reff. Perhaps the simplest meaning of χρηστός , as applied to meats and drinks, is here intended: as vulg., “ dulcis:” see Palm and Rost, χρηστός , 1. a).

4, 5. Exhortation to come to Christ the chosen stone, and be built up into a spiritual temple unto God.

4. To whom approaching (pres., representing the daily habit of the Christian life, not something to be done once for all. προσέρχεσθαι is elsewhere in the N. T. always with a dat. Its signification here is, the approach made by faith, when the Christian closely realizes the presence and seeks the communion of his Lord), a (or, “ the:” the omission of the art. seems to be very frequent in this Epistle, where yet a definite reference is undeniable) stone (“ Petrus a petra Christo sic denominatus metaphora petræ delectatur, ac suo exemplo docet omnes debere esse petros, h. e., vivos lapides supra Christum fide æ dificatos.” Gerhard, in Wies. The allusion is to Psalms 118:22 and Isaiah 28:16. Obs. that no ὡς must be supplied before λίθον , as is done in E.

V. al.: Christ is the stone: we do not come to Him as we come to a stone) living (ζῶντα points not only to the figure being realized in a higher department of being than its natural one, but also to the fact of the Lord being alive from the dead. It would be unnecessary, were not the idea broached by Steiger, to protest against any allusion being intended to “ saxum vivum” (Æ n. i. 171: Ov. Met. xiv. 714) as distinguished from broken stones), by men indeed rejected , but in the sight of God chosen (not merely “ eximius,” but selected, chosen out), had in honour (see below on ver. 6),

5. be ye also as living (see above) stones built up , Estius, Grot, Beng., al., and Wiesinger, and with Œ c., Syr. (as commonly quoted), Beza, Aret., Benson, Steiger, De Wette, Huther) a spiritual house (οἶκος = ναός , 1 Corinthians 3:16: Ephesians 2:21: as before, the stones are called living, and the house spiritual, not merely to signify that they are not dead stones, and the house not a material one, but on account of the life which Christians derive from Christ, the living Stone, and of the service which they render in virtue of being a body dwelt in by the Holy Spirit) for (see var. readd.) an holy priesthood (abstract, office of priesthood, including in itself the individual priests: see ref. Exod. Being God’ s spiritual temple, they form an holy priesthood to Him, approaching and serving before Him in virtue of that Living and Holy One, whose mystic Body they are, and in whom the Father is well pleased: And they need no other by whom to approach God: being all priests, they require not, nor admit of, any distinct body of men among themselves specially called priests, nearer to God than themselves. No where is this more clearly declared by inference, than here) to offer up (ἀναφέρειν , not occurring in St. Paul, nor in the classics, but (reff.) in Heb. and St. James, is the regular LXX word for offering up sacrifice. The aor. is here used, because no habitual offering, as in rite or festival, is meant, but the one, once-for-all, devotion of the body, as in Romans 12:1, to God as His.

On the infin. of the purpose, see Winer, § 44. 1) spiritual sacrifices acceptable (reff.) to God through Jesus Christ (these last words may be joined, either, 1. with εὐπροσδέκτους , or, 2. with ἀνενέγκαι . This latter has for it the analogy of Heb 13:15, δι ʼ αὐτοῦοὖνἀναφέρωμενκ .τ .λ ., and is preferred by Grot., Aret., De Wette, Huther, Wiesinger: and I think reasonably. The introduction of διὰἸησοῦχριστοῦ as a mere appendage of εὐπροσδέκτους would not satisfy the weighty character of the words, nay would seem to put them in the wrong place, seeing that not merely the acceptability, but the very existence, and possibility of offering, of those sacrifices depends on the mediation of the great High Priest).

6. The exhortation of the previous verses is substantiated in its form and its assertions by O. T. prophecy. Because (q. d. the aforesaid is so, on the ground of Scripture) it is contained περιέχει . Hence περιοχή , the contents or argument of a book or portion of a book, in later Greek) in Scripture (γραφῇ , in its technical sense, anarthrous: not so found in the Gospels, but Romans 1:2; Romans 16:26: 2 Peter 1:20), Behold, I place in Zion a chief corner-stone, chosen, had in honour (the citation is a free one: τίθημιἐνΣιών representing ἐμβάλλωεἰςτὰθεμέλιαΣιών ,— the epithet πολυτελῆ being omitted, and ἐκλεκτόν and ἀκρογωνιαῖον transposed): and he that believeth on Him shall not be ashamed (it is remarkable, that St. Paul in citing the same prophecy, Romans 9:33, has in common with St.

Peter the two divergences from the LXX, the τίθημιἐνΣιών , and the insertion (?) of ἐπ ʼ αὐτῷ . On ἀκρογωνιαῖον , see ref. Eph. note. Here, whatever may be the case there, can hardly be any idea of the ‘ lapis summangularis’ joining the two walls, Jewish and Gentile, together, as some (e. g. Œ c.) have thought).

7, 8. Appropriation of the honour implied in the last clause to believers: and per contra, to unbelievers, of another and opposite effect of the exaltation of this cornerstone.

7. To you (dat. commodi) then (inference from the ὁπιστεύωνἐπ ʼ αὐτῷκ .τ .λ .) is the honour belonging to the Stone itself (ἔντιμον above), with which you are united in the building: the honour implied in the οὐμὴκαταισχυνθῇ said of those who believe on Him. There can be, I think, no doubt that these two commonly divergent accounts given of the word τιμή ought to be combined in one. That the result of the οὐμὴκαταισχυνθῇ is what the Apostle means to state, is evident by the οὖν and τοῖςπιστεύουσιν : that the form in which this is stated is ὑμῖνἡτιμή , is evidently owing to the occurrence of ἔντιμον above. It is as plainly altogether beside the purpose, with Erasm., Luth., Calv., Aret., Bengel, al., to understand ‘ Christ,’ or ‘ the Stone,’ as the subject, and render as E. V., “ He is precious,” making ἡτιμή predicate instead of subject) who believe: but to the disobedient (not, the unbelieving: see Hebrews 3:18, note.

Unbelief is the root of ἀπείθεια : but it is the manner of Scripture, to follow it out into disobedience, its invariable effect, when spoken of in contrast to πίστις . The dat. is not one of reference, but incommodi.

Then what follows is in the form of another quotation, or rather combination of quotations: the first from Psalms 118:22), the stone which the builders rejected, this has become for a (has been made into a) head corner-stone (this is true with regard to believers also: but to them it is grace and glory, to these it is terror and destruction), and a stone of stumbling and rock of offence (second quotation from Isaiah 8:14. Here again, St. Paul in Romans 9:33 has taken the same words, differing from the LXX, but agreeing with the Hebrew. This stumbling is not mere mental offence, which, e. g. they take at the preaching of the Cross; but the “ stumbling upon the dark mountains” of Jeremiah 13:16, see Proverbs 4:19: Daniel 11:19: the eternal disgrace and ruin which forms the contrast to τιμή above. Cf. on πέτρασκανδάλου Matthew 16:23, note [the very expression carries a reminiscence of Peter’ s own days of unbelief, when he was an offence,— he, Πέτρος ,— to his Lord]),

8. who stumble, being disobedient to the word (τῷλόγῳ belongs to ἀπειθοῦντες , not as E. V. after vulg., Erasm., Luth., Beza, Estius, al., to προσκόπτουσιν , which is doubly objectionable, in, 1. making ἀπειθοῦντες a mere tautology from ἀπειθοῦσιν before: 2. giving a place not prominent enough to τῷλόγῳ , whereas on the other rendering it takes its proper place, as being the means of growth to the Christian, and rejected by the disobedient: 3. confining the sense of ‘ stumbling’ (see above) to a mere subjective one: 4. opposing the analogy of ch. 3:1 and 4:17. Cf. Wolf, in loc.: “ Qui impingunt, nempe, in lapidem illum angularem, verbo non credentes (obedientes?): quo ipso et offensio ipsa et ejus causa indicatur” ), for which (thing, fact, viz. the προσκόπτειν , τῷλόγῳἀπειθοῦσιν , their whole moral course of delinquency and the πρόσκομμα at the end of it) they were also (καί , besides that they reach it, there is another consideration) appointed (set where they are, or were; viz. by Him who τίθησιν , above, the stone of stumbling. This exposition is certain, notwithstanding the protests of Œ c., Did., al. Nor can I see how Bengel can escape, with his διττολογία , “ Positi sunt respondet τῷ pono ver. 6; sed cum differentia.

Nam Deus Christum et electos active dicitur ponere; infideles dicuntur poni, passive.” What inference would he deduce from this? Would he take themselves as the agents, as Œ c., Did., “ Ad non credendum a semetipsis sunt positi,” thus passing over καί , and making the clause a vapid tautology? Or would he say with Aretius, “ Non Deus certe, sed Satan tales posuit,” thus making in the world’ s moral arrangement, Satan a coordinate power with God?).

9, 10. Contrast, in a glorious description of the office, privilege, and function, of the enlightened and adopted people of God.

9. But ye (emphatic) are a chosen generation (not, as De Wette, “ the chosen generation;” though this is implied, it is not in the words, nor does it correspond with the indefinite predicates which follow. On the expression, cf. ref. Isa., τὸγένοςμουτὸἐκλεκτόν . γένος betokens a common origin and unity of related life: but perhaps Wiesinger goes too far in pressing the idea here), a kingly priesthood (ἱεράτευμα as above, see note. The expression is from the LXX of Exo 19:6. Cf. Revelation 1:6, ἐποίησενἡμᾶςβασιλείανἱερεῖςτῷθεῷ , and 5:10. In the N.

T. church these two elements, the kingship and the priesthood, are united in every individual believer, as in our great Head, Jesus Christ, who alone unites them in the O. T. church; the two coexisting, but never, except in the case of Melchisedek His foretype, united in the same Person), an holy nation (also from Exodus 19:6, LXX; God’ s declaration at Sinai respecting Israel), a people for acquisition , that ye may tell out (ἐξαγγ . not = ἀναγγ . The prep. gives the sense of publishing forth) the virtuess (i. e. gracious dealings, excellent and glorious attributes: see Isa. above, and in reff. Philo repeatedly uses ἀρεταί in this sense; e. g.

De Mut. Nom. § 34, vol. i. p. 606, πολλὴδὲἄγνοιανομίζειντὰςθεοῦἀρετὰςτὰςἀῤῥεπεῖςκαὶπαγιωτάταςχωρῆσαιψυχὴνἀνθρώπουδύνασθαι .… ἀκράτουςμὲνγὰρἀναγκαῖονεἶναιτὰςτοῦθεοῦἀρετάς : see other passages in Loesner) of Him (God: the Father) who called you out of darkness (“ tenebræ ignorantiæ , errorum, peccatorum, miseriæ , adeoque totum diaboli regnum,” Gerh.) to (not exactly “ into:” εἰς with καλέσαντος gives more the aim of the call, than its local result: to, i. e. to attain unto and be partakers of: to walk in and by) His wonderful light (this expression here can hardly mean the light of our Christian life only; but must import that light of God’ s own Presence and Being, after which our walking in light is to be fashioned: the light to which St. John alludes, when he says, ἐὰνἐντῷφωτὶπεριπατῶμεν , ὡςαὐτόςἐστινἐντῷφωτί . Had not this been intended, surely neither εἰς nor αὐτοῦ would have been used. “ It is wonderful,” says De Wette, “ just as to one coming out of long darkness the light of day would be wonderful.” The figure of the corner-stone has not quite passed away from the Apostle’ s mind; in the end of the prophecy concerning which we read, Ps. 117:23 (Matthew 21:42), παρὰκυρίουἐγένετοαὕτη , καὶἔστινθαυμαστὴἐνὀφθαλμοῖςἡμῶν :

10. who (contrast between their former and present states) were once no people , but (are) now the people of God (these words, as Wies. maintains, apply most properly to Gentile Christians, although spoken in the prophecy of Jews, St. Paul thus uses them, Romans 9:25; and it is not impossible that that passage may have been in St. Peter’ s mind), who were unpitied (of God: the οὑκ here and above, not merely negatives, but contraries: not “ who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy,” as E. V., indicating a mere change of time in order of progress, but who were unpitied, objects of aversion and wrath), but now compassionated (the aor. part. has a fine and delicate force which cannot be given in a version: q. d. who were men who (have received no pity), but now men who (received pity), viz. when God called you by Christ).

11-4:6. Exhortations to walk christianly and worthily towards and among those without who speak and act in a hostile manner. Hitherto we have seen them exhorted to walk worthily of their calling as distinguished from their own former walk: now the Apostle exhorts them to glorify God before an ungodly and persecuting world.

11, 12. Ver. 11, negative, exhorts to abstinence from fleshly lusts: ver. 12, positive, to cause the unconverted Gentiles around, by their fair Christian walk, to glorify God.

11. Beloved , I exhort you as sojourners (see ref. Eph. and note) and strangers (see on ch. 1:1. This primary and literal meaning of the word is probably the uppermost one here, seeing that the Apostle is speaking of behaviour among the Gentiles. Still, from the more general reference of this first exhortation, the other and wider reference, “ quia filii Dei, ubicunque terrarum agant, mundi sunt hospites” (Calv.), must not be left out of sight. These words, παροίκ . κ . παρεπιδ ., belong, not to παρακαλῶ , as Huther, al., but to ἀπέχεσθαι .

They form the ground why the readers should abstain, not why the Writer should exhort. In νουθετεῖτεὡςἀδελφόν , 2 Thessalonians 3:15, we have the other case) to abstain (or, with the reading -σθε , abstain) from the carnal lusts (= αἱἐπιθυμίαιτῆςσαρκός , reff.

Eph. and 2 Pet.; αἱκοσμικαὶἐπιθυμίαι , Titus 2:12. Here, it is, from the context, the walking and acting in the indulgence of these lusts which the Apostle is forbidding. See them enumerated in Galatians 5:19-21), the which (αἵτινες , not = αἵ , but gathers up into a class the ἐπιθυμίαι and asserts it of all of them that they &c.: thus rendering a reason, ‘ quippe quæ .’ With αἵ , it might have been taken, “ from those fleshly lusts, which” &c.) war (ref. James and Romans 7:23. “ Non modo impediunt, sed oppugnant: grande verbum.” Bengel) against the soul (ψυχή , the man’ s personal immortal part. as opposed to his body, his μέλη in which the ἐπιθυμίαιστρατεύονται , is held in suspension between influences from above and influences from beneath: drawn up and saved, or drawn down and ruined. And among its adversaries are these fleshly lusts, warring against it to its ruin):

12. Positive result of this abstinence, and its important fruit: having (we have the same disjunction of the construction in Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:2, παρακαλῶ … ὑμᾶς … ἀνεχάμενοι . It serves to give vividness to the description, taking the participle out from under the παρακαλῶ , and depicting, as it were, the condition recommended, as actually existing. It is so eminently, though not under exactly the same circumstances as to construction, in the beautiful procession of participles and adjectives in Romans 12:9-19) your behaviour among the Gentiles comely (as over against the ματαίαἀναστροφή of the Gentiles, ch. 1:18. Cf. ch. 3:16), that (aim of the preceding) in the matter in which (so ἐνᾧ in reff.: not, ‘ while,’ for that would not apply to δοξάσωσιν below: both could not be going on together: nor “ whereas,” E. V., “ pro eo quod,” Beza, for which sense of ἐνᾧ there is no precedent.

The sense is, ‘ that that conduct, which was to them an occasion of speaking against you as evil-doers, may by your good works become to them an occasion of glorifying God.’ And ‘ that, in which,’ will be in fact your whole Christian life) they speak against you at evildoers (often the Christians would be compelled to diverge from heathen customs and even to break human laws, and thus would incur the imputation of malefactors), they may, on the ground of your good works, being spectators of them (contrast to the ignorance assumed in the ἀγνωσίατῶνἀφρόνωνἀνθρώπων below, ver. 15. On the word, see reff.: and cf. ἐπόπτης , an eye-witness, 2 Peter 1:16), glorify God in (the) day of visitation (i. e., the day when God visits,— ἐπισκέπτεται , Luke 1:68, Luke 1:78: Acts 15:14,— mankind with His offers of mercy and grace: cf. also ref. Luke, where our Lord says of Jerusalem, οὐκἔγνωςτὸνκαιρὸντῆςἐπισκοπῆςσου . The word has been variously understood: the Fathers generally (cf. Suicer in voc.), Lyra, Erasm, Beza, De Wette, al. explain it as above: Œ c, Wolf., Bengel, al. think that the day of inquisition before earthly magistrates is meant (ἡμέρανδὲἐπισκοπῆςτὴνκατὰκόσμονἐξέτασινκαλεῖ · ἐξετάσεωςγὰρὑπ ʼ αὐτῶντοῦβίουἡμῶνγενομένης , εἶταπρὸςτὸἐναντίοντῆςὑπολήψεωςτῶνπραγμάτωνεὑρισκομένωναὐτοίτεπρὸςοἷςαἰσχύνονταιἐπανορθοῦνται , καὶὁθεὸςδοξάζεται . Œ c.). , al. understand it of the day of judgment. But the former sense is far preferable on account of usage, and for its fitness in the context).

13-17. Exhortation to subjection to secular rule.

13. Be subjected (aor. pass. with a quasimiddle sense, given by the aorist coupled with the fact of the command: be in a condition of having been subjected: on the medial signification of aorists passive in N. T. see on ch. 5:6) to every human institution (“ quod creat et condit homo,” Luth. Such, and not “ every human creature,” as Syr., Erasm., Estius, Pott, De Wette, is the meaning. The latter would stultify what follows: for it is not to the king as a man, but to the king as a human institution, that we are to be subject. And so Œ c., κτίσινἀνθρωπίνηντὰςἀρχὰςλέγειτὰςχειροτονητὰςὑπὸτῶνβασιλέων , ἢκαὶαὐτοὺςτοὺςβασιλεῖς , καθότικαὶαὐτοὶὑπὸἀνθρώπωνἐτάχθησανἤτοιἐτέθησαν .

It is no objection to this, that all powers are ordained of God: for that consideration does not come into notice in these words, but in those which follow, διὰτ . κύριον . Here, it is the lower side of such institutions, the fact of their being ordained and upheld by men, that is brought into sight) for the Lord’ s sake (i. e. Christ’ s: κύριος with St. Peter, except in O. T. citations, is always our Lord. And here there is additional reason, for that He, the Head of all principality and power, is yet in us his members subject to them, until the day when all shall be put under His feet): whether to king (general,— but, from the nature of the case as regarded those to whom the Epistle is addressed, here the Roman Emperor) as supereminent (“ qui ita imperat, ut ab aliis hominibus ipsi non imperetur,” Gerh.),

14. or to governors (“ ἡγεμόνες præ sides provinciarum, qui a Cæ sare mittebantur in provincias,” Gerh.) as to men sent through him for (to bring about) vengeance on evil-doers, and praise of well-doers.

15. For (ground of ὑποτάγητε ; correlative with, but not going so for as, the purpose announced in ver. 12) so (after this manner, in this direction and wise: viz. as follows, ἀγαθοποιοῦνταςφιμοῦνκ .τ .λ .) is the will (thing willed, concrete result of the will) of God, that doing good (the anarthrous participle carries the reason with it: by doing good: “ with well-doing,” E. V.) ye (necessarily understood) put to silence the ignorance (“ Locutio quam usurpat, ‘ obstruere ignorantiam,’ quamvis per novitatem dura sit, sensum tamen non obscurat.” Calv. On the word φιμόω , see reff.; and Palm and Rost’ s Lex.

ἀγνωσία , see the instructive parallel, ref. 1 Cor., is not simply ignorance of this or that fact, but a state of lack of knowledge or understanding, habitual ignorance. This state is here introduced as speaking, “ having (as Wiesinger) ever its mouth open rather than its eyes,” ready to cry out upon any mere appearance of things as misunderstood by it) of the foolish men (above designated: those viz. who καταλαλοῦσινὑμῶνὡςκακοποιῶν ; not, “ of foolish men” in general, as E. V.).

16. The connexion is somewhat doubtful. Chrys. (in Cramer’ s Catena), Œ c., Bengel, Gerh., De Wette, join ὡςἐλεύθεροι with ὑποτάγητε above, ver. 13: Bede, Luther, Calv., Hammond, Wiesinger, with ἀγαθοποιοῦντας , ver. 15: Steiger, Huther, with the following, ver. 17. This latter seems quite untenable, as carrying no application on from ver. 16 to ver. 17. No one would think of pleading his freedom as an excuse for not honouring all, or for not loving the brethren, or for not fearing God: or indeed for not, in some sense, honouring the King. But in a matter of subjection, such ἐλευθερία might be and often is made a cloak for disobedience.

Connecting then ὡςἐλεύθ . with what has preceded, which of the other connexions are we to take? That with ὑποτάγητε seems too distant: it may certainly be said that ver. 17 brings in again the general duty in its most simple form: but even thus we can hardly account for the parenthetical ver. 15, so unparenthetical in its aspect and construction. Whereas if we join ὡςἐλεύθ . to ver. 15, we obtain, as Wiesinger well argues, an epexegesis which that verse seems to need,— for it is almost a truism that we are to accomplish the φιμοῦν by ἀγαθοποιεῖν , unless some explanation be given of the particular circumstances under which this is to take place. I regard then ver. 16 as an epexegesis of ver. 15, not carrying on the construction with an accus. but with a nom. as already in ver. 12, and indeed even more naturally here, because not the act consequent on ἀγαθοποιεῖν , as there on ἀπέχεσθαι , is specified, but the antecedent state and Christian mode of ἀγαθοποιεῖν . As free (children of God, His family and people, His kingly priesthood: not merely free from the law, or free from sin, or free from earthly subjection, but generally and abstractedly free— Christ’ s freed men), and not as having (cf. above, ver. 12) your freedom (for) a veil (reff.) of your evil intent (the τῆς , hypothetical: of the evil intent which using your freedom as a veil would necessarily presuppose), but as God’ s (emphatic) servants (and therefore bound to submit yourselves to that which God ordains).

17. A pithy general statement (πάνταςτιμήσατε , see below) of the whole department of Christian duty of which the Apostle is now speaking: then a note of transition, by the three following commands, to the next paragraph, where he severs the general into the special duties. Give honour to all men (i. e. by the force of the aor. imperat., to each man according as the case, which requires it, arises, q. d. ‘ in every case render promptly every man’ s due:’ = ἀπόδοτεπᾶσιντὰςὀφειλάς , Romans 13:7. So that the distinction between this and τιμᾶτε below is a clear one: see there. And by this force of the aor., this first precept assumes a place of general and wide-reaching reference, which then is severed by the three following present imperatives into three great branches, before the relations of ordinary life are introduced ver. 18, with participial forms). Love (as your habit of mind and act, pres.) the brotherhood (the aggregate of οἱἀδελφοί : see ref. and compare ἱεράτευμα above, ver. 9), fear God, honour (both these latter as continuing habits, frames of mind and courses of action) the king.

18-25. Exhortation to servants to be obedient to their masters.

18. Ye servants (οἰκέτης , a domestic servant: a milder designation than δοῦλος . Possibly, as Steiger supposes, it may be here used to include the ‘ liberti’ who still remained in their master’ s house), [by being] in subjection (the part. carries on, immediately, the πάνταςτιμήσατε above; but also belongs, at a greater distance, to the whole of the last paragraph, as a general designation of the habitual conduct, in and by which they were to shew forth an honest conversation among the Gentiles) in all fear (ἐνπαντὶφόβῳ provides, by its wide generality, for the case by and by to be specially commented on. φόβος , not merely the reverence of an inferior, but the awe of one in subjection) to your masters; not only to the good (kind) and considerate (see note, ref. Phil.: those who make reasonable allowances, and exact no more), but also to the perverse .

19, 20. Reason for being subject to the perverse; that it is well pleasing to God when we suffer for well-doing.

19. For this is thankworthy (as in ref. Luke, εἰἀγαπᾶτετοὺςἀγαπῶνταςὑμᾶς , ποίαὑμῖνχάριςἐστί ; i. e. what recognition at God’ s hand in the day when He will come, and His reward with Him (= τίναμισθὸνἔχετε ; Matthew 5:46)? It is said of something, to do or suffer which is out of, beyond, the ordinary course of what might have been expected. The meaning attempted by Wiesinger after Steiger, “ this is grace,” i. e. a mark of divine grace, does not suit ver. 20, χάριςπαρά , not θεοῦ , but θεῷ : and is condemned by the passage in St. Luke.

The idea that it means “ gratiam divinam concilians,” Wahl, leading on to “ hoc est opus supererogationis,” Lyra, is theologically inadmissible, besides doing violence to the construction. The E.

V. has hit the meaning very well. Cf. Calvin: “ Idem valet nomen gratiæ quod laudis. Intelligit enim nullam gratiam vel laudem conciliari nobis coram Deo, si pœ nam sustinemus quam nostris delictis simus promeriti: sed qui patienter ferunt injurias, eos laude dignos esse, et opus facere Deo acceptum” ), if (εἰὑποφέρειτις = τὸὑποφέρειντινά , forms an apposition to and epexegesis of τοῦτο : see for the infin. 2 Corinthians 2:1, 2 Corinthians 7:11, and for instances of ὅτι , ἵνα , &c. Winer, § 23. 5. We have ἐάν after τοῦτο in 1 John 2:3) on account of consciousness of God any one endures (as a superimposed burden, see reff., but here induced perhaps by the idea of ὑποταγή which is dominant throughout: so De Wette) tribulations (“ res tristitiam afferentes,” Wahl: cf. λυπηθέντες , ch. 1:6), suffering wrongfully (ἀδίκως here emphatic, as carrying the transition to the next step of the argument).

20. For (proof of the foregoing by assuming (interrogatively) the refutation of the contrary) what kind of (was fur ein, Wies. But the qualitative force of ποῖος in an interrogation of this kind must not be pressed; it is of the slightest tinge imaginable: cf. the similar questions above from St. Matt. and St. Luke) glory (is it) (the word κλέος is perfectly general, and must not (as Bengel) be supplied with παρὰθεῷ . What credit is due … ? = τίπερισσὸνποιεῖτε ; Matthew 5:47) if doing wrong and being buffeted ye shall endure it ? but if well-doing and suffering (for it) (these last words are amply justified by the logical connexion of the participles, see above) ye shall endure it (it is glory) (with the reading τοῦτογάρ below, it becomes necessary to supply, mentally at least, some such words): for this is thankworthy (see above) with (in the estimation of: see Luke 2:52) God.

21. For (proof that undeserved suffering is χάριςπαρὰθεῷ , by the instance of Christ’ s sufferings, which were our example) to this (state, viz. the endurance of wrongful sufferings) ye were called: because Christ also (the καί applies to the ἔπαθενὑπὲρὑμῶν , the words ὑπὲρὑμῶν carrying with them the ἀγαθοποιῶν , as explained below, ver. 24) suffered for you, leaving behind for you a copy (ὑπογραμμός , a pattern to write or paint by: technically, ὑπογραμμοὶπαιδικοί were formulæ given by writing-masters to their pupils, containing all the letters of the alphabet. Clem. Strom, v. 8. 50, p. 675 P., who gives examples of them) that ye should follow upon (ἐπακολουθέω , follow close upon, the ἐπί denoting close application to: it is a word commonly used of following behind another) His footsteps (so in reff.):

22. Further expansion of this example of Christ, making it plain that He ἀγαθοποιῶνκαὶπάσχωνὑπέμεινεν :— who never did sin nor yet was guile ever found in His mouth:

23. who when reviled, reviled not again (a proof of his ὑπομονή . Isaiah 53:7 is before the Apostle), when suffering threatened not : but (see on this particular use of δέ as a stronger contrast than ἀλλά , on Hebrews 2:6. It is nearly our ‘ yea, rather:’ removing the thing previously negatived altogether out of our field of view, and substituting something totally different for it) delivered (them) (see below) up to Him that judgeth (pres., whose office it is to judge) righteously .

24. who Himself (now the ἀγαθοποιῶν reaches its height. He was not only negatively innocent, ver. 22, but suffered in the pursuance of the noblest purpose of love, and that love towards us: by which fact His example is further brought home and endeared to us) bore our sins (but in the pregnant sense of “ bore to sacrifice,” “ carried and offered up:” see notes on James 2:21, Ἀβραὰμ .… ἀνενέγκαςἸσαὰκ … ἐπὶτὸθυσιαστήριον : see Leviticus 14:20; Hebrews 7:27. It is a word belonging to sacrifice, and not to be dissociated from it. In Isaiah 53:12, αὐτὸςἁμαρτίαςπολλῶνἀνένεγκεν , (Hebrews 9:28,) we have the sense of bearing on Himself more prominent: and by that passage our rendering here must be regulated: always remembering that the other sense lies behind) in His (own) (this is almost required by the repetition of αὐτοῦ after αὐτός , when it might have been well omitted, if no emphasis had been intended) body on the tree ; tha (purpose of that great and crowning suffering of the Lord) having died (not, as some Commentators, “ having past away,” being removed to a distance (“ longefacti a peccatis,” Grot.), but literally, “ having died:” so Herod. ii. 85, 136, μηδ ʼ ἄλλονμηδένατῶνἑαυτοῦἀπογενόμενονθάψαι : v. 4, vi. 58, and other examples in Raphel and Wetstein) to our sins (reff.), we should live to righteousness , by whose stripe ye were healed (μώλωψ , the weal left by a stripe. From Isaiah 53:5, τῷμώλωπιαὐτοῦἡμεῖςἰάθημεν . “ Paradoxon apostolicum: vibice sanati estis. Est autem μώλωψ , vibex, frequens in corpore servili, Sir. 23:10.” Bengel).

25. For (justification of the last assertion by another allusion to Isa_53) ye were straying like sheep : but ye have returned (not, “ have been converted:” the 2 aor. pass. ἐπεστράφην occurs often in a middle sense, and it is impossible to press the passive: cf. Matt. (9:22) 10:13; Mark 5:30. Wiesinger’ s reason for doing so, that this word corresponds to ἰάθητε , is hardly tenable: it may with just as much plausibility be alleged that it corresponds to ἦτεπλανώμενοι ) now unto the Shepherd (cf. ch. 5:4, and the prophecies in Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:23, Ezekiel 37:24, also John 10:11) and Bishop (there may be a reference to Ezekiel 34:11, ἰδοὺἐγὼἐκζητήσωτὰπρόβατάμουκαὶἐπισκέψομαιαὐτά (not to ref. Job, as some): but the most likely account of the expression is, that the Apostle transfers the well-known name of the elders of the churches, ἐπίσκοποι , to the great Head of the Church, of whom they were all the servants and representatives. On the name and office, see notes, Acts 20:17, Acts 20:28; Philippians 1:1) of your souls (so in ch. 1:9, 22, and in ver. 11).