1 Peter 3

1 Peter 3:1

By faith Abraham - When God made that glorious trial of him. Offered up Isaac - The will being accepted as if he had actually done it. Yea, he that had received the promises - Particularly that grand promise, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.” Offered up - This very son; the only one he had by Sarah. Genesis 22:1,&c.

1 Peter 3:2

In Isaac shall thy seed be called - From him shall the blessed seed spring. Genesis 21:12.

1 Peter 3:3

Accounting that God was able even to raise him from the dead - Though there had not been any instance of this in the world. From whence also - To speak in a figurative way. He did receive him - Afterwards, snatched from the jaws of death.

1 Peter 3:4

Blessed - Genesis 27:27,39; prophetically foretold the particular blessings they should partake of. Jacob and Esau - Preferring the elder before the younger.

1 Peter 3:5

Jacob when dying - That is, when near death. Bowing down on the top of his staff - As he sat on the side of his bed. Genesis 48:16; Genesis 47:31

1 Peter 3:6

Concerning his bones - To be carried into the land of promise.

1 Peter 3:7

They saw - Doubtless with a divine presage of things to come.

1 Peter 3:8

Refused to be called - Any longer.

1 Peter 3:10

The reproach of Christ - That which he bore for believing in the Messiah to come, and acting accordingly. For he looked off - From all those perishing treasures, and beyond all those temporal hardships Unto the recompence of reward - Not to an inheritance in Canaan; he had no warrant from God to look for this, nor did he ever attain it; but what his believing ancestors looked for, - a future state of happiness in heaven.

1 Peter 3:11

By faith he left Egypt - Taking all the Israelites with him. Not then fearing the wrath of the king - As he did many years before, Exodus 2:14. Exodus 14:15, &c.

1 Peter 3:12

The pouring out of the blood - Of the paschal lamb, which was sprinkled on the door - posts, lest the destroying angel should touch the Israelites. Exodus 12:12 - 18.

1 Peter 3:13

They - Moses, Aaron, and the Israelites. Passed the Red Sea - It washed the borders of Edom, which signifies red. Thus far the examples are cited from Genesis and Exodus; those that follow are from the former and the latter Prophets.

1 Peter 3:14

By the faith of Joshua.

1 Peter 3:15

Rahab - Though formerly one not of the fairest character.

1 Peter 3:16

After Samuel, the prophets are properly mentioned. David also was a prophet; but he was a king too. The prophets - Elijah, Elisha, &c., including likewise the believers who lived with them.

1 Peter 3:17

David, in particular, subdued kingdoms. Samuel (not excluding the rest) wrought righteousness. The prophets, in general, obtained promises, both for themselves, and to deliver to others. Prophets also stopped the mouths of lions, as Daniel; and quenched the violence of fire, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. To these examples, whence the nature of faith clearly appears, those more ancient ones are subjoined, (by a transposition, and in an inverted order,) which receive light from these. Jephthah escaped the edge of the sword; Samson out of weakness was made strong; Barak became valiant in fight; Gideon put to flight armies of the aliens.

Faith animates to the most heroic enterprises, both civil and military. Faith overcomes all impediments effects the greatest things; attains to the very best; and inverts, by its miraculous power the very course of nature. 2 Samuel 8:1,&c.; 1 Samuel 8:9,&c.; 1 Samuel 13:3,&c.; Daniel 6:22; Daniel 3:27; Jude 12:3; Jude 15:19,&c.; Jude 16:28,&c.; Jude 4:14,&c.; Jude 7:21.

1 Peter 3:18

David, in particular, subdued kingdoms. Samuel (not excluding the rest) wrought righteousness. The prophets, in general, obtained promises, both for themselves, and to deliver to others. Prophets also stopped the mouths of lions, as Daniel; and quenched the violence of fire, as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. To these examples, whence the nature of faith clearly appears, those more ancient ones are subjoined, (by a transposition, and in an inverted order,) which receive light from these. Jephthah escaped the edge of the sword; Samson out of weakness was made strong; Barak became valiant in fight; Gideon put to flight armies of the aliens.

Faith animates to the most heroic enterprises, both civil and military. Faith overcomes all impediments effects the greatest things; attains to the very best; and inverts, by its miraculous power the very course of nature. 2 Samuel 8:1,&c.; 1 Samuel 8:9,&c.; 1 Samuel 13:3,&c.; Daniel 6:22; Daniel 3:27; Jude 12:3; Jude 15:19,&c.; Jude 16:28,&c.; Jude 4:14,&c.; Jude 7:21.

1 Peter 3:19

Women - Naturally weak. Received their dead - Children. Others were tortured - From those who acted great things the apostle rises higher, to those who showed the power of faith by suffering. Not accepting deliverance - On sinful terms. That they might obtain a better resurrection - An higher reward, seeing the greater their sufferings the greater would be their glory. 1 Kings 17:22; 2 Kings 4:35

1 Peter 3:20

And others - The apostle seems here to pass on to recent examples.

1 Peter 3:21

They were sawn asunder - As, according to the tradition of the Jews, Isaiah was by Manasseh. Were tempted - Torments and death are mentioned alternately. Every way; by threatenings, reproaches, tortures, the variety of which cannot be expressed; and again by promises and allurements.

1 Peter 3:22

Of whom the world was not worthy - It did not deserve so great a blessing. They wandered - Being driven out from men.