1 Peter 1:5

1:1-9 This epistle is addressed to believers in general, who are strangers in every city or country where they live, and are scattered through the nations. These are to ascribe their salvation to the electing love of the Father, the redemption of the Son, and the sanctification of the Holy Ghost; and so to give glory to one God in three Persons, into whose name they had been baptized. Hope, in the world's phrase, refers only to an uncertain good, for all worldly hopes are tottering, built upon sand, and the worldling's hopes of heaven are blind and groundless conjectures. But the hope of the sons of the living God is a living hope; not only as to its object, but as to its effect also. It enlivens and comforts in all distresses, enables to meet and get over all difficulties. Mercy is the spring of all this; yea, great mercy and manifold mercy. And this well-grounded hope of salvation, is an active and living principle of obedience in the soul of the believer. The matter of a Christian's joy, is the remembrance of the happiness laid up for him. It is incorruptible, it cannot come to nothing, it is an estate that cannot be spent. Also undefiled; this signifies its purity and perfection. And it fadeth not; is not sometimes more or less pleasant, but ever the same, still like itself.

All possessions here are stained with defects and failings; still something is wanting: fair houses have sad cares flying about the gilded and ceiled roofs; soft beds and full tables, are often with sick bodies and uneasy stomachs. All possessions are stained with sin, either in getting or in using them. How ready we are to turn the things we possess into occasions and instruments of sin, and to think there is no liberty or delight in their use, without abusing them! Worldly possessions are uncertain and soon pass away, like the flowers and plants of the field. That must be of the greatest worth, which is laid up in the highest and best place, in heaven. Happy are those whose hearts the Holy Spirit sets on this inheritance. God not only gives his people grace, but preserves them unto glory. Every believer has always something wherein he may greatly rejoice; it should show itself in the countenance and conduct. The Lord does not willingly afflict, yet his wise love often appoints sharp trials, to show his people their hearts, and to do them good at the latter end. Gold does not increase by trial in the fire, it becomes less; but faith is made firm, and multiplied, by troubles and afflictions. Gold must perish at last, and can only purchase perishing things, while the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour, and glory. Let this reconcile us to present afflictions.

{2} Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the {d} last time. (2) Now he shows by what way we come to that glory, that is, through all types of afflictions. Wherein nonetheless faith maketh us so secure, that we are not overcome with sorrow. But through the beholding of God himself (who otherwise is invisible) with the eyes of faith, we are made unspeakably joyful. Because all such things, as they are but for a time, so are they not applied unto us to destroy us, but as it were by fire to purge us, and to make us perfect that at length we may obtain salvation. (d) This is that time which Daniel calls the time of the end, when the great restoring of all things shall be, which all creation looks for; Ro 8:19

1 Peter 1:5 . Who are kept — Who, though now surrounded with many apparent dangers, are not left defenceless, but are guarded, kept as in a garrison, as the word φρουρουμενους signifies; by the power of God — Which worketh all in all; or secured from all real harm, under the observation of his all-seeing eye, and the protection of his almighty hand; through faith — Through the continued exercise of that faith, by which alone salvation is both received and retained. The clause is very emphatical: “It represents,” says Macknight, “believers as attacked by evil spirits and wicked men, their enemies, but defended against those attacks by the power of God, through the influence of their faith, ( 1 John 5:4 ,) just as those who remain in an impregnable fortress are secured from the attacks of their enemies by its ramparts and walls.” Ready — Ετοιμην , prepared, to be revealed — In all its glory; in the last time — The time of Christ’s second coming; the grand period, in which all the mysteries of divine providence shall beautifully and gloriously terminate. Some have thought that by the salvation here spoken of, the apostle meant the preservation from the destruction brought on the Jewish nation by the Romans, which preservation the disciples of Christ “obtained, by observing the signs mentioned in their Master’s prophecy concerning that event. For, when they saw these signs take place, they fled from Jerusalem to places of safety, agreeably to their Master’s order, Matthew 24:16

. But what is said, 1 Peter 1:9-12 , concerning this salvation; that it is a salvation, not of the body, but of the soul, to be bestowed as the reward of faith; that the prophets, who foretold this salvation, searched diligently among what people, and at what time, the means of procuring it were accomplished; that it was revealed to the prophets that these means were to be accomplished, not among them, but among us; and that these things were to be preached by the apostles as actually come to pass: I say, the above- mentioned particulars concerning the salvation to be revealed in the last time, do not agree to the deliverance of the Christians from the destruction of Jerusalem, but are applicable only to the salvation of believers in general from eternal death, by a resurrection to an immortal life in heaven, at the time of Christ’s coming, when this salvation is to be revealed; and that time is called the last time, because it will be the concluding scene of God’s dispensations relating to our world.” — Macknight.

Kept (φρουρουνένους) A military term. Lit., garrisoned. Rev., guarded. Compare 2 Corinthians 11:32, and the beautiful metaphorical use of the word at Philippians 4:7, "shall guard your hearts." The present participle indicates something in progress, a continuous process of protection. Hence, lit., who are being guarded. "The inheritance is kept; the heirs are guarded" (Bengel). By (ἐν) the power; through (διὰ) faith; unto (εἰς) salvation By, indicating the efficient cause; through, the secondary agency; unto, the result. Salvation Note the frequent occurrence of this word, 1 Peter 1:9, 1 Peter 1:10. Ready (ἑτούμην) Stronger than about to be, or destined to be, implying a state of waiting or preparedness, and thus harmonizing with reserved.

1 Peter 1:5 . Ἐν δυνάμει Θεοῦ , by the power of God ) He Himself does it, and will do it entirely: ch. 1 Peter 5:10 . Comp. 2 Peter 1:3 .[4] No one can propose to himself, in what way he may wish to arrive at the goal. It is the power of God which gives us safety against our enemies; it is the long-suffering of the Lord which gives us safety against ourselves: 2 Peter 3:15 . The apostles themselves are a proof of this.— φρουρουμένους , who are guarded ) The inheritance is kept in safety ; the heirs are guarded . Neither shall it be wanting to them, nor they to it. A remarkable confirmation [sample of how the word of God strengthens and guards believers] occurs, 2 Peter 3:17 .— διὰ πίστεως , by faith ) It is by faith that salvation is both received and kept.— ἑτοίμην ἀποκαλυφθῆναι , ready to be revealed ) The revelation takes place at the last day: the preparations for it began to be made when Christ came.— ἀποκαλυφθῆναι , to be revealed ) A frequent word in this Epistle: 1 Peter 1:7 ; 1 Peter 1:12-13 ; 1 Peter 4:13 ; 1 Peter 5:1 .— ἐν καιρῷ ἐσχάτῳ , in the last time ) Peter considers the whole of the time, from the beginning of the New Testament to the coming of Christ in glory, as one time, and that short, in comparison with the times of the Old Testament. Comp. note on Acts 1:11 . Therefore in depends upon ready .[5] [4] 1 Thessalonians 5:24 ; Matthew 19:26 . If deprived of this protection, how could we continue stedfast in the presence of the adversary?

Who are kept: lest it should be objected, that though the inheritance be safe in heaven, yet the heirs are in danger here upon earth, by reason of the power and stratagems of enemies, and their own imprudence and weakness; he adds, that not only their inheritance is reserved for them, but they preserved unto it, kept securely and carefully, as with a garrison, (for so the word signifies), against all the assaults, incursions, and devices of the devil and the world. By the power of God; which power is infinite and invincible, and therefore able to keep them, John 10:28,29 Ro 8:31,38,39 2 Timothy 1:12 . Through faith; which, resting on the power of God, overcomes all their enemies, the flesh, 1Jo 3:9 , the devil, 1 Peter 5:9 Ephesians 6:16 , and the world, 1Jo 5:4 . It implies, that not only they themselves are kept through faith, whereby they rely on the power of their Keeper, and his promises of keeping them, but that they and their faith too are kept by the power of God. Unto salvation; viz. full and complete in glory, and not only begun and imperfect here. Ready; as being already purchased, prepared, and laid up for them; and so he intimates, that their not as yet possessing it, is not because it is not ready for them, but because the time of their being put in possession of it is not yet come.

To be revealed: it was said to be reserved in heaven, 1 Peter 1:4 , kept safe, but close too, as a rich treasure, the greatness of it is not yet known, even to them that are the heirs of it, Colossians 3:3,4 1Jo 3:2 ; here he adds, that it is to be revealed, and made known to them, so soon as the time of its manifestation shall come. In the last time; simply and absolutely the last, viz. the day of judgment, which is called the last day, John 6:39,40 11:24 12:48 .

1 Peter 1:5 . The Christians addressed are—to complete the metaphor from other passages in the Epistle—a spiritual house (2 5.), which is besieged by the devil ( 1 Peter 1:8 ) but guarded and garrisoned by God’s Power. So long as they have faith ( 1 Peter 1:9 ) they are safe: “our faith lays hold upon this power and this power strengthens faith and so we are preserved” (Leighton). Without responsive faith God’s power is powerless to heal or to guard ( cf. Mark 6:5 f. and accounts of Jesus’ miracles generally, Jam 1:6 f.). The language seems to echo Romans 1:16 , δύναμις θεοῦ εἰς σωτηρίαν παντὶ τῷ πιστεύοντι , combined with Galatians 3:23 ( cf. Php 4:7 ) where also the distinctive φρουρεῖν occurs in similar context. The Power ( גבורתא ) of God is put for Jehovah in the Targum of Isa. xxxiii. 21; and the corresponding use of ἡ δύναμις is found in Mark 14:62 (see Dalman, 200 f.; and add ἡ μεγαλωσύνη , a more exact rendering, of Hebrews 1:3 ; Hebrews 8:1 ). In Philo God’s powers are personified self-manifestations. εἰς σωτηρίαν , κ . τ . λ ., is probably the third clause qualification of φρουρ . (cf. 1 Peter 1:2-3 ). Below, the salvation of souls is described as the goal of faith (9) in a passage where the ἑτοίμην , κ . τ . λ ., qualify σωτηρίαν rather than κληρονομίαν which is explained by σωτ … ἐσχάτῳ . Salvation is to St. Peter that salvation which is to be revealed in the future ( cf. 1 Peter 1:9 , 1 Peter 2:2 ; so Romans 13:11 , νῦν ἐγγύτερον … ἡ σωτηρία ).

Partial anticipations he neglects; for them as for Christ the glory follows the present suffering. The idea of the revelation of salvation comes from Psalm 98:2 ( cf. Isaiah 56:1 ) which has influenced St. Paul also ( Romans 1:16 f.). ἑτοίμην seems to be simply the equivalent of צתיר prepared , which St. Paul renders with more attention to current usage than etymology by μέλλουσαν ( Romans 8:18 ; Galatians 3:23 ; so 1 Peter 5:1 ). This weaker sense begins with Deuteronomy 32:35 (LXX, πάρεστιν ἕτοιμα . as Peter here) and prevails in new Hebrew (Tarphon sai … the recompense of the reward of the righteous is for the time to come . העתיר לבא , Aboth, ii. 16). But the proper significance of the word is recognised and utilised in the Parables of Jesus, Matthew 24:4 ; Matthew 24:8 . καιρῷ ἐσχάτῳ , still anarthrous as being technical term—indefinite as the time is unknown as well as in accordance with authors’ custom ( cf. δύναμις , πιστέως , σωτηριαν above); cf. John 2:18 .