1 Peter 1:20-21 ESV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 1:13-23

Here the apostle begins his exhortations to those whose glorious state he had before described, thereby instructing us that Christianity is a doctrine according to godliness, designed to make us not only wiser, but better. I. He exhorts them to sobriety and holiness. 1. Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, etc., 1 Pet. 1:13. As if he had said, ?Wherefore, since you are so honoured and distinguished, as above, Gird up the loins of your mind. You have a journey to go, a race to run, a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 1:14-25

1:14-25 Be obedient children. Do not continue to live a life which matches the desires of the days of your former ignorance, but show yourselves holy in all your conduct of life as he who called you is holy, because it stands written: "You must be holy, because I am holy." If you address as Father him who judges each man according to his work with complete impartiality, conduct yourselves with reverence throughout the time of your sojourn in this world; for you know that it was not by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 1:20

Who verily was foreordained ,.... Or "foreknown"; that is, by God; and which intends, not barely his prescience of Christ, of what he should be, do, and suffer; but such a previous knowledge of him, which is joined with love and affection to him; not merely as his own Son, and the express image of his person, but as Mediator; and whom he loved before the world was, and with a love of complacency and delight, and which will last for ever. It includes the choice of him as the head of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 1:21

Who by him do believe in God ,.... Christ, as God, is the object of faith; as Mediator, he is the way to the Father, by which men come to him, believe in him and lay hold upon him, as their covenant God and Father; and is also the author of that faith by which they believe in him; and all their encouragement to believe is taken from him; and such who do come to God by Christ, and stay themselves upon him, trusting in him, may know, and comfortably conclude, that Christ, who was foreordained... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 1:20

Who verily was foreordained - Προεγνωσμενου· Foreknown; appointed in the Divine purpose to be sent into the world, because infinitely approved by the Divine justice. Before the foundation of the world - Before the law was given, or any sacrifice prescribed by it. Its whole sacrificial system was appointed in reference to this foreappointed Lamb, and consequently from him derived all its significance and virtue. The phrase καταβολη κοσμου , foundation of the world, occurs often in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 1:21

Who by him do believe in God - This is supposed to refer to the Gentiles, who never knew the true God till they heard the preaching of the Gospel: the Jews had known him long before, but the Gentiles had every thing to learn when the first preachers of the Gospel arrived amongst them. Gave him glory - Raised him to his right hand, where, as a Prince and a Savior, he gives repentance and remission of sins. That your faith - In the fulfillment of all his promises, and your hope of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 1:20

Verse 20 20Who verily was foreordained He again by a comparison amplifies the grace of God, with which he had peculiarly favored the men of that age. For it was not a common or a small favor that God deferred the manifestation of Christ to that time, when yet he had ordained him in his eternal council for the salvation of the world. At the same time, however, he reminds us, that it was not a new or a sudden thing as to God that Christ appeared as a Savior; and this is what ought especially to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 1:21

Verse 21 21Who believe The manifestation of Christ refers not to all indiscriminately, but belongs to those only on whom he by the Gospel shines. But we must notice the words, Who by him believe in God: here is shortly expressed what faith is. For, since God is incomprehensible, faith could never reach to him, except it had an immediate regard to Christ. Nay, there are two reasons why faith could not be in God, except Christ intervened as a Mediator: first, the greatness of the divine glory... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 1:20

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world ; rather, as in the Revised Version, who was foreknown indeed; literally, who hath been fore known . But the foreknowledge of God implies the exercise of his will, therefore the "foreordained" of the Authorized Version, though not here an exact translation, is true in doctrine. St. Peter had asserted the same great truth in his sermon on the Day of Pentecost ( Acts 2:23 ; comp. also Acts 3:18 and Acts 4:28 ). He had... read more