1 Peter 1:8 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 1:6-9

The first word, wherein, refers to the apostle's foregoing discourse about the excellency of their present state, and their grand expectations for the future. ?In this condition you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, or a little while, if need be, you are made sorrowful through manifold temptations,? 1 Pet. 1:6. I. The apostle grants they were in great affliction, and propounds several things in mitigation of their sorrows. 1. Every sound Christian has always something wherein he may... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 1:8-9

1:8-9 Although you never knew him, you love him; although you do not see him, you believe in him. And you rejoice with unspeakable and glorious joy because you are receiving that which faith must end in--the salvation of your souls. Peter is drawing an implicit contrast between himself and his readers. It was his great privilege to have known Jesus in the days of his flesh. His readers had not had that joy; but, although they never knew Jesus in the flesh, they love him; and although they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 1:8

Whom having not seen, ye love ,.... That is, Jesus Christ, whom they had never seen with their bodily eyes, being Jews, who dwelt not in Judea, when Christ was upon earth, but were scattered about in several parts of the Gentile world; and yet Christ being made known to them, through the preaching of the Gospel, they received and embraced him, and their affections were strongly set upon him: they loved him because of his excellencies and perfections, because of the loveliness of his person,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 1:8

Whom having not seen, ye love - Those to whom the apostle wrote had never seen Christ in the flesh; and yet, such is the realizing nature of faith, they loved him as strongly as any of his disciples could, to whom he was personally known. For faith in the Lord Jesus brings him into the heart; and by his indwelling all his virtues are proved, and an excellence discovered beyond even that which his disciples beheld, when conversant with him upon earth. In short, there is an equality between... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 1:8

Verse 8 8Whom having not seen, or, Whom though ye have not seen. He lays down two things, that they loved Christ whom they had not seen, and that they believed on him whom they did not then behold. But the first arises from the second; for the cause of love is faith, not only because the knowledge of those blessings which Christ bestows on us, moves us to love him, but because he offers us perfect felicity, and thus draws us up to himself. He then commends the Jews, because they believed in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 1:8

Whom having not seen, ye love . Some ancient manuscripts read οὐκ εἰδότες , "although ye know him not:" but the reading ἰδόντες is best supported, and gives the better sense. The Christians of Asia Minor had not seen the gracious face of the Lord, as St. Peter had. But though they had never known him after the flesh, they knew him by the inner knowledge of spiritual communion, and, having learned to love him, had attained the blessing promised to those who had not seen, but yet... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 1:8

Peter had seen Jesus constantly during the course of his ministry, had known him intimately, and had loved him well. But most of these to whom he wrote this Epistle had not been brought into such association with the Son of man. The apostle's aim in communicating with such professed Christians as those to whom he addressed his letter was to encourage and stimulate their spiritual life. It was his privilege to bear the testimony which it was their privilege to receive and to act upon. They were... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 1:8

Whom having not seen, ye love - This Epistle was addressed to those who were “strangers scattered abroad,” (See the notes at 1 Peter 1:1) and it is evident that they had not personally seen the Lord Jesus. Yet they had heard of his character, his preaching, his sacrifice for sin, and his resurrection and ascension, and they had learned to love him:(1) It is possible to love one whom we have not seen. Thus, we may love God, whom no “eye hath seen,” (compare 1 John 4:20) and thus we may love a... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Peter 1:8-9

1 Peter 1:8-9. Whom having not seen Ειδοτες , known, that is, personally in the flesh; ye love Namely, on account of his amiable character, and for the great things he hath done and suffered for you, and the great benefits he hath bestowed on you. It is very possible, as Doddridge observes, that among these dispersed Christians, there might be some who had visited Jerusalem while Christ was there, and might have seen, or even conversed with him; but as the greater part had not, St.... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 1:1-12

1:1-2:10 HIGH STATUS FOR GOD’S PEOPLEThe character of salvation (1:1-12)Peter’s readers are ‘God’s scattered people’, an expression that Peter uses with a wide meaning. In relation to their place of local residence, they are God’s people scattered throughout northern Asia Minor. But in relation to heaven, they are God’s people scattered in a foreign land. Their true homeland is heaven, and the foreign land is the world. They really belong to God. He chose them and cleansed them, with the aim... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Peter 1:6-9

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Peter 1:8-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 1:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 1:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Peter 1:8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 1:8

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Peter 1:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Peter 1:8

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Peter 1:8-9

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 1:1-12

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