ACC ~ 1 Peter 1 v10 - 12

OVERVIEW:

The Old Testament prophets were not ignorant of the promises of God, but they lived at a time when it had not yet been revealed when and how those promises would be fulfilled. For that reason, their writings display the fruits of an intense search for details about the coming of Christ. They knew that they would not live to see that happen, but they wanted to leave a legacy for us, so that we who have come after the revelation of Christ to the world are able to understand the meaning of that witness more fully and enjoy its fruits more deeply than would otherwise have been possible. The prophets inquired of the grace that would be later revealed (BEDE). Their share in salvation was not inferior to that of persons of faith today (DIDYMUS). The Spirit of Christ was in the prophets (CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA) in their prediction of the incarnate Lord (ANDREAS), his suffering (OECUMENIUS) and his glory (BEDE). It is not necessary to have seen Jesus in the flesh, for there were many unbelievers who did so and who later transgressed (THEODORET). The fulfillment that the prophets desired would not occur in their time but in ours (BEDE).

1:10 | The Prophets Inquired

PROPHETS AND BELIEVERS RECEIVE THE SAME SALVATION. DIDYMUS THE BLIND:Some say that the promises and the salvation of the saints who lived before the coming of the Savior was inferior to those given to people who came afterwards and who saw Jesus in the flesh, who heard his teaching and beheld the miracles he did in his body. We must however show that this opinion is false. Christ comes in two ways. One is through the intellect, by which God is received as a divine Word. The other is through the senses, by which he appears as a historical person coming out of the womb of Mary. But the first way is more purely divine than the second, which was made necessary by the sinful behavior of mankind. For God comes to all the saints through the intellect and by his word, whether they lived before or after the coming of Christ, sanctifying each one according to his deeds. Those who lived before the coming of Christ were less informed, not because of their wickedness but because of God’s dispensation of time. Therefore it is said that the prophets examined how and at what time the salvation of their souls would be fulfilled by the sufferings of Christ and his subsequent glory. They preached these things, knowing that they were not going to be revealed directly to them but would appear at some future time. Therefore it is wrong to say that their sanctification was somehow inferior to ours. COMMENTARY ON 1 PETER.

THEY PROPHESIED OF THE COMING GRACE. BEDE: The prophets inquired and sought out whatever information they could obtain from the Lord or from angels, in the secret recesses of their hearts, about the future grace of the gospel and about how and when eternal salvation would come into the world. They then prophesied by speaking openly to other people and revealing to them what they had learned through their own private contemplation. ON 1 PETER.

1:11 | Predicting the Sufferings of Christ

THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST WITHIN THEM. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: Here is it stated that the prophets spoke with wisdom and that the Spirit of God was in them because they belonged and were subject to Christ. For the Lord works through archangels and their associate angels, who are called the spirit of Christ. ADUMBRATIONS.

PROPHETS PREDICTED THE INCARNATION. ANDREAS: The apostle insists that the one who spoke by the prophets was the Holy Spirit of Christ. Nor was Christ a mere man, as the heretics say, but he was the incarnate Son of God, consubstantial with the Father. “Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” … For this reason the Savior said: “Many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you are seeing, and they did not see it.” CATENA.

THE SUBSEQUENT GLORY. BEDE: Christ has already been glorified twice, once in his resurrection from the dead and again in his ascension into heaven. There will also be a third time, when he comes again in his majesty, as well as in that of the Father and the holy angels, to judge each of us according to our works. ON 1 PETER.

THEY PREDICTED HIS SUFFERINGS. OECUMENIUS: The Spirit of Christ predicted his sufferings to Isaiah: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,” and he predicted the resurrection to Hosea: “On the third day we shall be raised up before him, and we shall go on to know the Lord, and we shall find him like the ready morning.” COMMENTARY ON 1 PETER.

1:12a | The Prophets Served You

THEY FORETOLD THE FUTURE GLORY. AMBROSE OF MILAN: The mysteries of the more perfect sacraments are of two kinds. … Of one kind are the things which the prophets foretold about the future glory, for they were revealed to them. And the saints have preached the good tidings “by the spirit of God sent from heaven. Into these things angels desire to look,” as the apostle Peter says. LETTERS TO LAYMEN 66.

ABRAHAM AND MOSES SAW THE FUTURE. THEODORET OF CYR: Some thought that the promise and the salvation of those who lived before the coming of Christ was inferior, on the grounds that those who saw him in the flesh and observed the miracles which he did had a greater reward. This is why Peter had to show that their impression was wrong. For how could Abraham be inferior to someone who lived after the coming of Christ, when he saw the day of the Lord and that everyone who would be made perfect by the Lord would depart into his bosom? How could Moses and Elijah be inferior, when they appeared with the Lord at his transfiguration, even though they did not see him in the flesh? Peter insists that it is not necessary to have seen Jesus in the flesh, for there were many unbelievers who did so, some of whom were bold enough to transgress the old covenant. And this has been said for the benefit of those who, even if they have not seen or heard what the Lord said in the flesh, nevertheless have a divinely inspired love for those things. If someone receives the salvation sought by the prophets, it is that which they all longed for at the end of time. For everything else was created by him, but this was not made by anyone. It was not possible for the holy angels or for any of the blessed rational creatures to partake of it beforehand, though they all longed to glimpse the things which would be revealed in the last days. CATENA.

1:12b | Those Who Preached the Good News

THE COMFORTER. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA: These things were announced by the Holy Spirit, who is the comforter of whom Jesus said that, unless he himself went away, the Comforter would not come. The angels who want to glimpse these things are not the ones who fell, despite what many people think. Rather, these are the angels who desire to obtain the fullness of his perfection. ADUMBRATIONS.

1:12c | Things into Which Angels Long to Look

The Mysteries Accomplished. Irenaeus: There is one Son who accomplished the Fa-ther’s will and one human race in which the mysteries of God are accomplished, which angels long to behold. AGAINST HERESIES 5.36.3.

ANGELIC LOVE. HILARY OF ARLES: The angels long to look into these things because of the greatness of their love. They meditate on the Spirit and go on doing so forever, because love never comes to an end. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTARY ON 1 PETER.

THE LONGING OF ANGELS AND HUMANS. NICETA OF REMESIANA: If the angels desire to look upon him, should not human beings be all the more afraid to despise him? THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 19.

DESIRING AND SEEING. GREGORY THE GREAT: The angels both desire to see God and see him at the same time. For if they desired to see him but in such a way that their desire remained unsatisfied, they would be anxious and in suffering, but they are not. On the contrary, they are blessed and far removed from any kind of suffering or anxiety, since suffering and blessing do not go together. LESSONS IN JOB 18.91.

FULFILLMENT TO COME. BEDE: Among all the other things which were revealed to the prophets was the message that the fulfillment which they desired would not occur in their time but in yours, for you have been born at the end of the ages. Peter tells his hearers this so that they will value their salvation, knowing that the prophets and righteous people who lived before them were so eager to be on earth when it arrived. ON 1 PETER.