New Testament in a Year

Footnotes

1. 1 Peter 1:1 Christians regarded themselves as the true Israel and made use of the term Dispersion, which designated the Jews who had been dispersed and awaited the reunion of their people (see Jas 1:1). By divine choice, they are the New Covenant, evoked by the mention of the Blood of Christ (see Ex 24:3-8; Heb 9:12-14). Related to the three divine Persons, the Church is born of the Trinity. This is an extremely dense salutation.
2. 1 Peter 1:1 Peter: see notes on Mt 16:18; 16:19; Jn 1:42. Apostle: see notes on Mk 6:30; Rom 1:1; Heb 3:1-6. Exiles: literally, “strangers” or “pilgrims,” because the homeland and inheritance of the children of God are in heaven (see 1 Chr 29:15; Ps 39:13; Heb 13:14). Living in Pontus . . . Bithynia: Jewish and Gentile Christians living in Asia Minor.
3. 1 Peter 1:2 Chosen: see note on Eph 1:3—3:21. Father . . . Spirit . . . Jesus Christ: all three persons of the Trinity are involved in the redemption of the Elect. To be sprinkled with his blood: in the Old Testament, the blood of a sacrificial animal was sprinkled on the altar and the benefit of the sacrifice descended on the offerer. The sprinkled blood of Christ brings us these benefits: (1) justification (see Rom 5:19); (2) sealing with God’s Covenant promise represented for us in the Eucharist (see Lk 22:20); (3) cleansing of all sin (see 1 Jn 1:7); and (4) empowerment to become citizens of the Kingdom of heaven (see Heb 10:19).
4. 1 Peter 1:3 The author stresses the privileges and responsibilities that come with salvation (the Greek word means “deliverance” or “preservation”). Salvation was prophesied in the past and achieved by God in Christ, and it calls for a life of holiness and love on the part of Christians, including the true worship of God, for they are a “nation of priests.”
5. 1 Peter 1:3 Adversity can do nothing in the face of the joyous certitude of believers. May they relive the fundamental experience of faith described in this grand praise. In Christ, the mercy of God gives human beings an inviolable faith that has no common measure with all human projects. The rebirth of Baptism opens another life and another history; a promise of salvation is on the way to being fulfilled. How then can Christ’s personal love fail to take hold of hearts? The plan of God is not a theory but a reality in the life of each person. Today, the goal toward which all the expectations of the Prophets were directed, has become a reality and it brings about the joy of angels.
   In this great passage of praise the fundamental experience of faith is described.
6. 1 Peter 1:5 The end of time: i.e., the time of salvation, which is close at hand in the sense that it is certain; the glorious coming of Christ is the only really new thing to be awaited.
7. 1 Peter 1:10 This salvation was the subject of intense scrutiny and investigation by the Prophets: the inspiration of the Prophets is attributed to the universal effectiveness of Christ, which works retroactively. The unity of the two Testaments is here highlighted.
8. 1 Peter 1:11 The Spirit of Christ: the Holy Spirit is called thus because Christ sent him (see Jn 16:7) and ministered through him (see Lk 4:14, 18). The sufferings that Christ would endure and the glories: this is a theme found throughout the Bible (see Ps 22; Isa 52:13—53:12; Zec 9:9f; 13:7; Mt 16:21-23; 17:22; 20:19; Lk 24:26, 46; Jn 2:19; Acts 3:17-22; 4:12-16; 5:1, 4, 9f). Those who are united with Christ in everything, including suffering, will also be united with him in glory. And in the midst of their present sufferings they will benefit from the fact that he has already entered into his glory (see 1 Pet 2:3, 8, 21; 3:21f).
9. 1 Peter 1:13 An existence given over to passions and inclinations is without meaning or real purpose. But Christians are delivered from insignificance; it is God who becomes their reason for living and its accomplishment. This is translated by a profound reversal of sentiments and behavior. Believers have a sense of God and his holiness, and they bear something of God’s absoluteness in their existence. A life saved by the gift of Christ is an Easter. From then on, fraternal love becomes the goal. Thus, the Christian life is something new, a new birth, and a new destiny. It is developed by coming to maturity in one’s reflection upon the word of God.
10. 1 Peter 1:19 Ransomed . . . with the precious blood of Christ: i.e., bought back or redeemed in the way laid out in the Scriptures (see Ex 13:13; 21:30). Our need for being ransomed comes from our bondage to Satan and sin (see Jn 8:34; Rom 6:17, 23). Jesus has bought our freedom by paying not silver or gold but his own blood (see Eph 1:7; Rev 5:9), i.e., his Death (see Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45; Heb 9:15) or Christ himself (see Gal 3:13).
11. 1 Peter 1:23 Born anew . . . through the . . . word of God: the Christian’s new birth results from the action of the Holy Spirit (see Tit 3:5), but the word of God also plays an important part therein (see Jas 1:18). The latter presents the Gospel to us and summons us to repent and believe in Christ (see v. 25). The living and enduring word of God: another possible translation is: “the word of the living and enduring God.”