Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

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.”
12. 1 Peter 2:4 The following terms—spiritual temple, chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people claimed by God as his own possession—were coined by the Old Testament to express Israel’s awareness of itself as a people called upon to carry out God’s plan. The Church regards herself as chosen by God and called to act in such a way that human life itself becomes a worship of God. This passage can be more profoundly understood by reflecting upon 1 Cor 3:16; Eph 2:20-22. In verses 9 and 10 citations from the Old Testament occur in this order: Isa 43:20-21; Ex 19:5-6; Hos 1:6-9; 2:23-24. These are reminiscences more than citations.
13. 1 Peter 2:5 Holy priesthood: all who are united with Christ by faith share in the priesthood of Christ (see note on Heb 8:6-13).
14. 1 Peter 2:8 For this they were born: the author states that by rejecting the Gospel, the people of the former Covenant have lost their prerogatives, which have now been given to the people of the New Covenant, i.e., Christians. The Scripture references in vv. 6-10 reflect the concern of early Christianity to explain Israel’s unbelief in light of the Old Testament itself.
15. 1 Peter 2:11 The author sets forth a few practical implications of what it means to be God’s people in a hostile world. Christians are to be submissive to others—to civil authority, to masters, and to spouses in imitation of Christ’s submissiveness. He ends up citing five virtues from Christ’s life that should be of help to all.
16. 1 Peter 2:11 Christians are to be on their best behavior in the midst of pagans even if for a time they are greeted with criticism and hostility because they do not accept the morals of the age. On the day of the Lord’s arrival, everything will be made clear. While they wait for that day, Christians are on earth as a pilgrim people, i.e., they do not put their stamp of approval on any society and any culture.
17. 1 Peter 2:13 Christianity is not subversive and does not oppose the organization of society on principle. The first persecutions were based on such accusations, and it is one more reason to stress their loyalty but also their sense of freedom. Political power has its ultimate foundation in God the Creator of human society, and not in the personality of those who govern (see Rom 13:1-7; Tit 3:1). In the Book of Revelation, the Christian attitude toward the imperial power will be less serene.
18. 1 Peter 2:18 The first generations of Christians have above all the concern to spread the Gospel as the response to desire for salvation on the part of all people. The believers are only a handful. It would be a mistake to attribute to them the plan to develop a critique of the structures of society. But they themselves model new human and social relations. Many of them are slaves; in the Church, they are recognized as full Christians. This is one more reason not to lay oneself open to the accusation of insubordination that is leveled at these new communities. Hence, for the present moment, here is a way of living with service, even in conditions of injustice. The example of Christ imposes itself; it is interpreted here in magnificent terms by means of one of the great texts about the Servant of God (Isa 53:5-12). We should not interpret this text as presenting a doctrine of resignation. It calls for an attitude that refuses to respond to injustice with hatred or duplicity (see Eph 6:5-9; Col 3:22-25; 1 Tim 6:1-2; Tit 2:9-10).
19. 1 Peter 2:21 The example of Christ is obvious; it is here interpreted in grandiose terms by means of the great text on the Servant of God in Isa 53:5-12.
20. 1 Peter 2:22 He committed no sin . . .: Christ was absolutely sinless (see Acts 3:14; 2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15; 7:26; 1 Jn 3:5).
21. 1 Peter 2:25 The shepherd and guardian of your souls: the sheep had wandered from their shepherd (Christ), but now they have returned to him. Thus, the Suffering Servant, vindicated in the Resurrection (see Isa 52:13; 53:11), becomes the Good Shepherd (see Jn 10:11; 13:10). For “shepherd” in the Old Testament, see Ps 23; Isa 40:11; Ezek 37:24.
22. 1 Peter 3:1 How does one’s Christianity affect the way that one lives family life? The main problem is the difficult one of the wife who converts but is not followed by her husband. Let her not seek to put pressure on him, but let her give him the witness of a Christian wife whose gentleness and silence are in contrast to agitation and vanity.
    A Christian husband is asked to regard his wife as a believing Christian in all respects, to understand feminine psychology, and to show great sensitivity of heart (see 1 Cor 7:12-15; Eph 5:32-33; Col 3:19).
23. 1 Peter 3:3 The author does not prohibit the use of jewelry and other adornments but stresses the fact that the greatest adornments are spiritual ones.
24. 1 Peter 3:7 An equal heir of God’s gift: both spouses in a marriage have received the same gift from God. Hence, there should be mutual respect and love between them (see Eph 5:33; Col 3:19).