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1ST PETER CHAPTER 1
Introductory remarks:
Peter teaches assurance of salvation in this first chapter, and that it comes with knowledge of the word of God. "Peter writes as an apostle, to those scattered in Asia whom he says were foreknown by God by their being drawn to obey Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. He praises God for His great mercy in giving them the hope of resurrection, an everlasting inheritance, and keeping them by His power until their salvation is realized. He says they can rejoice even through troubles because faith that endures troubles will be cause for praise when Christ appears. Peter says they have seen the promise of salvation that the prophets foretold and wanted to see. They should therefore set their minds on that hope and be like obedient children, rather than living for pleasure as they did before. Their salvation wasn't obtained through riches of this world that can be destroyed, but with Christ's blood which will last forever" (A Survey of 1 Peter - By Benda). This chapter may be outlined as follows: Salutation vv. 1-2: A living hope vv. 3-12: A call to holy living vv. 13-25.
Salutation
Verse 1, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia."
LGT "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to [the] elect sojourners of the dispersion of Pontus, of Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia:"
Peter: Peter begins this epistle by not using his given name of Simon, but using the name Christ gave him, Petros, meaning a rock or stone. Just as Paul did not use his given name Saul, but the name the Lord also gave him of Paul. An apostle of Jesus Christ: Peter claims his apostleship to the churches in Asia Minor because he did not establish these churches. To the elect sojourners of the dispersion: These are the Christian Jews [elect] that were scattered out after Titus sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. Pontus, of Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia: These are the churches that Peter and Paul both refer to as the elect. This has a broader spiritual application in that all Christians are the elect of God, sojourning in a foreign land, this world, waiting to occupy heaven someday.
Verse 2, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied."
LGT "According to [the] foreknowledge of God [the] Father, by sanctification of [the] Spirit, unto [the] obedience and sprinkling of [the] blood of Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace be multiplied."
In this verse Peter expounds the doctrine of the trinity, for all three persons of the Godhead are mentioned here, and he also gives God's eternal plan for all believers. The Holy Spirit sanctifies us, that is, we are set apart by Him, and united with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is on the basis of the shed blood of Christ that has made our sanctification possible, and that we are the elect of God the Father into His eternal plan. All of this wonderful news is based on the foreknowledge of God; God the Father planned our eternal salvation; God the Son executed the plan by going to the cross and shedding His precious blood, and then taking it to heaven, and sprinkling it before the throne of God; God the Holy Spirit empowered this wonderful plan. And the Holy Spirit indwells every believer giving them the power to resist evil and desire to fellowship with Christ.
A Living Hope
Verse 3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
LGT "Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy He begat us again to a living hope through [the] resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead:"
Blessed be: the word blessed is a verbal adjective from eulogeo, and is used only of God in the New Testament (Robertson). This compound word eulogeo is from eu- meaning well and logos- means word or to speak, so we get, to speak well of. The word means to praise, and men are not to be praised, God alone is to be praised. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: it is upon this name that we are able to call God our Father. We have been adopted into the family of God. God is the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ based on His position in the Trinity, even though they are equal, they have separate positions based on their duties; remember, God the Father is the Planner of our salvation; God the Son is the executor of that great Plan; and the God the Holy Spirit is the power within the great Plan. Who according to His great mercy: by the great mercy of God he extended this plan to us all, because He was not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He begat us again to a living hope: this is regeneration, whether you use the term "born from above" or "born again" it means "the new birth" any way you say it. Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead: Peter, as well as Paul, puts all our hopes on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our hope of eternal salvation rose up with Christ at His resurrection and ascension. "The resurrection of Jesus is the means and guarantee of the spiritual resurrection of the Christian (1 Cor. 15:14, 17) from the death of the sinful fleshly life" (TEGT).
Verse 4, "To an inheritance incorruptible, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you."
LGT "To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and unfading, which has been reserved in [the] heavens for us:"
To an inheritance: all of God's children, as the benefit of their new birth, are God's heirs and are beneficiaries of an heavenly inheritance. Incorruptible: the first of these three adjectives describing our inheritance is that it cannot be destroyed, as the earthly inheritance. And undefiled: the inheritance cannot be corrupted. And unfading: the brightness of the heavenly inheritance will never fade in its beauty. Which has been reserved in the heavens for us: this lovely inheritance is reserved for every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. This inheritance is especially reserved for each and every believer, and no one can claim your particular inheritance. This is a wonderful verse for the assurance of every believer that his or her salvation is secure, and that it cannot be lost or taken away.
Verse 5, "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
LGT "Who by [the] power of God [are] being guarded by faith, for salvation ready to be revealed in [the] last time."
Who by the power of God: Peter teaches them that it is in the power of God that the Christian has been placed "your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). Are being guarded by faith, for salvation: "The inheritance is kept and the heir is guarded" (Bengal). The Greek word for guarded is phrouroumenous, a present passive participle, a military term meaning to garrison, which means that God has placed His stronghold around the believer, the moment the believer has placed his or her trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Ready to be revealed in the last time: the return of Jesus Christ or our going home to be with Him, then our salvation will be complete, and we no longer have to drag around this old sin nature in this filthy carcass.
This verse is a wonderful teaching on the fact that we cannot keep ourselves, and we cannot live the Christian life; the Holy Spirit is the only power that is able to live through us; all we need to do is be willing to let Him live through us. McGee agrees and has written about this in his commentary, which I will relate in full:
"The apostle Paul said the same thing [as this verse]: "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6). My friend, do you think He can keep you? Oh, I am weary of the emphasis being put on the work of the flesh. We are being told that if we follow some little set of rules, we can become adequate Christians. I wonder if the fellows who are giving all these messages [my comment-the leader of this rat pack is none other than Rick the slick Warren and his Purpose Driven Drivel] have reached some celestial level, which the rest of us have not been able to attain. They ask, "Are you sufficient, and are you satisfied?" My answer is, "No-I am pressing on the upward way, I am pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. I am not satisfied. I have not found life sufficient." My friend, let me add a strong statement that may startle you: You cannot live the Christian life! Perhaps you are asking, "Do you really mean that?" Yes, I do. I would challenge you to show me a verse or any Scripture where God has asked you to live the Christian life. He has never done that. I have an old sin nature, and that old nature will be with me as long as I am on this earth. Sometimes that old nature really shows. I have a bad temper that flares at times. I say things even to my wonderful wife so that I must go later and make up with her. I take her in my arms and tell her I'm sorry for what I said. She forgives me, and it is always wonderful to make up, you know. However I still have an old nature - and you do too. And neither of us can change our old natures by trying to follow a little set of rules. We can no more change that old nature than we can take a gallon of perfume out to the barnyard, pour it on a pile of manure, and make it as fragrant as a bed of roses. My friend, you have that old nature, and you cannot change it. The only way in the world that you can live the Christian life is by the power of the Holy Spirit and by the fact that you are kept by the power of God - right on through until the day when you will be delivered to Him in heaven."
Verse 6, "wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:"
LGT "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, for a little while at present, if it [is] necessary, ye have been put to grief in various trials:"
Wherein: Peter begins this verse with this adverb also meaning "in which" referring to the entire contents of 1Pe 1:3-5. Ye greatly rejoice: with a lively joy (Vincent). For a little while at present: Peter is telling them that their trials will not last forever. If it is necessary, ye having been put to grief: he tells them that they were about to face some trials and tribulations, but they have the truth of their being united with the Lord Jesus Christ as His inheritance, and that they will receive an incorruptible crown that will not fade or disappear. In various trials: they must remember that every trial is but a test, and they have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit with them continually and who will never leave them nor forsake them.
Verse 7, "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ."
LGT "In order that the proving of your faith, much more precious than gold that perishes, though being proved by fire, be found to praise and glory and honor, in [the] revelation of Jesus Christ:"
Peter teaches them that the Christian can endure anything as long as they keep their eyes fixed on the soon coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. When we have something to look forward to, this world takes on a completely new perspective, that is, if we view all things in the light of eternity. Peter use the illustration of gold being tried with fire, and that when the dross is taken off, it is revealed as pure; he says that the Christian's trials, the proving of their faith, are more precious than that of gold, for gold eventually perishes, but the benefits of the Christian are eternal. William Barclay writes:
"Peter in effect, reminds them of three reasons why they can stand anything that may come upon them:
They can stand anything because of what they are able to look forward to. At the end, there is for them the magnificent inheritance, life with God. For Christians, persecution and trouble are not the end, beyond lies the glory, and in the hope of that glory they can endure anything that life brings to them.
They can stand anything that comes if they remember that every trial is, in fact, a test. Before gold is pure, it has to be tested in the fire. The trials that come to us test our faith, and out of them that faith can emerge stronger than ever it was before.
They can stand anything, because at the end of it, when Jesus Christ appears, they will receive from Him praise and glory and honor."
Verse 8, "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."
LGT "Whom not having seen ye love, on whom [though] you do not see Him, but believing, ye exult with joy unspeakable and glorified:"
Whom: Jesus Christ just mentioned in the last verse. Not having seen ye love: Peter had witnessed Jesus saying this very thing to Thomas as recorded in John 20:29, "Happy are those not seeing yet believing." This is Peter's message to us today in this age of grace; the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to love the Lord Jesus Christ, even though we have only seen Him in the Holy Scriptures. On whom though you have not seen Him, but believing, ye exult with joy unspeakable and glorified: no word can describe what glory Christ deserves from all His brothers and sisters. I have often said, the truth that we can only love Him because He first loved us. The fact that we are born again makes it possible for us to not only believe on Him, but we are able also to love Him with agape, divine unconditional love; no one but a believer is able to love with this love, and only a believer is able to rejoice in being a member of His wonderful family. This love can only be expressed as we are in fellowship with Him.
Verse 9, "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
LGT "Receiving the end of your faith, [the] salvation of [your] souls:"
There is no adverb "even" in the original; it simply means the final salvation of the soul. We have assurance of our salvation in the Word of God, that is, that we are saved now, and will be saved in the future, so, when He returns, it will become our possession for all eternity.
Verse 10, "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you."
LGT "Concerning which salvation [the] prophets who prophesied of the grace towards you, sought out and searched out:"
Concerning which salvation: this is a relative clause connecting it to the salvation mentioned in verse 9. This one long sentence from 1Pe 1:3-12 all connected with a relative clause (Robertson). The prophets who prophesied of the grace towards you: the prophets prophesied concerning salvation that would come in Christ, and given by His grace to all who would believe on Him, and trust Him for their own salvation. Sought out and searched out: "The ancient prophets prophesied concerning the grace which was destined for you and enquired diligently about this salvation. They were the unconscious instruments of the revelation of God and their first duty done continued to pore over the inspired description of the sufferings and subsequent glories of the Messiah. They asked themselves to whom does this refer and when shall these things be. And to them the revelation was made that they were only the administrators of an estate, which others - you in fact should enjoy. The subjects of their prophesies have now been proclaimed to you by your Christian teachers who, like the prophets, were inspired by the Holy Spirit - with this difference that now the Spirit has been sent from heaven, whereas of old, He dwelt only in minds of a few. And these are the mysteries into which angels long to peep" (The Expositor's Greek Testament).
Verse 11, "Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow."
LGT "Searching to what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them was signifying, testifying beforehand of the sufferings [belonging] to Christ and the glories after these:"
Searching to what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them was signifying: the prophets knew what they were prophesying about the Messiah, but they did not know the time it would be fulfilled. "We are told two things about the prophets. First, they searched and inquired about the salvation, which was to come. Second, the Spirit of Christ told them about Christ. Here we have the great truth that inspiration depends on two things - the searching of the human mind and the revealing Spirit of God. It used sometimes to be said that those who wrote the Scripture were pens in the hands of God or flutes into which His Spirit breathed or lyres across which His Spirit moved. That is to say, they were held to be nothing more than almost unconscious instruments in God's hands. But this passage tells us that God's truth comes only to those who search for it. In inspiration, there is an element which is human and an element which is divine; it is the product at one and the same time of the search of the human mind and the revelation of God's Spirit" (William Barclay). Testifying beforehand of the sufferings belonging to Christ: The sufferings of the Christ are prophesied in many O.T. books, but two, which are very familiar, are Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53. And the glories after these: "The plural is used to indicate the successive steps of Christ's glorification, the glory of His resurrection and ascension, of the last judgment, and of the kingdom of heaven" (Vincent). "The prophets looking into the future saw the suffering of Christ and the glory of Christ as two mountain peaks, which appeared to be right together. I am of the opinion that there were skeptics and higher critics in those days who argued, 'This is a conflict; the Scriptures are in contradiction. You cannot have it both ways. Either He comes to suffer, or He comes to reign.' (This of course is one of the reasons the Jews used to reject Christ) Of course we know now that both are true. And the valley between is the church age, which already is approaching two thousand years in length: (McGee). The Word of God is our only source of Spirit given knowledge; the Jews at the time of Christ first had to reject Christ's word, and then they rejected Him, and eventually crucified Him. The Word of God today must first be believed, and then we are able to believe in the Author of the Word and His only begotten Son for salvation.
Verse 12, "Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into."
LGT "To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves but to you were serving these things, which now were announced to you by the ones who announced to you the Glad Tidings [by] [the] Holy Spirit sent from heaven, into which angels desire to look."
To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves but to you were serving these things: the prophets did not know the full extent of their prophecies, but they did know that these mysteries were intended for future generations who know them in detail, especially after these things came to pass; just as we are looking towards the parousia of our Lord. Which now were announced to you by the ones who announced to you the Glad Tidings: these are the apostles, especially the ones who gave us the New Testament. By the Holy Spirit sent from heaven: the Holy Spirit was sent from heaven at Pentecost, and He indwelt those apostles and inspired them to write the New Testament. Into which angels desire to look: I must admit this phrase baffles me. It is hard for me grasp the fact that this message of grace in salvation is beyond the comprehension of God's angels. I know we are trophies of His wonderful grace, and that the angels will glorify God for all eternity because we are there with them, but it is beyond my understanding just exactly what this phrase is all about. The angels are not omniscient, but they have a great knowledge of God and His character, but like us, it will take eternity to fully understand the workings of God's wonderful grace, especially, that He saved a wretch like me.
A Call to Holy Living
Verse 13, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
LGT "Wherefore having girded up the loins of your mind, being sober, set your hope perfectly in the grace being brought to you at [the] revelation of Jesus Christ."
Wherefore: on the basis that grace has been given from heaven to Jew and Gentile alike. Having girded up the loins of your mind: this expression was understood in the minds of Peter's readers; this metaphor for the habit of the Orientals, who quickly gathered up their loose robes with a girdle when in a hurry or starting on a journey. The loins, is an old world word for the part of the body where the girdle was worn. The mind is the faculty of understanding (Robertson). This metaphor is making the point that the Christian should be mentally prepared for the Lord's service. Being sober: sober means to be serious, especially in the study of His Word. Set your hope perfectly in the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ: the object of their hope is already on the way (Vincent). Peter is instructing the Christian to live his or her life in that wonderful hope of the Parousia of Jesus Christ, and the grace He will bring with Him. All Christians will give an account of their motives for godly living at the Bema Seat of Jesus Christ, and will be given a reward or denied a reward for allowing or not allowing the Holy Spirit to live through them. We cannot, I repeat, we cannot live the Christian life in the power of the flesh; this can only be accomplished by adjusting our lives to the Word of God, and submitting to the Holy Spirit allowing Him to work in and through us.
Verse 14, "As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance."
LGT "As children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves to the former desires in your ignorance."
As children of obedience: children of God who have been bestowed upon with His wonderful grace, and given the Word of God. Children of obedience are opposed to Satan's children, all unbelievers, who are children of disobedience. Obedience and disobedience has reference to accepting or rejection Jesus Christ, and it has nothing to do with works. Not fashioning: this means the same thing as conformity. To the former desires in your ignorance: the former desires were the desires they had when they were in unbelief, and as such, they sinned as a way of life, for it was completely natural to their natures; but now that they have a new nature in Christ, they are to live like His children, and now when they sin, they miss the mark, and they do not sin habitually as the unbelievers do, and they have the same option that we do today of confessing sin to the Father to be restored to fellowship with Him, or to not confess and remain out of fellowship (1 John 1:9).
Verse 15, "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation."
LGT "But according as He who called you [is] holy, also be ye yourselves holy in all [your] conduct."
Peter is teaching them that we are joined into a union with Christ, and that we ought to live according to His teaching and also His example as set out in the Scriptures. The only way we can live holy lives is by remaining the maximum amount time in fellowship with the Father, and this is done through confessing sin to the Father, and adjusting our lives to Bible doctrine, which takes daily Bible study in order to understand His mind, so that we may walk in the light as He is in the light.
Verse 16, "Because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy"
LGT "Because it has been written [and stands written], be ye holy, because I am holy."
Peter quotes Lev. 11:44. Of course we cannot be perfect as God is perfect, but we can be mature Christians, and that is what our heavenly Father expects of us. The Lord wants to use us, and He can only do this if we are yielded to Him, and desire unbroken fellowship with Him.
Verse 17, "And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of sojourning here in fear."
LGT "And if [as] Father you call on Him who without regard of persons judges according to the work of each, in fear you pass the time of your sojourn."
And if [as] Father you call on Him: God is our heavenly Father, and He desires that we come to Him as His dear children, and fellowship in His Word with Him; He is always ready to have us come boldly to His throne of grace in prayer. Who without regard of persons: our physical beauty or wealth or position in society carries no weight with the Lord, for He loves all His children equally. Judges according to the work of each: God is not only our Father, He is our judge, that is, He will judge us according our motives in our service; Christ has already judged our sins, so it will be our works that will be tried at the Bema Seat of Christ. In fear you pass the time of your sojourn: we are all pilgrims in a strange land on our temporary journey on this earth, and we should pass the time in reverential fear and full devotion to our heavenly Father. We should desire constant fellowship with the Lord.
Verses 18, 19, "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
LGT "Knowing that not by corruptible things, by silver or gold, ye were redeemed from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers, but by precious blood as of a lamb without blemish and without spot [the blood] of Christ."
Knowing: Peter assumes they know about the justice and mercy of God in their own personal salvation. That not by corruptible things, by silver or gold: slaves were purchased with silver or gold, but we were purchased out of the slave market of sin by something much more precious, for it cost God His only begotten Son. Ye were redeemed from your vain manner of life: your life in unbelief and legalism. You are saved by faith alone in Christ alone not by any work of the flesh such as keeping a set of rules such as the Ten Commandments or the Sermon on the Mount. Handed down from your fathers: the Judaizers were the leaders of the Jewish religion that kept these rules, and added many more, and handed them down from generation to generation, and by the way, they are still handing them down today. But by the precious blood as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, the blood of Christ: In the O.T. on the Day of Atonement the chief priest would take the blood of a lamb that had been slain, and this lamb had to be inspected for any blemishes, and would enter into the Holy of Holies once a year and sprinkle the blood over the mercy seat, and this represented the coming of Christ to shed His blood on the cross. The big problem with the Jews is, they rejected Christ, the anti-type of the O.T. lamb, and crucified Him; and even after twenty one hundred years they are still rejecting the Messiah.
Verse 20, "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you."
LGT "Having been foreknown indeed before the foundation of [the] world, but manifested at [the] last times for the sake of you:"
God, in His infinite wisdom, in eternity past, planned our great salvation, and His Son was to be the executor of that plan, and shed His precious blood on the cross for the entire world, and this blood became effectual to all who believe on His name, so it is for the sake of the believer that He died. One important element in this plan was that Christ willingly went to the cross for you and me.
Verse 21, "Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."
LGT "Who by Him believe in God, who raised Him from among [the] dead, and gave to Him glory, so as for your faith and hope to be in God."
Who by Him believe in God: all who believe in Christ also must believe in God; you cannot separate the Godhead, for they are three persons of the same essence, homousias. Who raised Him from among the dead, and gave to Him glory: Peter and Paul both stress the importance to our faith the resurrection of our Lord, for all our hope relies on this wonderful fact, for if Christ be raised, so shall we be raised. Christ was raised from the dead, and ascended to the Father, and is glorified with His reigning position at the Father's right hand. So as for your faith and hope to be in God: all our faith and hope in God is centered in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Verse 22, "Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently."
LGT "Your souls have been purified by obedience to the truth through [the] Spirit to brotherly love unfeigned, from the heart, ye love one another fervently."
Your souls have been purified by obedience to the truth: these new Christians were no longer living in ignorance, but have been redeemed and given the gospel of grace, and they have been purified through the Word of God, the only true cleansing agent on this earth. The moment a person accepts Christ as Savior, they are immediately imputed with the righteousness of God in union with Christ, and are positionally purified and made righteous (2 Cor. 5:21). Through the Spirit: the very moment a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior, her or she is immediately baptized with the Holy Spirit, and is indwelt by him, and they are able to live the Christian life by submitting to His influence, made known, that is, they are able to appreciate His presence and influence, by the study of the Word of God. To brotherly love unfeigned: it is by loving the brotherhood that sets the Christian apart from the world, for the world has no concept of true agape love, for they are incapable of giving or receiving this type of love. This agape divine love issues from the Father, and is made possible in the life of the believer through the Holy Spirit's presence in the believer. From the heart: this means that this agape love is unconditional and genuine, because it comes from the Father. Ye love one another fervently: the word fervent comes from the word charity, so it means with a genuine love. This is the only place Peter uses this word.
Verse 23, "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever."
LGT "Having been begotten again, not out of seed corruptible, but of incorruptible, by [the] Word of God, living and abiding."
Having been begotten again: Jesus explained this new birth in the third chapter of the Gospel of John. Being born again is being born from above anothen, which is spiritual re-birth; we were born physically through natural childbirth; we were born spiritually from above by accepting Christ as our Savior. Not out of corruptible seed: not of the corruptible seed of our parents, that is, natural childbirth through the pro-creation of our parents; for we were born to die. But of incorruptible: the incorruptible seed is the Word of God, the same seed we are sowing to the world. By the Word of God: no person was ever born again apart from the incorruptible Word of God. Living and abiding: some commentators refer these two active participles to God, and some to the Word; however, as I have said many, many, times, You can't separate God from His Word, so if these participles living and abiding refer to the Word, they also refer to God.
Verse 24, "For all flesh is as grass, and all glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away."
LGT "Because all flesh [is] as grass, and all its glory as [the] flower of grass: the grass withered, and the flower fell away."
Peter is quoting from Isaiah 40:6-8. Peter is making a comparison between natural generation and regeneration; our physical life is temporal, while our spiritual life is eternal.
Verse 25, "But the word of the lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you."
LGT "But the Word of [the] Lord remains for ever. And this is the Word which was announced to you."
Verse 24 and 25 should be read as one. The physical heaven and earth will pass away, but God's Word remains unto the ages of the ages. The only way we may understand this wonderful concept of the everlasting Word of God is to daily immerse ourselves in it. We must know the Word of God in order to know God. Barnes notes:
"Amidst all the revolutions on earth, the fading glories of natural objects, and the wasting strength of man, his truth remains unaffected. Its beauty never fades; its power is never enfeebled. The gospel system is as lovely now as it was when it was first revealed to man, and it has as much power to save as it had when it was first applied to a human heart. We see the grass wither at the coming of an autumn; we see the flower of the field decay; we see man, though confident in his strength, and rejoicing in the vigor of his frame, cut down in an instant; we see cities decline, and kingdoms lose their power; but the Word of God is the same now that it was at first, and, amidst all the changes which may ever occur of the earth, that will remain the same."
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