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ANNOTATIONS Upon the first Epistle generall of PETER. (Book 1 Peter)
CHAP. I.
Verse 1. THE inscription shewes that this Epistle was written to the stran∣gers, dispersed through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, Bythinia.
There are divers opinions about these strangers, the most common and true opinion is (saith Pareus) that Peter wrote this Epistle to the converted Jewes scattered through the provinces in Asia, which is very evident (saith Hee) from the first History of Pentecost described in the second of the Acts, for then the Jews came out of divers provinces, viz. Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, to Jerusalem to the Feast. This Epistle was by Peter written to these Jews made Christians, and returned into their provinces, and there much afflicted for the Gospell.
The purpose of the Apostle in this Epistle is to confirme the Christians, to whom he writes, in the faith, and to assure them, that it was the true grace of God they had received, and to perswade them to all possible care of sincerity of life becomming the Gospell, and to constancy in triall. See 1 Pet. 5.12. and 2 Pet. 3.1.
Vers. 2. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied] Or fulfilled.* 1.1 See Iude 2. Grace and peace are perfixed in the salutation before almost all Pauls Epistles, but this word fulfilled is here added.
Vers. 3. Hath begotten us againe unto a lively hope] It is called a lively hope,* 1.2 1. Because it is active, it puts a man on lively endeavours, Hee that hath this hope purifieth himselfe. 2. Because it comforts and cheeres up the soule, brings life into the Spirit. 3. Because it lives when a man dyes. It is so called in opposition to the dying hopes of ungodly men, Iob. 11. vlt. We who before were strangers and without hope, are now through the mercy of God by the ministrie of the Gospell, regenerated, and so restored to the hope of an immortall inheritance.
Vers. 4. To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you] It is not corruptible, nor perisheth as the riches of the world,* 1.3 it can∣not be defiled with abuse, nor fade with antiquity; and is layed up in Heaven. Col. 1.5.
It fades not away, there is the unchangeablenesse: it is immortall, there is the e∣ternity of it.* 1.4
Vndefiled] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, This Epithete is used of Christ, Heb. 7.26. Of the marriage bed, Heb. 13.14. And of worship acceptable to God, Iames 1.27.
That fadeth not away] 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, This is the proper name of a Flower, which is still fresh and green.* 1.5