Scofield Reference Bible Notes/1 Peter

by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield

Book Introduction - 1 Peter

Read first chapter of 1 Peter
WRITER: The Apostle Peter (1 Peter 1:1)
DATE: Probably A.D. 60. That "Babylon" refers to the former city on the Euphrates, or to Rome, cannot be inferred from 1 Peter 5:13. The text is obscure.
THEME: While Peter undoubtedly has scattered Jewish believers in mind, his Epistles comprehend Gentile believers also (1 Peter 2:10). The present Epistle, written from a church on Gentile ground (1 Peter 5:13), presents all the foundational truths of the Christian faith, with special emphasis on the atonement. The distinctive note of First Peter is preparation for victory over suffering. The last-name word occurs about fifteen times, and is the key-word to the Epistle.
The Epistle is in three parts:

• Christian suffering and conduct in the light of full salvation, 1:1-2:8
• The believer's life in view of his sevenfold position, and of the vicarious suffering of Christ, 2:9-4:19
• Christian service in the light of the coming of the Chief Shepherd, 5:1-14

CHAPTER 1

Verse 1

sins
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 2

Elect
Election, Summary: In both Testaments the Hebrew and Greek words are rendered "elect," "election," "choose," "chosen." In all cases they mean, simply, "chosen," or "to choose"; and are used of both human and divine choices.

• (1) In the latter use election is: (a) corporate, as of the nation of Israel, or the church Isaiah 45:4; Ephesians 1:4 and (b) individual 1 Peter 1:2
• (2) Election is according to the foreknowledge of God 1 Peter 1:2 and wholly of grace, apart from human merit ; Romans 9:11; 11:5,6.
• (3) Election proceeds from the divine volition John 15:16.

Election is, therefore: \li2 (1) The sovereign act of God in grace whereby certain are chosen from among mankind for Himself. John 15:19. \li2 (2) The sovereign act of God whereby certain elect persons are chosen for distinctive service for Him. Luke 6:13; Acts 9:15; 1 Corinthians 1:27,28

Verse 7

might
Suffering, in First Peter, is set in the light of:

• (1) assured salvation, 1 Peter 1:2-5.
• (2) the greater glory at Christ's appearing, 1 Peter 1:7;
• (3) Christ's sufferings and coming glories, 1 Peter 1:11
• (4) the believer's association with Him in both, 1 Peter 2:20,21; 3:17,18 4:12,13.
• (5) the purifying effect of suffering, 1 Peter 1:7; 4:1,2; 5:10.
• (6) that Christ is now glorified in the believer's patient suffering, 1 Peter 4:16.
• (7) that suffering is disciplinary, 1 Peter 4:17-19; 1 Corinthians 11:31,32; Hebrews 12:5-13.

Verse 9

salvation
(See Scofield "Romans 1:16").

Verse 13

for the grace
Grace (in salvation). 1 Peter 5:12; Romans 3:24 (See Scofield "John 1:17").

Verse 18

redeemed
(See Scofield "Romans 3:24").

Verse 20

foreordained
The divine order is foreknowledge, election, predestination. That foreknowledge determines the election or choice is clear from 1 Peter 1:2 and predestination is the bringing to pass of the election. "election looks back to foreknowledge; predestination forward to the destiny." But Scripture nowhere declares what it is in the divine foreknowledge which determines the divine election and predestination. The foreknown are elected, and the elect are predestinated, and this election is certain to every believer by the mere fact that he believes 1 Thessalonians 1:4,5
See Predestination (See Scofield "Ephesians 1:5").

CHAPTER 2

Verse 8

stone of stumbling
Christ crucified is the Rock:

• (1) Smitten that the Spirit of life may flow from Him to all who will drink Exodus 17:6; 1 Corinthians 10:4; John 4:13,14; 7:37-39.
• (2) To the church the foundation and chief corner Stone Ephesians 2:20.
• (3) To the Jews at His first coming a "stumbling stone" Romans 9:32,33; 1 Corinthians 1:23.
• (4) to Israel at His second coming the "headstone of the corner" Zechariah 4:7.
• (5) To the Gentile world-power the smiting "stone cut out without hands" Daniel 2:34.
• (6) In the divine purpose the Stone which, after the destruction of Gentile world- power, is to grow and fill the earth.
• (7) To unbelievers the crushing Stone of judgment. Matthew 21:44.

Verse 9

priesthood
The New Testament priesthood, Summary:

• (1) Until the law was given the head of each family was the family priest Genesis 8:20; 26:25; 31:54.
• (2) When the law was proposed, the promise to perfect obedience was that Israel would be unto God "a kingdom of priests" Exodus 19:6. but Israel violated the law, and God shut up the priestly office to the Aaronic family, appointing the tribe of Levi to minister to them, thus constituting the typical priesthood Exodus 28:1.
• (3) In the dispensation of grace, all believers are unconditionally constituted a "kingdom of priests" 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6 the distinction which Israel failed to achieve by works. The priesthood of the believer is, therefore, a birthright; just as every descendant of Aaron was born to the priesthood Hebrews 5:1.
• (4) The chief privilege of a priest is access to God. Under law the high priest only could enter "the holiest of all," and that but once a year Hebrews 9:7, but when Christ died, the veil, type of Christ's human body Hebrews 10:20 was rent, so that now the believer-priests, equally with Christ the High Priest, have access to God in the holiest Hebrews 10:19-22.

The high Priest is corporeally there Hebrews 4:14-16; 9:24; 10:19-22.

• (5) In the exercise of his office the New Testament believer-priest is

\li2 (1) a sacrificer who offers a threefold sacrifice: (a) his own living body. Romans 12:1; Philippians 2:17; 2 Timothy 4:6; 1 John 3:16; James 1:27 (b) praise to God, "the fruit of the lips that make mention of His name" (R.V.), to be offered "continually" ; Hebrews 13:15; Exodus 25:22 "I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat"); (c) his substance ; Hebrews 13:16; Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:6; 3 John 1:5-8; Hebrews 13:2; Galatians 6:10; Titus 3:14. \li2 (2) The N.T. priest is also an intercessor 1 Timothy 2:1; Colossians 4:12

Verse 19

this is thankworthy
Grace (imparted). 1 Peter 3:7; Romans 6:1; 2 Peter 3:18.

Verse 20

faults
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 22

sin
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 24

sins Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").
righteousness (See Scofield "Romans 10:10").

CHAPTER 3

Verse 7

grace
Grace (imparted). 1 Peter 4:10; Romans 6:1; 2 Peter 3:18.

Verse 12

righteous
(See Scofield "Romans 10:10").

Verse 14

righteousness
(See Scofield "1 John 3:7")

Verse 18

sins
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 20

once
Omit "once."

Verse 22

angels
(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4").

CHAPTER 4

Verse 1

sin
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 6

that are dead
i.e. it was preached to them that are now dead.

Verse 8

sins
Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

Verse 10

grace
Grace (imparted). 1 Peter 5:5,10; Romans 6:1; 2 Peter 3:18

Verse 18

righteous
Righteousness. (See Scofield "Romans 10:10")
saved (See Scofield "Romans 1:16")
sinner Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23").

CHAPTER 5

Verse 9

world
kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8").

Verse 10

all grace
Grace (imparted). 1 Peter 5:5,10; 2 Peter 1:2; Romans 6:1; 2 Peter 3:18
perfect See note, (See Scofield "Matthew 5:48").

Verse 12

true grace
Grace (in salvation). vs. John 1:16,17; Romans 3:24 (See Scofield "John 1:17")