1 Peter (2)
One of Peter’s aims in his letter, then, was to encourage his readers by giving them grounds for solid hope in the ultimate future so that they might face the immediate future with equanimity, courage and even joy.
Thanks be to God
because he has brought us by new birth
to a confident hope of salvation
which is for you who believe
and are kept safely by God until it comes.
You rejoice in it,
despite your present suffering
(which tests the reality of your faith
and will redound to the glory of Jesus Christ).
And you love him,
despite not seeing him,
because even now you are receiving salvation—
a salvation that was proclaimed by the prophets
(who did not themselves see it)
but is now experienced by you.
Praise to God for the Hope of Salvation (1:3–5)
1. God acts in mercy (see 2:10). Having made promises to his people in Old Testament times, God now acts in accordance with them to show his love and compassion. Peter refers to God’s mercy as great, reflecting Old Testament language (Ex 34:6; Num 14:18; Ps 86:5, 15).
2. God brings believers to a new birth. The beginning of the Christian life is expressed in various ways in the New Testament, and one of them is the thought of new life. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus of the need for a new birth or a birth from above. This same concept is present here. Becoming a Christian is like being born into the world, only this time a new spiritual life commences in the person who has already experienced physical birth. The concept emphasizes that the source of life is outside ourselves and lies wholly with God whose Word engenders life (1:23). The metaphor is not pushed beyond the thought of the engendering of life, the action of the Father alone being envisaged with no thought being given to any metaphorical equivalent of a mother.
3. Believers have a living hope. To be born is to enter into existence in a new world. Physical birth brings us into a world that will eventually perish. Spiritual birth is into a world where there is hope for the future. Hope is a key word in the letter and sets the tone for Peter’s intense concern with the future of Christians living in a hostile world (see 1:13, 21; 3:5, 15). When Peter calls it a living hope, it is not clear whether he means “a hope of life” or “a genuine (as opposed to an empty) hope.” Either interpretation makes good sense, for clearly he has the real hope of a new life in mind.
1. God acts in mercy (see 2:10). Having made promises to his people in Old Testament times, God now acts in accordance with them to show his love and compassion. Peter refers to God’s mercy as great, reflecting Old Testament language (Ex 34:6; Num 14:18; Ps 86:5, 15).
2. God brings believers to a new birth. The beginning of the Christian life is expressed in various ways in the New Testament, and one of them is the thought of new life. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus of the need for a new birth or a birth from above. This same concept is present here. Becoming a Christian is like being born into the world, only this time a new spiritual life commences in the person who has already experienced physical birth. The concept emphasizes that the source of life is outside ourselves and lies wholly with God whose Word engenders life (1:23). The metaphor is not pushed beyond the thought of the engendering of life, the action of the Father alone being envisaged with no thought being given to any metaphorical equivalent of a mother.
3. Believers have a living hope. To be born is to enter into existence in a new world. Physical birth brings us into a world that will eventually perish. Spiritual birth is into a world where there is hope for the future. Hope is a key word in the letter and sets the tone for Peter’s intense concern with the future of Christians living in a hostile world (see 1:13, 21; 3:5, 15). When Peter calls it a living hope, it is not clear whether he means “a hope of life” or “a genuine (as opposed to an empty) hope.” Either interpretation makes good sense, for clearly he has the real hope of a new life in mind.
The strength of the hope rests on the reliability of the fact and the promise.
The promise is also accepted by faith. The New Testament writers express its centrality by speaking of God on occasion as the God who raised Jesus from the dead. Thus hope is a part of faith and a consequence of it.
But there is more to be said. The New Testament clearly teaches that eternal life is a present experience of Christians.
1 Corinthians 15:3–5 we
3 너희가 음란과 정욕과 술취함과 방탕과 향락과 무법한 우상 숭배를 하여 이방인의 뜻을 따라 행한 것은 지나간 때로 족하도다
4 이러므로 너희가 그들과 함께 그런 극한 방탕에 달음질하지 아니하는 것을 그들이 이상히 여겨 비방하나
12 너희가 이방인 중에서 행실을 선하게 가져 너희를 악행한다고 비방하는 자들로 하여금 너희 선한 일을 보고 1)오시는 날에 하나님께 영광을 돌리게 하려 함이라
그의 많으신 긍휼대로 예수 그리스도를 죽은 자 가운데서 부활하게 하심으로 말미암아 우리를 거듭나게 하사 산 소망이 있게 하시며
24 의로 여기심을 받을 우리도 위함이니 곧 예수 우리 주를 죽은 자 가운데서 살리신 이를 믿는 자니라
10 모든 은혜의 하나님 곧 그리스도 안에서 너희를 부르사 자기의 영원한 영광에 들어가게 하신 이가 잠깐 고난을 당한 너희를 친히 온전하게 하시며 굳건하게 하시며 강하게 하시며 1)터를 견고하게 하시리라
22 Since you have ain obedience to the truth bpurified your souls for a 1csincere love of the brethren