mh_parser/vol_split/60 - 1Peter/Chapter 5.xml

<div2 id="iPet.vi" n="vi" next="iiPet" prev="iPet.v" progress="87.14%" title="Chapter V">
<h2 id="iPet.vi-p0.1">F I R S T   P E T E R.</h2>
<h3 id="iPet.vi-p0.2">CHAP. V.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iPet.vi-p1">In which the apostle gives particular directions,
first to the elders, how to behave themselves towards their flock
(<scripRef id="iPet.vi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.1-1Pet.5.4" parsed="|1Pet|5|1|5|4" passage="1Pe 5:1-4">ver. 1-4</scripRef>); then to the
younger, to be obedient and humble, and to cast their care upon
God, <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.5-1Pet.5.7" parsed="|1Pet|5|5|5|7" passage="1Pe 5:5-7">ver. 5-7</scripRef>. He then
exhorts all to sobriety, watchfulness against temptations, and
stedfastness in the faith, praying earnestly for them; and so
concludes his epistle with a solemn doxology, mutual salutations,
and his apostolical benediction.</p>
<scripCom id="iPet.vi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5" parsed="|1Pet|5|0|0|0" passage="1Pe 5" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iPet.vi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.1-1Pet.5.4" parsed="|1Pet|5|1|5|4" passage="1Pe 5:1-4" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Pet.5.1-1Pet.5.4">
<h4 id="iPet.vi-p1.5">Advice to Elders. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iPet.vi-p1.6">a.
d.</span> 66.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iPet.vi-p2">1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who
am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and
also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:   2 Feed
the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight
<i>thereof,</i> not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy
lucre, but of a ready mind;   3 Neither as being lords over
<i>God's</i> heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.   4
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown
of glory that fadeth not away.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p3">Here we may observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p4">I. The persons to whom this exhortation is
given—to the presbyters, pastors, and spiritual guides of the
church, elders by office, rather than by age, ministers of those
churches to whom he wrote this epistle.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p5">II. The person who gives this
exhortation—the apostle Peter: <i>I exhort;</i> and, to give force
to this exhortation, he tells them he was their brother-presbyter
or fellow-elder, and so puts nothing upon them but what he was
ready to perform himself. He was also <i>a witness of the
sufferings of Christ,</i> being with him in the garden, attending
him to the palace of the high-priest, and very likely being a
spectator of his suffering upon the cross, at a distance among the
crowd, <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.3.15" parsed="|Acts|3|15|0|0" passage="Ac 3:15">Acts iii. 15</scripRef>. He adds
that he was also <i>a partaker of the glory</i> that was in some
degree revealed at the transfiguration (<scripRef id="iPet.vi-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.17.1-Matt.17.3" parsed="|Matt|17|1|17|3" passage="Mt 17:1-3">Matt. xvii. 1-3</scripRef>), and shall be completely
enjoyed at the second coming of Jesus Christ. Learn, 1. Those whose
office it is to teach others ought carefully to study their own
duty, as well as teach the people theirs. 2. How different the
spirit and behaviour of Peter were from that of his pretended
successors! He does not command and domineer, but exhort. He does
not claim sovereignty over all pastors and churches, nor style
himself <i>prince of the apostles, vicar of Christ,</i> or <i>head
of the church,</i> but values himself upon being an <i>elder.</i>
All the apostles were elders, though every elder was not an
apostle. 3. It was the peculiar honour of Peter, and a few more, to
be the witnesses of Christ's sufferings; but it is the privilege of
all true Christians to be partakers of the glory that shall be
revealed.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p6">III. The pastor's duty described, and the
manner in which that duty ought to be performed. The pastoral duty
is three-fold:—1. <i>To feed the flock,</i> by preaching to them
the sincere word of God, and ruling them according to such
directions and discipline as the word of God prescribes, both which
are implied in this expression, <i>Feed the flock.</i> 2. The
pastors of the church must <i>take the oversight thereof.</i> The
elders are exhorted to do the office of bishops (as the word
signifies), by personal care and vigilance over all the flock
committed to their charge. 3. They must be <i>examples to the
flock,</i> and practise the holiness, self-denial, mortification,
and all other Christian duties, which they preach and recommend to
their people. These duties must be performed, <i>not by
constraint,</i> not because you must do them, not from compulsion
of the civil power, or the constraint of fear or shame, but from a
willing mind that takes pleasure in the work: <i>not for filthy
lucre,</i> or any emoluments and profits attending the place where
you reside, or any perquisite belonging to the office, <i>but of a
ready mind,</i> regarding the flock more than the fleece, sincerely
and cheerfully endeavouring to serve the church of God; <i>neither
as being lords over God's heritage,</i> tyrannizing over them by
compulsion and coercive force, or imposing unscriptural and human
inventions upon them instead of necessary duty, <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.20.25-Matt.20.26 Bible:2Cor.1.24" parsed="|Matt|20|25|20|26;|2Cor|1|24|0|0" passage="Mt 20:25,26;2Co 1:24">Matt. xx. 25, 26; 2 Cor. i. 24</scripRef>.
Learn, (1.) The eminent dignity of the church of God, and all the
true members of it. These poor, dispersed, suffering Christians
were the flock of God. The rest of the world is a brutal herd.
These are an orderly flock, redeemed to God by the great Shepherd,
living in holy love and communion one with another, <i>according to
the will of God.</i> They are also dignified with the title of
God's <i>heritage</i> or <i>clergy,</i> his peculiar lot, chosen
out of the common multitude for his own people, to enjoy his
special favour and to do him special service. The word is never
restricted in the New Testament to the ministers of religion. (2.)
The pastors of the church ought to consider their people as <i>the
flock of God, as God's heritage,</i> and treat them accordingly.
They are not theirs, to be lorded over at pleasure; but they are
God's people, and should be treated with love, meekness, and
tenderness, for the sake of him to whom they belong. (3.) Those
ministers who are either driven to the work by necessity or drawn
to it by filthy lucre can never perform their duty as they ought,
because they do not do it willingly, and with a ready mind. (4.)
The best way a minister can take to engage the respect of a people
is to discharge his own duty among them in the best manner that he
can, and to be a constant example to them of all that is good.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p7">IV. In opposition to that filthy lucre
which many propose to themselves as their principal motive in
undertaking and discharging the pastoral office, the apostle sets
before them the crown of glory designed by the great shepherd,
Jesus Christ, for all his faithful ministers. Learn, 1. Jesus
Christ is <i>the chief shepherd</i> of the whole flock and heritage
of God. He bought them, and rules them; he defends and saves them
for ever. He is also the chief shepherd over all inferior
shepherds; they derive their authority from him, act in his name,
and are accountable to him at last. 2. This chief shepherd will
appear, to judge all ministers and under-shepherds, to call them to
account, whether they have faithfully discharged their duty both
publicly and privately according to the foregoing directions. 3.
Those that are found to have done their duty shall have what is
infinitely better than temporal gain; they shall receive from the
grand shepherd a high degree of everlasting glory, <i>a crown of
glory that fadeth not away.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="iPet.vi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.5-1Pet.5.7" parsed="|1Pet|5|5|5|7" passage="1Pe 5:5-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Pet.5.5-1Pet.5.7">
<h4 id="iPet.vi-p7.2">Humility Recommended. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iPet.vi-p7.3">a.
d.</span> 66.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iPet.vi-p8">5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto
the elder. Yea, all <i>of you</i> be subject one to another, and be
clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth
grace to the humble.   6 Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:   7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p9">Having settled and explained the duty of
the pastors or spiritual guides of the church, the apostle comes
now to instruct the flock,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p10">I. How to behave themselves to their
ministers and to one another. He calls them <i>the younger,</i> as
being generally younger than their grave pastors, and to put them
in mind of their inferiority, the term younger being used by our
Saviour to signify an inferior, <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Luke.22.26" parsed="|Luke|22|26|0|0" passage="Lu 22:26">Luke
xxii. 26</scripRef>. He exhorts those that are younger and inferior
to <i>submit themselves to the elder,</i> to give due respect and
reverence to their persons, and to yield to their admonitions,
reproof, and authority, enjoining and commanding what the word of
God requires, <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.13.17" parsed="|Heb|13|17|0|0" passage="Heb 13:17">Heb. xiii.
17</scripRef>. As to one another, the rule is that they should all
<i>be subject one to another,</i> so far as to receive the reproofs
and counsels one of another, and be ready to <i>bear one another's
burdens,</i> and perform all the offices of friendship and charity
one to another; and particular persons should submit to the
directions of the whole society, <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Eph.5.21 Bible:Jas.5.16" parsed="|Eph|5|21|0|0;|Jas|5|16|0|0" passage="Eph 5:21;Jam 5:16">Eph. v. 21; Jam. v. 16</scripRef>. These duties
of submission to superiors in age or office, and subjection to one
another, being contrary to the proud nature and selfish interests
of men, he advises them to <i>be clothed with humility.</i> "Let
your minds, behaviour, garb, and whole frame, be adorned with
humility, as the most beautiful habit you can wear; this will
render obedience and duty easy and pleasant; but, if you be
disobedient and proud, God will set himself to oppose and crush
you; for <i>he resisteth the proud,</i> when he <i>giveth grace to
the humble.</i>" Observe, 1. Humility is the great preserver of
peace and order in all Christian churches and societies,
consequently pride is the great disturber of them, and the cause of
most dissensions and breaches in the church. 2. There is a mutual
opposition between God and the proud, so the word signifies; they
war against him, and he scorns them; <i>he resisteth the proud,</i>
because they are like the devil, enemies to himself and to his
kingdom among men, <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Prov.3.34" parsed="|Prov|3|34|0|0" passage="Pr 3:34">Prov. iii.
34</scripRef>. 3. Where God giveth grace to be humble, he will give
more grace, more wisdom, faith, holiness, and humility. Hence the
apostle adds: <i>Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand
of God, that he may exalt you in due time,</i> <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.6" parsed="|1Pet|5|6|0|0" passage="1Pe 5:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. "Since God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace to the humble, therefore humble yourselves, not
only one to another, but to the great God, whose judgments are
coming upon the world, and must begin at the house of God
(<scripRef id="iPet.vi-p10.6" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.4.17" parsed="|1Pet|4|17|0|0" passage="1Pe 4:17"><i>ch.</i> iv. 17</scripRef>); his
hand is almighty, and can easily pull you down if you be proud, or
exalt you if you be humble; and it will certainly do it, either in
this life, if he sees it best for you, or at the day of general
retribution." Learn, (1.) The consideration of the omnipotent hand
of God should make us humble and submissive to him in all that he
brings upon us. (2.) Humbling ourselves to God under his hand is
the next way to deliverance and exaltation; patience under his
chastisements, and submission to his pleasure, repentance, prayer,
and hope in his mercy, will engage his help and release in due
time, <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p10.7" osisRef="Bible:Jas.4.7 Bible:Jas.4.10" parsed="|Jas|4|7|0|0;|Jas|4|10|0|0" passage="Jam 4:7,10">Jam. iv. 7, 10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p11">II. The apostle, knowing that these
Christians were already under very hard circumstances, rightly
supposes that what he had foretold of greater hardships yet a
coming might excite in them abundance of care and fear about the
event of these difficulties, what the issue of them would be to
themselves, their families, and the church of God; foreseeing this
anxious care would be a heavy burden, and a sore temptation, he
gives them the best advice, and supports it with a strong argument.
His advice is to <i>cast all their care,</i> or <i>all care of
themselves, upon God.</i> "Throw your cares, which are so cutting
and distracting, which wound your souls and pierce your hearts,
upon the wise and gracious providence of God; trust in him with a
firm composed mind, <i>for he careth for you.</i> He is willing to
release you of your care, and take the care of you upon himself. He
will either avert what you fear, or support you under it. He will
order all events to you so as shall convince you of his paternal
love and tenderness towards you; and all shall be so ordered that
no hurt, but good, shall come unto you," <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Matt.6.25 Bible:Ps.84.11 Bible:Rom.8.28" parsed="|Matt|6|25|0|0;|Ps|84|11|0|0;|Rom|8|28|0|0" passage="Mt 6:25;Ps 84:11;Ro 8:28">Matt. vi. 25; Ps. lxxxiv. 11; Rom. viii.
28</scripRef>. Learn, 1. The best of Christians are apt to labour
under the burden of anxious and excessive care; the apostle calls
it, <i>all your care,</i> intimating that the cares of Christians
are various and of more sorts than one: personal cares, family
cares, cares for the present, cares for the future, cares for
themselves, for others, and for the church. 2. The cares even of
good people are very burdensome, and too often very sinful; when
they arise from unbelief and diffidence, when they torture and
distract the mind, unfit us for the duties of our place and hinder
our delightful service of God, they are very criminal. 3. The best
remedy against immoderate care is to <i>cast our care upon God,</i>
and resign every event to the wise and gracious determination. A
firm belief of the rectitude of the divine will and counsels calms
the spirit of man. <i>We ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be
done,</i> <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Acts.21.14" parsed="|Acts|21|14|0|0" passage="Ac 21:14">Acts xxi. 14</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iPet.vi-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.8-1Pet.5.9" parsed="|1Pet|5|8|5|9" passage="1Pe 5:8-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Pet.5.8-1Pet.5.9">
<h4 id="iPet.vi-p11.4">Sobriety and Vigilance
Enjoined. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iPet.vi-p11.5">a.
d.</span> 66.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iPet.vi-p12">8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary
the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may
devour:   9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that
the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in
the world.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p13">Here the apostle does three things:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p14">I. He shows them their danger from an enemy
more cruel and restless than even the worst of men, whom he
describes,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p15">1. By his characters and names. (1.) He is
an adversary: "<i>That adversary of yours;</i> not a common
adversary, but an enemy that impleads you, and litigates against
you in your grand depending cause, and aims at your very souls."
(2.) <i>The devil, the grand accuser of all the brethren;</i> this
title is derived from a word which signifies to strike through, or
to stab. He would strike malignity into our natures and poison into
our souls. If he could have struck these people with passion and
murmuring in their sufferings, perhaps he might have drawn them to
apostasy and ruin. (3.) He is <i>a roaring lion,</i> hungry,
fierce, strong, and cruel, the fierce and greedy pursuer of
souls.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p16">2. By his business: <i>He walks about,
seeking whom he may devour;</i> his whole design is to devour and
destroy souls. To this end he is unwearied and restless in his
malicious endeavours; for he always, night and day, goes about
studying and contriving whom he may ensnare to their eternal
ruin.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p17">II. Hence he infers that it is their duty,
1. To <i>be sober,</i> and to govern both the outward and the
inward man by the rules of temperance, modesty, and mortification.
2. To <i>be vigilant;</i> not secure or careless, but rather
suspicious of constant danger from this spiritual enemy, and, under
that apprehension, to be watchful and diligent to prevent his
designs and save our souls. 3. To resist him <i>stedfast in the
faith.</i> It was the faith of these people that Satan aimed at; if
he could overturn their faith, and draw them into apostasy, then he
knew he should gain his point, and ruin their souls; therefore, to
destroy their faith, he raises bitter persecutions, and sets the
grand potentates of the world against them. This strong trial and
temptation they must resist, by being well-grounded, resolute, and
stedfast in the faith: to encourage them to this,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p18">III. He tells them that their care was not
singular, for they knew that the like afflictions befel their
brethren in all parts of the world, and that all the people of God
were their fellow-soldiers in this warfare. Learn, 1. All the great
persecutions that ever were in the world were raised, spirited up,
and conducted, by the devil; he is the grand persecutor, as well as
<i>the deceiver and accuser, of the brethren;</i> men are his
willing spiteful instruments, but he is the chief adversary that
wars against Christ and his people, <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.3.15 Bible:Rev.12.12" parsed="|Gen|3|15|0|0;|Rev|12|12|0|0" passage="Ge 3:15;Re 12:12">Gen. iii. 15; Rev. xii. 12</scripRef>. 2. The
design of Satan in raising persecutions against the faithful
servants of God is to bring them to apostasy, by reason of their
sufferings, and so to destroy their souls. 3. Sobriety and
watchfulness are necessary virtues at all times, but especially in
times of suffering and persecution. "You must moderate your
affection to worldly things, or else Satan will soon overcome you."
4. "If you would overcome Satan, as a tempter, an accuser, or a
persecutor, you must resist him stedfast in the faith; if your
faith give way, you are gone; therefore, <i>above all, take the
shield of faith,</i>" <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Eph.6.16" parsed="|Eph|6|16|0|0" passage="Eph 6:16">Eph. vi.
16</scripRef>. 5. The consideration of what others suffer is proper
to encourage us to bear our own share in any affliction: <i>The
same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="iPet.vi-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.10-1Pet.5.14" parsed="|1Pet|5|10|5|14" passage="1Pe 5:10-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Pet.5.10-1Pet.5.14">
<h4 id="iPet.vi-p18.4">The Apostle's Prayer. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iPet.vi-p18.5">a.
d.</span> 66.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iPet.vi-p19">10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered
a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle <i>you.</i>
  11 To him <i>be</i> glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Amen.   12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I
suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that
this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.   13 The
<i>church that is</i> at Babylon, elected together with <i>you,</i>
saluteth you; and <i>so doth</i> Marcus my son.   14 Greet ye
one another with a kiss of charity. Peace <i>be</i> with you all
that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p20">We come now to the conclusion of this
epistle, which,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p21">I. The apostle begins with a most weighty
prayer, which he addresses to God as <i>the God of all grace,</i>
the author and finisher of every heavenly gift and quality,
acknowledging, on their behalf, that God had already called them to
be partakers of that eternal glory, which, being his own, he had
promised and settled upon them, through the merit and intercession
of Jesus Christ. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p22">1. What he prays for on their account; not
that they might be excused from sufferings, but that their
sufferings might be moderate and short, and, <i>after they had
suffered awhile,</i> that God would restore them to a settled and
peaceable condition, and perfect his work in them—that he would
establish them against wavering, either in faith or duty, that he
would strengthen those who were weak, and settle them upon Christ
the foundation, so firmly that their union with him might be
indissoluble and everlasting. Learn, (1.) All grace is from God; it
is he who restrains, converts, comforts, and saves men by his
grace. (2.) All who are called into a state of grace are called to
partake of eternal glory and happiness. (3.) Those who are called
to be heirs of eternal life through Jesus Christ must,
nevertheless, suffer in this world, but their sufferings will be
but for a little while. (4.) The perfecting, establishing,
strengthening, and settling, of good people in grace, and their
perseverance therein, is so difficult a work, that only the God of
all grace can accomplish it; and therefore he is earnestly to be
sought unto by continual prayer, and dependence upon his
promises.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p23">2. His doxology, <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.11" parsed="|1Pet|5|11|0|0" passage="1Pe 5:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. From this doxology we may learn
that those who have obtained grace from the God of all grace should
and will ascribe glory, dominion, and power, to him for ever and
ever.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p24">II. He recapitulates the design of his
writing this epistle to them (<scripRef id="iPet.vi-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.12" parsed="|1Pet|5|12|0|0" passage="1Pe 5:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), which was, 1. To testify, and
in the strongest terms to assure them, that the doctrine of
salvation, which he had explained and they had embraced, was the
true account of the grace of God, foretold by the prophets and
published by Jesus Christ. 2. To exhort them earnestly that, as
they had embraced the gospel, they would continue stedfast in it,
notwithstanding the arts of seducers, or the persecutions of
enemies. (1.) The main thing that ministers ought to aim at in
their labours is to convince their people of the certainty and
excellency of the Christian religion; this the apostles did
<i>exhort and testify</i> with all their might. (2.) A firm
persuasion that we are in the true way to heaven will be the best
motive to stand fast, and persevere therein.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p25">III. He recommends <i>Silvanus,</i> the
person by whom he sent them this brief epistle, as a brother whom
he esteemed faithful and friendly to them, and hoped they would
account him so, though he was a ministers of the uncircumcision.
Observe, An honourable esteem of the ministers of religion tends
much to the success of their labours. When we are convinced they
are faithful, we shall profit more by their ministerial services.
The prejudices that some of these Jews might have against Silvanus,
as a minister of the Gentiles, would soon wear off when they were
once convinced that he was a faithful brother.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iPet.vi-p26">IV. He closes with salutations and a solemn
benediction. Observe, 1. Peter, being at Babylon in Assyria, when
he wrote this epistle (whither he travelled, as the apostle of the
circumcision, to visit that church, which was the chief of the
dispersion), sends the salutation of that church to the other
churches to whom he wrote (<scripRef id="iPet.vi-p26.1" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.13" parsed="|1Pet|5|13|0|0" passage="1Pe 5:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>), telling them that God had <i>elected</i> or chosen
the Christians at Babylon out of the world, to be his church, and
to partake of eternal salvation through Christ Jesus, together with
them and all other faithful Christians, <scripRef id="iPet.vi-p26.2" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.1.2" parsed="|1Pet|1|2|0|0" passage="1Pe 1:2"><i>ch.</i> i. 2</scripRef>. In this salutation he
particularly joins Mark the evangelist, who was then with him, and
who was his son in a spiritual sense, being begotten by him to
Christianity. Observe, All the churches of Jesus Christ ought to
have a most affectionate concern one for another; they should love
and pray for one another, and be as helpful one to another as they
possibly can. 2. He exhorts them to fervent love and charity one
towards another, and to express this by giving <i>the kiss of
peace</i> (<scripRef id="iPet.vi-p26.3" osisRef="Bible:1Pet.5.14" parsed="|1Pet|5|14|0|0" passage="1Pe 5:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>),
according to the common custom of those times and countries, and so
concludes with a benediction, which he confines to those <i>that
are in Christ Jesus,</i> united to him by faith and sound members
of his mystical body. The blessing he pronounces upon them is
<i>peace,</i> by which he means all necessary good, all manner of
prosperity; to this he adds his <i>amen,</i> in token of his
earnest desire and undoubted expectation that the blessing of peace
would be the portion of all the faithful.</p>
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