Phrase & General Outline

editing

NT

1 Peter 1:10-12

mine

esv

Concerning this salvation,

Reference

the prophets ... searched and inquired

1. What the prophets did

who prophesied

a. they searched and inquired

about the grace

b. they searched carefully

Distinction

that was to be yours

carefully,

Means

inquiring what person

2. What the prophets searched

Manner

or time

a. about a Person (the Messiah)

Temporal

the Spirit ... was indicating

b. about the time of the Messiah

Agency

of Christ

Possessive

in them

Locative

when he predicted the sufferings

of Christ

Attributed

and the subsequent glories.

Explanation

It was revealed

3. What the prophets learned

to them

a. They learned about their ministry

Purpose

that they were serving ... you,

1. their ministry was not self-serving

[ex. Purpose of 4b]

not themselves

2. their ministry was to God's people

Negative

but

Positive

in the things

b. They learned about the gospel

Content

that have now been announced

1. the gospel was revealed beforehand

Result

to you

2. the gospel was preached to you by the Holy Spirit

Advantage

through those

3. the gospel that angels desire to understand

who preached the good news

to you

by the Holy Spirit

sent from heaven,

things

into which angels long

Context

to look.

Destination (fig.)

phrasing

notes

A Brief Exposition

vv. 10-11 Peter continues his epistle talking about the salvation of his readers' souls from verse 9. He goes into more detail about what this salvation consisted of: (1) The prophets' role — The Word of God was revealed to them about His coming salvation. A deliverer would come and the Peter tells his audience that the prophets not only inquired about this Messiah they did it in a careful manner. This is to ensure the audience that their salvation was not an afterthought. Even the prophets beforehand understood that someone greater than them was coming. (2) The Spirit's role — To solidify this message of hope in Christ, Peter points the Sprit's role in the coming Messiah. Christ's Spirit, as part of the Godhead, was pointing the prophets to Himself. He pointed to the work of the Messiah as well as the means by which He would accomplish the exiles' salvation (sufferings and subsequent glories, 11f-g). v. 12 Peter then explains about the prophets' ministry. It was all in service to future believers. But more importantly is the Temporal aspect of the phrase: these things are here right now! It is not something that they must wait for off in a distant future. The gospel has been brought to them by (1) those who preached to them, (2) and the Holy Spirit who was sent from the Father in order to preach through those that delivered the message of salvation. This section is concluded by the statement about the angels' desire to understand these things. At first, it seems as if it doesn't really make sense. But I believe it is further proof of how great a salvation we have obtained through faith in Christ. If Heavenly beings desire and long for the same knowledge we have in forgiveness how much more valuable does that forgiveness become? I believe this is Peter's point in saying this. He wants his audience to understand the sheer worth of their faith, and vv.3-9 seem to support this as Peter launches into a full explanation of the worth of their salvation. What a tremendous God and Savior we serve!

Wisdom, Works, and Worship

Our salvation is great because it was purchased at a great price—with the Son of God's own blood (cf, vv 18-19). The prophets of old testified to His work, the apostles were sent to testify of His work, and those who believed preached to us His incredible work of salvation. Because of this, we can have complete confidence that our future hope is secure in His grasp and then carry this same message of hope to those who not yet heard.

Tie-in Passages

Matthew 13:17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. 2Peter 1:19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts ... Ephesians 3:10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.