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1 Peter 1:10–12
“It was revealed to [the prophets] that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look” (v. 12).
Gentile Christians who were the original audience of 1 Peter had some disadvantages compared to first-century Jews. Since Jesus’ earthly ministry was localized to the promised land and He focused on outreach to the Jewish people while He walked the earth, these gentiles could not have seen our Lord in the flesh. Furthermore, being gentiles, most of them would not have known the writings of the Old Testament prophets, who predicted Christ’s advent, as Peter reminds us in today’s passage (1 Peter 1:10–12).
Such disadvantages, however, did not mean that they had fewer privileges in the kingdom of God. The same is true of us who share the same disadvantages. That is because our standing in the kingdom of God is based not on seeing Jesus in the flesh or on having a complete knowledge of Bible prophecy, as helpful as such things may be. Instead, we are citizens of God’s kingdom through faith, and thus we will obtain the salvation promised through Christ (vv. 3–9).
Even though gentile Christians are at some disadvantage compared to the first-century Jews who saw Jesus and had read the prophets, gentile believers have an advantage. As 1 Peter 1:10–12 notes, we live in the era of prophetic fulfillment and have a much better understanding of Christ and His work than even the old covenant prophets did. These prophets diligently inquired into when Jesus would come and who He would be. This indicates that although much had been revealed to the prophets, they did not have a full knowledge of when their prophecies would be fulfilled or what all of them would mean. They knew that the Savior would suffer and enter glory (see also Acts 3:11–26), but many of the precise details of these things were obscure to them. We live in the day of fulfillment, when the same Holy Spirit who spoke through the prophets long ago has spoken through the Apostles to give us the inspired and inerrant interpretation of the Old Testament. Thus, John Calvin comments, “more has been given to us than to the ancient fathers.”
Yet we should not let the advantage of living in this day of fulfillment make us think that we need not dig deep into the Scriptures to know our great salvation. Matthew Henry aptly notes, “Those who would be acquainted with this great salvation, and the grace that shines therein, must inquire and search diligently into it: if it was necessary for an inspired prophet to do so, much more for persons so weak and injudicious as we are.”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
The old covenant prophets served not themselves but us who live after the coming of Christ and have seen their prophecies fulfilled (1 Peter 1:12). We should therefore be all the more diligent to plumb the depths of the Word of God to understand the person and work of Jesus.
For further study
- Isaiah 52:13–53:12
- Matthew 2:1–12
- Luke 24:13–27
- Acts 28:23
The bible in a year
- Ruth 1–2
- Luke 12:4–34