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Friday, October 11th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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Mace New Testament

1 Peter 1:11

when the spirit of Christ inform'd the minds of the prophets of his future sufferings, and of the glorious consequences, they were solicitous to know the circumstances of the times pointed at:

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Atonement;   Holy Spirit;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Mysteries;   Prophets;   Word of God;   Scofield Reference Index - Holy Spirit;   Inspiration;   Thompson Chain Reference - Holy Spirit;   Inspiration;   Names;   Prophecy;   Prophets;   Sufferings of Christ;   Titles and Names;   Vicarious Suffering;   The Topic Concordance - Holy Spirit;   Jesus Christ;   Resurrection;   Suffering;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Atonement, the;   Excellency and Glory of Christ, the;   Holy Spirit, the Personality of;   Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the;   Prophecy;   Titles and Names of the Holy Spirit;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Prophecy;   Prophets;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Glory;   Holy spirit;   Interpretation;   Prophecy, prophet;   Quotations;   Revelation;   Trinity;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Evangelize, Evangelism;   Holy Spirit;   Mystery;   Time;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Holiness of God;   Inspiration;   Jesus Christ;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Bible;   Caiaphas, Joseph;   Inspiration;   Job;   Peter;   Peter, the Epistles of;   Prophet;   Psalms;   Spirits in Prison;   Zechariah, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - 1 Peter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - God;   Joy;   Person of Christ;   Peter, First Epistle of;   Peter, Second Epistle of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Atonement (2);   Creator (Christ as);   Crucifixion;   Eschatology (2);   Example;   Glory;   Grace ;   Holy Spirit;   Mediation Mediator;   Mediator;   Peter Epistles of;   Pre-Eminence ;   Suffering;   Type;   Unconscious Faith;   Witness;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Psalms, Book of;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Holy Ghost;   Inspiration;   Prophets;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Christ, Offices of;   Of;   Person of Christ;   Peter, Simon;   Peter, the First Epistle of;   Peter, the Second Epistle of;   Prison, Spirits in;   Providence;   Search;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for April 23;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Jesus's Spirit was with them and whispered of his sufferings and how you would benefit from them. Those old cowboys desperately wanted to know what this new ride of hope would look like. And now you get to ride it.
Bible in Basic English
Attempting to see what sort of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them was pointing to, when it gave witness to the pains which Christ would undergo and the glories which would come after them.
Darby Translation
searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which [was] in them pointed out, testifying before of the sufferings which [belonged] to Christ, and the glories after these.
World English Bible
searching for what or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, pointed to, when he testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Searching what, and what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them signified, when he testified before hand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow.
Weymouth's New Testament
They were eager to know the time which the Spirit of Christ within them kept indicating, or the characteristics of that time, when they solemnly made known beforehand the sufferings that were to come upon Christ and the glories which would follow.
King James Version (1611)
Searching what, or what maner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie, when it testified beforehand the suffrings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Literal Translation
searching for what, or what sort of time the Spirit of Christ made clear within them; testifying beforehand of the sufferings belonging to Christ, and the glories after these.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
searchinge whan or at what tyme the sprete off Christ that was in them, shulde signifye, which (sprete) testified before the passions that shulde come vnto Christ, and the glory that shulde folowe after.
Amplified Bible
seeking to find out what person or what time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories [destined] to follow.
American Standard Version
searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.
Revised Standard Version
they inquired what person or time was indicated by the Spirit of Christ within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
searchinge whe or at what tyme the sprete of Christ which was in them shuld signifie which sprete testified before the passions that shuld come vnto Christ and the glory that shuld folowe after:
Update Bible Version
searching what [time] or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point to, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.
Webster's Bible Translation
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Young's Literal Translation
searching in regard to what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ that was in them was manifesting, testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory after these,
New Century Version
The Spirit of Christ was in the prophets, telling in advance about the sufferings of Christ and about the glory that would follow those sufferings. The prophets tried to learn about what the Spirit was showing them, when those things would happen, and what the world would be like at that time.
New English Translation
They probed into what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and his subsequent glory.
Berean Standard Bible
trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
Contemporary English Version
The Spirit of Christ was in them and was telling them how Christ would suffer and would then be given great honor. So they searched to find out exactly who Christ would be and when this would happen.
Complete Jewish Bible
They were trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of the Messiah in them was referring in predicting the Messiah's sufferings and the glorious things to follow.
English Standard Version
inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Searching when or what time the Spirite which testified before of Christ which was in them, shoulde declare the sufferings that should come vnto Christ, and the glorie that shoulde followe.
George Lamsa Translation
They searched to find out at what time it would be revealed, and the Spirit of Christ which dwelt in them testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Christian Standard Bible®
They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when He testified in advance to the messianic sufferings and the glories that would follow.
Hebrew Names Version
searching for what or what kind of time the Spirit of Messiah, which was in them, pointed to, when he testified beforehand the sufferings of Messiah, and the glories that should follow them.
International Standard Version
They tried to find out what era or specific time the Spirit of Christ in them kept referring to when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 53:3; Daniel 9:26; Luke 24:25-26,44, 46; John 12:41; Acts 26:22-23; 1 Peter 3:19; 2 Peter 1:21;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
and searched into, what time the Spirit of the Meshiha who dwelt in them showed and testified of the future sufferings of the Meshiha, and his glory which (should be) after them.
Murdock Translation
And they searched for the time which the Spirit of the Messiah dwelling in them did show and testify, when the sufferings of the Messiah were to occur, and his subsequent glory.
New King James Version
searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.
New Living Translation
They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward.
New Life Bible
The early preachers wondered at what time or to what person this would happen. The Spirit of Christ in them was talking to them and told them to write about how Christ would suffer and about His shining-greatness later on.
English Revised Version
searching what [time] or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.
New Revised Standard
inquiring about the person or time that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the subsequent glory.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Searching into what particular, or what manner, of season the Spirit of Christ which was in them was pointing to, when witnessing beforehand as to - The sufferings, for Christ, and the glories, after these, -
Douay-Rheims Bible
Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did signify, when it foretold those sufferings that are in Christ and the glories that should follow.
King James Version
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Lexham English Bible
investigating for what person or which time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he testified beforehand to the sufferings with reference to Christ and the glories after these things,
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Searchyng when or at what tyme the spirite of Christ which was in them, shoulde signifie, which spirite testified before, the passions that should happen vnto Christe, and the glorie that shoulde folowe after.
Easy-to-Read Version
The Spirit of Christ was in those prophets. And the Spirit was telling about the sufferings that would happen to Christ and about the glory that would come after those sufferings. The prophets tried to learn about what the Spirit was showing them—when it would happen and what the world would be like at that time.
New American Standard Bible
seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
Good News Translation
They tried to find out when the time would be and how it would come. This was the time to which Christ's Spirit in them was pointing, in predicting the sufferings that Christ would have to endure and the glory that would follow.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and souyten which euer what maner tyme the spirit of Crist signyfiede in hem, and bifor telde tho passiouns, that ben in Crist, and the latere glories.

Contextual Overview

10 'Twas this salvation, that employ'd the most profound enquiries of those, who predicted the dispensation that was to be in your behalf: 11 when the spirit of Christ inform'd the minds of the prophets of his future sufferings, and of the glorious consequences, they were solicitous to know the circumstances of the times pointed at: 12 and were answer'd, that it was not they, but we, who were concern'd in the events which they predicted, events which have been now represented to you by those, whom the holy spirit from heaven inspired to preach the gospel to you: a secret which the angels desire to penetrate into.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the Spirit: 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Peter 3:19, Romans 8:9, Galatians 4:6, 2 Peter 1:21, Revelation 19:10

the sufferings: Psalms 22:1-21, Psalms 69:1-21, Psalms 88:1-18, Isaiah 52:13, Isaiah 52:14, Isaiah 53:1-10, Daniel 9:24-26, Zechariah 13:7, Luke 24:25-27, Luke 24:44

the glory: Genesis 3:15, Genesis 49:10, Psalms 22:22-31, Psalms 69:30-36, Psalms 110:1-6, Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 9:7, Isaiah 49:6, Isaiah 53:11, Isaiah 53:12, Daniel 2:34, Daniel 2:35, Daniel 2:44, Daniel 7:13, Daniel 7:14, Zechariah 8:18-21, Zechariah 14:9, John 12:41, Acts 26:22, Acts 26:23

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 9:30 - by thy spirit Psalms 40:7 - in the Psalms 110:7 - therefore Isaiah 55:5 - he Daniel 8:15 - sought Daniel 12:8 - but Zechariah 7:12 - sent Matthew 13:35 - I will utter Matthew 26:24 - Son of man goeth Mark 10:37 - in Mark 12:36 - by Luke 9:22 - General Luke 9:31 - spake Luke 10:24 - many Luke 22:22 - truly Luke 23:42 - thy Luke 24:26 - General John 1:16 - of his John 4:38 - other John 5:39 - they which John 15:15 - all Acts 1:16 - which the Acts 2:31 - seeing Acts 3:18 - those Acts 7:52 - which showed Acts 8:35 - preached Acts 10:17 - while Acts 10:43 - him Acts 24:14 - believing Acts 26:6 - the promise Romans 1:4 - according Romans 8:24 - but hope 1 Corinthians 2:7 - even 1 Corinthians 15:3 - according 1 Corinthians 15:4 - according Galatians 3:17 - the covenant Galatians 3:23 - the faith Philippians 1:19 - the Spirit Philippians 4:5 - your Colossians 3:16 - the word 1 Timothy 1:11 - glorious Hebrews 2:6 - in Hebrews 9:9 - the time Hebrews 10:15 - General Hebrews 11:26 - the reproach Hebrews 12:2 - for 1 Peter 1:10 - and 1 Peter 1:21 - gave Revelation 3:1 - he that Revelation 22:6 - the holy

Cross-References

Matthew 3:10
the ax is already laid to the root of the trees: every tree then which does not produce good fruit, will be hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Matthew 6:30
now if God thus adorns the flower of the field, which thriving to day, is to morrow thrown into the oven, how much more shall he provide for you, if you have any degree of faith?
Mark 4:28
for the earth spontaneously produces, first the blade, then the ear, after that the grain of corn in the ear.
Hebrews 6:7
for the earth which drinks up the frequent show'rs that fall upon it, and produces plants fit for the use of him that cultivates it, is stiled heavenly land:
James 3:12
can a fig-tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine figs? no more can the sea yield water that is fresh.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Searching what, or what manner of time,.... The prophets made a very diligent inquiry into the exact time when Christ should come to work out the salvation of his people; to whom it was made known that his coming should be before the sceptre, or tribe of Judah, and all civil government in it, ceased; and before the second temple was destroyed, into which the Messiah, the messenger of the covenant, was to come, as the Lord and proprietor of it; and that it should be seventy weeks, or 490 years, from a date given in Daniel 9:24 as it was revealed to the Prophet Daniel; who particularly inquired, and diligently searched into this matter, and was eminently a man of desires this way, as he is styled, Daniel 9:23 and they not only searched into the exact time, but into the manner and quality of the time when the Saviour should come; and foretold that it would be, with respect to the nations of the world, a time of profound peace; with respect to the Jews, that it would be a time of great blindness, ignorance, unbelief, and hardness of heart; that such would be that generation, or age, for wickedness and barbarity, as could not be declared and expressed; and that few would believe the report of the Gospel; and that the Messiah would be rejected of men, and be wounded, bruised, and put to death; and with respect to the Gentiles, that the Gospel would be preached to them, and that they should seek to Christ, be gathered to him, and hope and trust in him; and that the followers of the Messiah should be persecuted, and greatly distressed, and yet comforted and sustained; and this should be the face of the times, and the state of things, when the salvation should be revealed: and all this, and much more,

the Spirit of Christ in them did signify; or "make manifest": from whence it appears, that Christ then existed, as he did before there were any prophets, and even from everlasting, being the eternal God; and that the Spirit is from him, as well as from the Father; and as here, so he is often by the Jews a called רוחא משיחא, "the Spirit of the Messiah", or "Christ"; and that the Spirit is truly God, since he could declare beforehand the exact time of Christ's coming, and the finality of the age in which he came, as well as bear a previous testimony to his sufferings and glory; as also, that he was in the prophets, and they were inspired by him, and spake as he moved and directed them:

when, it testified before hand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. The "sufferings of Christ" are what the Jews call b חבלי משיח, "the sorrows of the Messiah". These are particularly testified of in Psalms 22:1. The glory, or "glories", as it may be rendered, design his resurrection from the dead, his ascension to heaven, his session at the right hand of God, and having all power, authority, and judgment committed to him; and which are eminently and distinctly prophesied of in Psalms 16:10.

a Zohar in Gen. fol. 19. 3. & passim. b T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 118. 1. & passim.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Searching what - That is, examining their own predictions with care, to ascertain what they meant. They studied them as we do the predictions which others have made; and though the prophets were the medium through which the truth was made known, yet their own predictions became a subject of careful investigation to themselves. The expression used here in the original, rendered “what,” (εἰς τίνα eis tina,) literally, “unto what,” may mean, so far as the Greek is concerned, either “what time,” or “what people,” or “what person;” that is, with reference to what person the prophecies were really uttered. The latter, it seems to me, is the correct interpretation, meaning that they inquired in regard to him, who he would be, what would be his character, and what would be the nature of the work which he would perform. There can be no doubt that they understood that their predictions related to the Messiah; but still it is not improper to suppose that it was with them an interesting inquiry what sort of a person he would be, and what would be the nature of the work which he would perform.

This interpretation of the phrase εἰς τίνα eis tina, (unto what or whom) it should be observed, however, is not that which is commonly given of the passage. Bloomfield, Rosenmuller, Doddridge, Whitby, Benson, and Grotius suppose it to refer to time, meaning that they inquired at what time, or when these things would occur. Macknight thinks it refers “to people,” (λαον laon,) meaning that they diligently inquired what people would put him to death. But the most obvious interpretation is that which I have suggested above, meaning that they made particular inquiry to whom their prophecies related - what was his rank and character, and what was to be the nature of his work. What would be a more natural inquiry for them than this? What would be more important? And how interesting is the thought that when Isaiah, for example, had given utterance to the sublime predictions which we now have of the Messiah, in his prophecies, he sat himself down with the spirit of a little child, to learn by prayer and study, what was fully implied in the amazing words which the Spirit had taught him to record! How much of mystery might seem still to hang around the subject And how intent would such a mind be to know what was the full import of those words!

Or what manner of time - This phrase, in Greek, (ποῖον καιρὸν poion kairon,) would properly relate, not to the exact time when these things would occur, but to the character or condition of the age when they would take place; perhaps referring to the state of the world at that period, the preparation to receive the gospel, and the probable manner in which the great message would be received. Perhaps, however, the inquiry in their minds pertained to the time when the predictions would be fulfilled, as well as to the condition of the world when the event takes place. The meaning of the Greek phrase would not exclude this latter sense. There are not unfrequent indications of time in the prophets, (compare Daniel 9:24 ff) and these indications were of so clear a character, that when the Saviour actually appeared there was a general expectation that the event would then occur. See the notes at Matthew 2:9.

The Spirit of Christ which was in them - This does not prove that they knew that this was the Spirit of Christ, but is only a declaration of Peter that it was actually so. It is not probable that the prophets distinctly understood that the Spirit of inspiration, by which they were led to foretell future events, was especially the Spirit of Christ. They understood that they were inspired; but there is no intimation, with which I am acquainted, in their writings, that they regarded themselves as inspired by the Messiah. It was not improper, however, for Peter to say that the Spirit by which they were influenced was in fact the Spirit of Christ, so called because that Spirit which suggested these future events to them was given as the great Medium of all revealed truth to the world. Compare Hebrews 1:3; John 1:9; John 14:16, John 14:26; John 16:7; Isaiah 49:6. It is clear from this passage:

(1)That Christ must have had an existence before his incarnation; and,

(2)That he must have understood then what would occur to him when he should become incarnate; that is, it must have been arranged or determined beforehand,

Did signify - Meant to intimate or manifest to them, ἐδήλου edēlou or what was implied in the communications made to them.

When it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ - As Isaiah, Isaiah 53:1-12; Daniel, Daniel 9:25-27. They saw clearly that the Messiah was to suffer; and doubtless this was the common doctrine of the prophets, and the common expectation of the pious part of the Jewish nation. Yet it is not necessary to suppose that they had clear apprehensions of his sufferings, or were able to reconcile all that was said on that subject with what was said of his glory and his triumphs. There was much about those sufferings which they wished to learn, as there is much still which we desire to know. We have no reason to suppose that there were any views of the sufferings of the Messiah communicated to the prophets except what we now have in the Old Testament; and to see the force of what Peter says, we ought to imagine what would be our views of him if all that we have known of Christ as history were obliterated, and we had only the knowledge which we could derive from the Old Testament. As has been already intimated, it is probable that they studied their own predictions, just as we would study them if we had not the advantage of applying to them the facts which have actually occurred.

And the glory that should follow - That is, they saw that there would be glory which would be the result of his sufferings, but they did not clearly see what it would be. They had some knowledge that he would be raised from the dead, (Psalms 16:8-11; Compare Acts 2:25-28) they knew that he would “see of the travail of his soul, and would be satisfied,” Isaiah 53:11 they had some large views of the effects of the gospel on the nations of the earth, Isaiah 11:0; Isaiah 25:7-8; Isaiah 60:0; Isaiah 66:0. But there were many things respecting his glorification which it cannot be supposed they clearly understood; and it is reasonable to presume that they made the comparatively few and obscure intimations in their own writings in relation to this, the subject of profound and prayerful inquiry.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 11. The glory that should follow. — Not only the glory of his resurrection, ascension, exaltation, and the effusion of his Spirit; but that grand manifestation of God's infinite love to the world in causing the Gospel of his Son to be everywhere preached, and the glorious moral changes which should take place in the world under that preaching, and the final glorification of all them who had here received the report, and continued faithful unto death. And we may add to this the ineffable glorification of the human nature of Jesus Christ, which, throughout eternity, will be the glorious Head of his glorified body, the Church.


 
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