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Saturday, October 12th, 2024
the Week of Proper 22 / Ordinary 27
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1 Peter 1:8

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Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Atonement;   Faith;   Glory;   Joy;   Love;   Stumbling;   Scofield Reference Index - Law of Christ;   Thompson Chain Reference - Joy;   Joy-Sorrow;   Love;   Love-Hatred;   Spiritual;   The Topic Concordance - Belief;   Faith/faithfulness;   Seeing;   Trial;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Conduct, Christian;   Faith;   Glory;   Joy;   Love to Christ;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Assurance;   Ethics;   Fear;   Joy;   Love;   Perseverance;   Peter, letters of;   Sorrow;   Worship;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Suffering;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Adoption;   Faith;   Holiness of God;   Joy;   Regeneration;   Union to Christ;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Faith;   Herd;   Peter, the Epistles of;   Thomas;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Joy;   Praise;   1 Peter;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Faith;   Joy;   Love, Lover, Lovely, Beloved;   Perfection;   Peter, First Epistle of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Assurance;   Cheerfulness ;   Faith;   Gospel (2);   Joy;   Love;   Perseverance;   Peter Epistles of;   Presence;   Redemption;   Religion (2);   Sanctify, Sanctification;   Witness (2);   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Gallery;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom or Church of Christ, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Joy;   Justification;   Love;   Perseverance;   Peter, Simon;   Peter, the First Epistle of;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for October 29;   Every Day Light - Devotion for May 30;  

Contextual Overview

6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 6I know you're excited about the great things to come, even though you know the brush and hell you'll have to ride through to get there. But in the end, it'll all be worth it. 6 You have cause for great joy in this, though it may have been necessary for you to be troubled for a little time, being tested in all sorts of ways, 6 Wherein ye exult, for a little while at present, if needed, put to grief by various trials, 6 Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been put to grief in various trials, 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, tho' now for a little while (if need be) ye are in heaviness thro' manifold temptations. 6 Rejoice triumphantly in the prospect of this, even if now, for a short time, you are compelled to sorrow amid various trials. 6 Wherin ye greatly reioyce, though now for a season (if neede bee) yee are in heauinesse through manifolde temptations:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

having: John 20:29, 2 Corinthians 4:18, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 11:1, Hebrews 11:27, 1 John 4:20

ye love: 1 Peter 2:7, Song of Solomon 1:7, Song of Solomon 5:9, Song of Solomon 5:16, Matthew 10:37, Matthew 25:35-40, John 8:42, John 14:15, John 14:21, John 14:24, John 21:15-17, 1 Corinthians 16:22, 2 Corinthians 5:14, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Galatians 5:6, Ephesians 6:24, 1 John 4:19

believing: 1 Peter 1:6, Habakkuk 3:17, Habakkuk 3:18, Acts 16:34, Romans 14:17, Romans 15:13, Philippians 1:25, Philippians 3:3, Philippians 4:4

unspeakable: John 16:22, 2 Corinthians 9:15, 2 Corinthians 12:4

full: 1 Peter 5:4, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Galatians 5:22, Ephesians 1:13, Ephesians 1:14

Reciprocal: Leviticus 23:40 - rejoice Judges 5:31 - them that 1 Samuel 2:1 - My heart Psalms 4:7 - put Psalms 37:4 - Delight Psalms 68:3 - exceedingly rejoice Psalms 94:19 - General Psalms 97:10 - Ye that Psalms 108:7 - I will rejoice Psalms 119:111 - for they Psalms 149:5 - the saints Proverbs 14:10 - and Proverbs 29:6 - but Song of Solomon 1:4 - we will be Song of Solomon 3:1 - him whom Isaiah 9:3 - they joy Isaiah 25:9 - we will Isaiah 30:33 - ordained Isaiah 51:3 - joy Isaiah 58:14 - delight Isaiah 61:10 - will greatly Zechariah 10:7 - their heart Matthew 25:21 - enter Luke 1:46 - General Luke 24:52 - with John 6:36 - That John 6:40 - seeth John 12:43 - the praise of God John 14:28 - If John 15:11 - your John 16:27 - because Romans 2:7 - glory Romans 5:11 - but we Romans 8:28 - we know 1 Corinthians 8:3 - love 2 Corinthians 4:17 - far Galatians 1:14 - traditions Galatians 2:16 - we have Galatians 2:20 - I now Colossians 2:1 - not 1 Thessalonians 1:6 - with joy 2 Thessalonians 1:12 - and ye Hebrews 3:6 - rejoicing James 1:12 - them 1 Peter 4:13 - ye may 2 Peter 2:1 - bought

Cross-References

Genesis 1:5
God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning-the first day.
Genesis 1:5
God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.
Genesis 1:5
And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
Genesis 1:5
God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
Genesis 1:5
And God called the light day, and the darknes night: and the euenyng & the mornyng were the first day.
Genesis 1:5
God named the light "day," and he named the darkness "night." There was evening, and then there was morning. This was the first day.
Genesis 1:5
God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.
Genesis 1:5
dai, and the derknessis, nyyt. And the euentid and morwetid was maad, o daie.
Genesis 1:5
And God called the light, Day, and the darknesse he called Night: and the euening and the morning were the first day.
Genesis 1:5
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Whom having not seen, ye love,.... That is, Jesus Christ, whom they had never seen with their bodily eyes, being Jews, who dwelt not in Judea, when Christ was upon earth, but were scattered about in several parts of the Gentile world; and yet Christ being made known to them, through the preaching of the Gospel, they received and embraced him, and their affections were strongly set upon him: they loved him because of his excellencies and perfections, because of the loveliness of his person, and because he first loved them; they loved him because of the fulness of grace that was in him, because of what he had done for them, and was unto them, and because of the offices he sustained on their account, and the relations he stood in to them; they loved him above all creatures and things, and all of him, and that belong unto him, his people, truths, ordinances, ways, and worship; they loved him with all their hearts, and in the sincerity of their souls, though they had never seen his face in the flesh; whereas sight often begets and increases love: their love was not carnal, but spiritual; it was a fruit of the Spirit of God in their souls; was accompanied with faith in Christ, and proceeded upon the report the Gospel made of him:

in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing; the Arabic version adds, "in him": that is, in Christ, who was then received up into heaven, and must be retained there until the time of the restitution of all things; and therefore not now to be beheld with corporeal sight: and yet these regenerate ones, and lovers of Christ, believed in him; see John 20:29 not with a notional, historical, and temporary faith, believing not merely what he said, or did, or does, or will do; but looking on him, and to him, for life and salvation; going out of themselves to him, embracing of him, leaning upon him as their Saviour and Redeemer; venturing their souls upon him, committing their all unto him, expecting all from him, both grace and glory: and so

rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; with a joy in believing on him, which is better experienced than expressed; a joy that not only strangers intermeddle not with, know nothing of, which entirely passes their understanding, but is such as saints themselves cannot speak out, or give a full and distinct account of; they want words to express it, and convey proper ideas of it to others: and it is a joy that is glorious; there is a rejoicing that is evil and scandalous; but this is honourable, and of which none need be ashamed; it is solid and substantial, and the matter of it always abiding, when the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment; it is a joy on account of the glory of God, which the believer lives in the hope and faith of; and it is a beginning, a presage and pledge of it; it is a glory begun here; it is the firstfruits, and a part also of it; and by it saints may know a little what heaven itself will be.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Whom having not seen, ye love - This Epistle was addressed to those who were “strangers scattered abroad,” (See the notes at 1 Peter 1:1) and it is evident that they had not personally seen the Lord Jesus. Yet they had heard of his character, his preaching, his sacrifice for sin, and his resurrection and ascension, and they had learned to love him:

(1) It is possible to love one whom we have not seen. Thus, we may love God, whom no “eye hath seen,” (compare 1 John 4:20) and thus we may love a benefactor, from whom we have received important benefits, whom we have never beheld.

(2) We may love the character of one whom we have never seen, and from whom we may never have received any particular favors. We may love his uprightness, his patriotism, his benignity, as represented to us. We might love him the more if we should become personally acquainted with him, and if we should receive important favors from him; but it is possible to feel a sense of strong admiration for such a character in itself.

(3) That may be a very pure love which we have for one whom we have never seen. It may be based on simple excellence of character; and in such a case there is the least chance for any intermingling of selfishness, or any improper emotion of any kind.

(4) We may love a friend as really and as strongly when he is absent, as when he is with us. The wide ocean that rolls between us and a child, does not diminish the ardour of our affection for him; and the Christian friend that has gone to heaven, we may love no less than when he sat with us at the fireside.

(5) Millions, even hundreds of millions, have been led to love the Saviour, who have never seen him. They have seen - not with the physical eye, but with the eye of faith - the inimitable beauty of his character, and have been brought to love him with an ardor of affection which they never had for any other one.

(6) There is every reason why we should love him:

  1. His character is infinitely lovely.
    1. He has done more for us than any other one who ever lived among men.

He died for us, to redeem our souls. He rose, and brought life and immortality to light. He ever lives to intercede for us in heaven. He is employed in preparing mansions of rest for us in the skies, and he will come and take us to himself, that we may be with him forever. Such a Saviour ought to be loved, is loved, and will be loved. The strongest attachments which have ever existed on earth have been for this unseen Saviour. There has been a love for him stronger than that for a father, or mother, or wife, or sister, or home, or country. It has been so strong, that thousands have been willing, on account of it, to bear the torture of the rack or the stake. It has been so strong, that thousands of youth of the finest minds, and the most flattering prospects of distinction, have been willing to leave the comforts of a civilized land, and to go among the benighted pagans, to tell them the story of a Saviour’s life and death. It has been so strong, that unnumbered multitudes have longed, more than they have for all other things, that they might see him, and be with him, and abide with him forever and ever. Compare the notes at Philippians 1:23.

In whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing - He is now in heaven, and to mortal eyes now invisible, like his Father. Faith in him is the source and fountain of our joy. It makes invisible things real, and enables us to feel and act, in view of them, with the same degree of certainty as if we saw them. Indeed, the conviction to the mind of a true believer that there is a Saviour, is as certain and as strong as if he saw him; and the same may be said of his conviction of the existence of heaven, and of eternal realities. If it should be said that faith may deceive us, we may reply:

(1) May not our physical senses also deceive us? Does the eye never deceive? Are there no optical illusions? Does the ear never deceive? Are there no sounds which are mistaken? Do the taste and the smell never deceive? Are we never mistaken in the report which they bring to us? And does the sense of feeling never deceive? Are we never mistaken in the size, the hardness, the figure of objects which we handle? But,

(2) For all the practical purposes of life, the senses are correct guides, and do not in general lead us astray. So,

(3) There are objects of faith about which we are never deceived, and where we do act and must act with the same confidence as if we had personally seen them. Are we deceived about the existence of London, or Paris, or Canton, though we may never have seen either? May not a merchant embark with perfect propriety in a commercial enterprise, on the supposition that there is such a place as London or Canton, though he has never seen them? Would he not be reputed mad, if he should refuse to do it on this ground? And so, may not a man, in believing that there is a heaven, and in forming his plans for it, though he has not yet seen it, act as rationally and as wisely as he who forms his plans on the supposition that there is such a place as Canton?

Ye rejoice - Ye do rejoice; not merely ye ought to rejoice. It may be said of Christians that they do in fact rejoice; they are happy. The people of the world often suppose that religion makes its professors sad and melancholy. That there are those who have not great comfort in their religion, no one indeed can doubt; but this arises from several causes entirely independent of their religion. Some have melancholy temperaments, and are not happy in anything. Some have little evidence that they are Christians, and their sadness arises not from religion, but from the want of it. But that true religion does make its possessors happy, anyone may easily satisfy himself by asking any number of sincere Christians, of any denomination, whom he may meet. With one accord they will say to him that they have a happiness which they never found before; that however much they may have possessed of the wealth, the honors, and the pleasures of the world - and they who are now Christians have not all of them been strangers to these things - they never knew solid and substantial peace until they found it in religion And why should they not be believed? The world would believe them in other things; why will they not when they declare that religion does not make them gloomy, but happy?

With joy unspeakable - A very strong expression, and yet verified in thousands of cases among young converts, and among those in the maturer days of piety. There are thousands who can say that their happiness when they first had evidence that their sins were forgiven, that the burden of guilt was rolled away, and that they were the children of God, was unspeakable. They had no words to express it, it was so full and so new:

“Tongue can never express.

The sweet comfort and peace

Of a soul in its earliest love.”

And so there have been thousands of mature Christians who can adopt the same language, and who could find no words to express the peace and joy which they have found in the love of Christ, and the hope of heaven. And why are not all Christians enabled to say constantly that they “rejoice with joy unspeakable?” Is it not a privilege which they might possess? Is there anything in the nature of religion which forbids it? Why should not one be filled with constant joy who has the hope of dwelling in a world of glory forever? Compare John 14:27; John 16:22.

And full of glory -

  1. Of anticipated glory - of the prospect of enjoying the glory of heaven.

(2)Of present glory - with a joy even now which is of the same nature as that in heaven; a happiness the same in kind, though not in degree, as that which will be ours in a brighter world.

The saints on earth partake of the same kind of joy which they will have in heaven; for the happiness of heaven will be but an expansion, a prolongation, and a purifying of that which they have here. Compare the notes at Ephesians 1:14.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 8. Whom having not seen, ye love — Those to whom the apostle wrote had never seen Christ in the flesh; and yet, such is the realizing nature of faith, they loved him as strongly as any of his disciples could, to whom he was personally known. For faith in the Lord Jesus brings him into the heart; and by his indwelling all his virtues are proved, and an excellence discovered beyond even that which his disciples beheld, when conversant with him upon earth. In short, there is an equality between believers in the present time, and those who lived in the time of the incarnation; for Christ, to a believing soul, is the same to-day that he was yesterday and will be for ever.

Ye rejoice with joy unspeakable — Ye have unutterable happiness through believing; and ye have the fullest, clearest, strongest evidence of eternal glory. Though they did not see him on earth, and men could not see him in glory, yet by that faith which is the evidence of things not seen, and the subsistence of things hoped for, they had the very highest persuasion of their acceptance with God, their relation to him as their Father, and their sonship with Christ Jesus.


 
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