Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;
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Commentary for 1 Peter 1:20
1 Peter 1:20 is a verse that speaks to the profound Christian belief in the pre-existence and predestination of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. The verse reads, "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." This passage highlights two key theological points:
1. **Predestination**: The verse emphasizes that Jesus Christ was chosen, or "foreordained," by God before the creation of the world to fulfill a specific role in salvation history. This concept reflects the Christian understanding of God's omniscience and sovereignty, where events are not random but part of a divine plan established from the very beginning.
2. **Incarnation**: The phrase "but was manifest in these last times" refers to the actual historical appearance of Jesus Christ in the flesh, during the period commonly referred to by early Christians as the "last times" or the "end of the ages." This indicates that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection occurred in the timeline of human history as a fulfillment of prophecies and divine promises made long before.
The historical context of this verse is rooted in the early Christian community's need to understand Jesus' role within the broader narrative of Jewish messianic expectations and the emerging Christian theology. The audience of 1 Peter, likely Gentile Christians facing various trials and hardships, would have found comfort and assurance in the affirmation that Christ's coming was not an accident but a long-standing part of God's redemptive plan for humanity.
In summary, 1 Peter 1:20 succinctly encapsulates the Christian doctrines of the predestination of Christ and the fulfillment of God's plan through the incarnation, offering believers a profound sense of purpose and hope in the providential care of God over human history and their personal lives.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
Strong's Number: G3303 There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: μέν Transliteration: mén Pronunciation: men Description: a primary particle; properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with δέ (this one, the former, etc.):--even, indeed, so, some, truly, verily. Often compounded with other particles in an intensive or asseverative sense.
Strong's Number: G4267 There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: προγινώσκω Transliteration: proginṓskō Pronunciation: prog-in-oce'-ko Description: from πρό and γινώσκω; to know beforehand, i.e. foresee:--foreknow (ordain), know (before).
Strong's Number: G4253 There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: πρό Transliteration: pró Pronunciation: pro Description: a primary preposition; "fore", i.e. in front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to:--above, ago, before, or ever. In the comparative, it retains the same significations.
Strong's Number: G2602 There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: καταβολή Transliteration: katabolḗ Pronunciation: kat-ab-ol-ay' Description: from καταβάλλω; a deposition, i.e. founding; figuratively, conception:--conceive, foundation.
Strong's Number: G2889 There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: κόσμος Transliteration: kósmos Pronunciation: kos'-mos Description: probably from the base of κομίζω; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally)):--adorning, world.
Strong's Number: G1161 There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: δέ Transliteration: dé Pronunciation: deh Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
Strong's Number: G5319 There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: φανερόω Transliteration: phaneróō Pronunciation: fan-er-o'-o Description: from φανερός; to render apparent (literally or figuratively):--appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).
Strong's Number: G1909 There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: ἐπί Transliteration: epí Pronunciation: ep-ee' Description: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
Strong's Number: G2078 There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: ἔσχατος Transliteration: éschatos Pronunciation: es'-khat-os Description: a superlative probably from ἔχω (in the sense of contiguity); farthest, final (of place or time):--ends of, last, latter end, lowest, uttermost.
Strong's Number: G5550 There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: χρόνος Transliteration: chrónos Pronunciation: khron'-os Description: of uncertain derivation; a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from καιρός, which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from αἰών, which denotes a particular period) or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication, delay:--+ years old, season, space, (X often-)time(-s), (a) while.
Strong's Number: G1223 There are 580 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: διά Transliteration: diá Pronunciation: dee-ah' Description: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
Strong's Number: G5209 There are 388 instances of this translation in the Bible Lemma: ὑμᾶς Transliteration: hymâs Pronunciation: hoo-mas' Description: accusative case of ὑμεῖς; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).