Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. What did the Holy Spirit reveal to the Old Testament prophets about the salvation of which Peter has been speaking? See 1 Peter 1:10-11 (printed below)
With regard to this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that has come to you, searched diligently and with the greatest care. (11) They were trying to find out the time and circumstances the Spirit of Christ (who was in them) was indicating when he foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. (1 Peter 1:10-11)
The Holy Spirit had revealed this much to the Old Testament prophets, namely, that this divine salvation would be accomplished by the Christ, the promised Messiah. In order to gain this salvation for His people the Christ would have to undergo a great deal of suffering (note Peter’s use of the plural, “the sufferings of Christ.”) The Holy Spirit had also made known to the O.T. prophets that faithful endurance of those sufferings by the Christ would be followed by an abundance of glory.
2. In response to the prophets’ intense interest and inquiry concerning this salvation, what did the Holy Spirit reveal to them? See 1 Peter 1:12a (printed below)
But it was revealed to them that they were not ministering these things to themselves, but to you—these things that now have been proclaimed to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit who was sent from heaven. Indeed, angels desire to look into these things. (1 Peter 1:12)
In response to the prophets’ intense interest and inquiry concerning these things, it was further revealed to them that they were not ministering to themselves, but to us who live in the New Testament era. That is to say, the prophets were informed that they themselves would not see the fulfillment of these things in their own day. On the contrary, they were prophesying of events that would happen in the relatively distant future from their time in history (note Daniel 12:8-9,13). Note: Although the Old Testament prophets would not see the fulfillment of this great salvation in their day, they will share in it at the end of the age (note Daniel 12:13).
3. With regard to this great salvation, what does Peter tell us about the angels? See 1 Peter 1:12b (printed above under question #2) Why do you suppose the angels have this desire?
Peter tells us that this great salvation we possess as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ is something that the angels desire to examine and experience. The Lord has granted to His angels very great and awesome privileges. But there is one thing to which the angels have not been permitted access: the blessing of sonship, the very blessing that is ours by means of the great salvation that has been accomplished by Jesus the Messiah.
4. What is the Christian exhorted to do in verse 13b (printed below?)
Therefore, focusing your mind and being spiritually sober, set your hope squarely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13)
As a Christian, you are instructed to “set your hope squarely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” The Christian life is fundamentally a life of hope; not only in the sense of future orientation as opposed to immediate gratification, but even more in the sense of confidence as opposed to despair. In contrast to the condition of the unbeliever (as described in Ephesians 2:12), consider the condition of the Christian (as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14,16-18). The Christian’s hope is set upon “the grace…brought…at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (i.e.; the gracious gift of salvation to be fully revealed at the last time.)
5. How is the Christian instructed to carry out this exhortation? See 1 Peter 1:13a (printed above under question #4)
The way we carry out this directive of setting our hope squarely upon the grace to be brought to us at the revelation of Jesus Christ is by “focusing your mind” (literally, by “girding up the loins of your mind.”) The illustration Peter employs is from everyday life in the first century: the loose flowing robe commonly worn by the men would be bound up at the waist with a belt in preparation for such physical activity as walking or working. Likewise, as a Christian you are instructed to “gird up your mind.” How does the Christian “gird up his mind?” With conscious decision and determination he must make the kingdom of God and its standard to be the number one priority in his life (Matthew 6:33). He must focus his mind and heart upon Christ as the goal, the prize, the “finish line,” of our presently earthly existence (Hebrews 12:2).
