Authenticity of the Epistle
1 Pet. 1:11Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (1 Peter 1:1).—Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, tia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
REV. FREDERICK CHARLES COOK, M. A.—Concerning the authenticity of this epistle no doubt has ever been entertained in the church. The external evidence to this is of the strongest kind. It was known to Polycarp, and frequently referred to by him in the beginning of the second century; it was recognized by Papias, and repeatedly quoted by Irenæus, Clemens of Alexandria, Tertullian, and Origen. It was accepted without hesitation by the universal church. The internal evidence is equally strong.—Smith's Dict. of Bible, p. 2455.
REV. ALBERT BARNES.—Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, all these were provinces of Asia Minor.—In loco.
CICERO.—The Senate decrees that Caius Cassius, proconsul, shall have the government of Syria; and that he shall have money and men for carrying on the war throughout Syria, Asia, Bithynia, and Pontus.— Phil., II., 12.
Trial of Faith
PLATO.—Young persons are to be tried far more than gold in the fire. And he who, in childhood, youth, and manhood, has been thus tried and come out pure, may be appointed governor and guardian of the state; honors are to be paid him while he lives, and at his death he should receive the highest rewards of public burial and other memorials.—De Rep., III., 20.
CICERO.—It is difficult to distinguish true friendship from that which is counterfeit, unless something occur to try it as gold is tried in the fire.—Epist. Fam., IX., 15.
DR. ADAM CLARKE.—Gold, when exposed to the action of fire, becomes red hot before it melts; but in melting suffers no alteration; but if a strong heat be applied while in fusion, it becomes of a beautiful green color. The continual action of any furnace, however long applied, has no effect on any of its properties. It has been kept in a state of fusion for several months, in the furnace of a glass house, without suffering the smallest change.—Com. In loco.
Milk for Babes
QUINTILIAN.—I recommend it to teachers that they imitate the nurses in nourishing the tender mind, and that they fill it with the milk, as I may call it, of agreeable literature—Quintil., II., 4.
Holy Priesthood
M. ANTONINUS.—The good and virtuous man is a kind of priest and minister of the gods.— M. Anton., III., 4.
ULPIAN.—It is the duty of a good and vigilant president to see to it that his province be peaceable and quiet. And that he ought to make diligent search after sacrilegious persons, robbers, man-stealers and thieves, and to punish every one according to their guilt.—See Larcener's Credibility, Works I., 77.
See Eph. 6:5-95Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. 9And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. (Ephesians 6:5‑9).
Plaiting the Hair
DR. ADAM CLARKE.—Plaiting the hair, and variously folding it about the head, was the most ancient and most simple mode of disposing of this chief ornament of the female head. It was practiced anciently in every part of the East; and is so to the present day in India, in China, and also in Barbary. It was also prevalent among the Greeks and Romans, as ancient gems, busts and statues, still remaining, sufficiently declare. We have a remarkable instance of the plaiting of the hair in a statue of Agrippina, wife of Germanicus. Antique relics show the different modes of dressing the hair which obtained among the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Persians, and other nations. Thin plates of gold were often mixed with the hair, to make it appear more ornamental by the reflection of light and of the solar rays. Small golden buckles were also used in different parts; and among the Roman ladies, pearls and precious stones of different colors. In monuments of antiquity the heads of the married and single women may be known; the former by the hair being parted from the forehead over the middle of the top of the head; the latter by being quite close, or being plaited and curled, all in a general mass,—Note, In loco.
Ornament of the Heart
NAUMACHIUS.—Be not too fond of gold, neither wear purple hyacinth about your neck, or the green jasper, of which foolish persons are proud. Do not covet such vain ornaments, neither view yourself too often in the glass, nor twist your hair into a multitude of curls, etc.— In Benson, quoted from Fragments.
PLUTARCH.—Crates, the philosopher, said, That is an ornament which doth adorn, and that adorneth a wife which maketh her more comely and decent. Jewels of gold, emeralds, robes of purple and scarlet, cannot do this; bat only that which causeth her to be reputed grave, sober, lowly and modest.— Conj. Prœt., c. 26.
PLAUTUS.—I had rather be adorned with a good disposition than with gold. —Pœn., act I., scene 2.
Sarah's Reverence for Abraham
REV. ALBERT BARNES.—The word " lord " has the elementary idea of ruling, and this is the sense here. Among the Romans it was quite common for wives to use the appellation lord when speaking of their husbands. The same custom also prevailed among the Greeks. —Note, In loco.
PHOCION'S WIFE.—My ornament is my husband, now for the twentieth year general of the Athenians. —Plut. Life of Phoc.
1 Pet. 3:77Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. (1 Peter 3:7).—Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, etc.
Unity, Love, and Sympathy
EPICTETUS.—Be of service to your companions, by giving way to all, yielding to them, bearing with them; and not by throwing out your own ill humor upon them.—Epict., III., 13.
The Good Ever Safe
1 Pet. 3:53.—And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
PLATO.—It is very difficult to possess the power of not being injured; nor is it possible to acquire it perfectly, otherwise than by becoming perfectly good. —De Leg., VIII., I.
PLUTARCH. —As Agis was going to execution he perceived one of the officers lamenting his fate with tears; upon which he said, My friend, dry up your tears; for, as I suffer innocently, I am in a better condition than those who condemn me contrary to law and justice.—Agis, c. 20.
What Christians Should Be
1 Pet. 3:15, 16.—But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear: having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
GIBBON.—When the Christians of Bithynia were brought before the tribunal of the younger Pliny, they assured the proconsul that, far from being engaged in any unlawful conspiracy, they were bound by a solemn obligation to abstain from the commission of those crimes which disturb the private or public peace of society, from theft, robbery, adultery, perjury and fraud. Near a century afterward Tertullian, with an honest pride, could boast that very few (if any) Christians had suffered by the hand of the executioner, except on account of their religion. Their serious and sequestered life, averse to the gay luxury of the age, inured them to chastity, temperance, economy, and all the sober domestic virtues. As the greater number were of some trade or profession, it was incumbent on them, by the strictest integrity and the fairest dealing, to remove the suspicions which the profane aw too apt to conceive against the appearances of sanctity. The contempt of the world exercised them in the habits of humility, meekness and patience. The more they were persecuted, the more closely they adhered to each other. Their mutual charity and unsuspecting confidence has been remarked by infidels, and was too often abused by perfidious friends.—Decline and Fall, Chapter 15
The End Near
SENECA—The end of all things is at hand: the time, I say, is near; even that which` shall eject the happy, and deliver the wretched.—Epist., too.
The Cloak of Charity
MENANDER.—It is not my part to expose an evil that is unseen. I say that it ought rather to be concealed.—Apud Stob., c. XIII
PLUTARCH. —Pompey's reputation as to power was great, and it was equally respectable as to virtue and moderation: with which, he covered the offenses of his friends and acquaintances.—Pomp., c. 39.