Chapter # 1 Paragraph # 2 Study # 10
April 19, 2009
Lincolnton, N.C.
1769 Translation:
11 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.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heavenV which things the angels desire to look into.
1901 ASV Translation:
11 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.
12 To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heavenV which things angels desire to look into.
- I. Peter's Focus Upon the Prophets.
- A. He clearly presents them as "inquiring" and "searching" [See notes for March 29, 2009].
- B. The primary object of the "inquiring" and "searching" is identified as the "salvation of your souls" and as "the unto-you grace".
- C. The specific "search" had to do with "unto what or what sort of time" the in-you Spirit of Christ was declaring, bearing witness beforehand of the 'unto-Christ' sufferings and the 'after-these-things' glory." The "answer" they got was that the "time" was later. The question seems to be this: Why was this such an issue as to call forth such diligence in inquiry? [See Notes for April 5, 2009].
- D. The "things now reported unto you by them".
- 1. These "things" are identified by Peter as "the things of salvation" (1:10), "the things of the grace-unto-you" (1:10), "the things of the time signified by the Spirit of Christ" (1:11), and "the things of the sufferings of Christ and the glory to follow" (1:11).
- 2. These "things" were announced to "you".
- a. This "announcing" was "through the ones who evangelized you".
- b. This "announcing" had something to do with the Holy Spirit Who has been sent from heaven".
- 3. These "things" are items of intense interest to the angels.
- a. There is, apparently, a fairly large "block" of "absent information" regarding the nature of God in the angelic repertoire of knowledge.
- b. That the angels' "God" would so act toward men as He did in the "sufferings of Christ" (and did not so act toward the angels that sinned) is, apparently something in which the angels have a serious interest.
- 1) The angels are interested ... why?
- 2) Peter mentions this interest ... why?