📖WEB · 1 Peter 1:12
What does 1 Peter 1:12 mean?
"To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into."
— 1 Peter 1:12 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, pointed to, when he predicted the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that would follow them.
To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, they ministered these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.
Therefore prepare your minds for action, be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ—
as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance,
but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior;
Explanation
This verse comes near the beginning of Peter's first letter, in a passage where he reflects on the prophets of old and the great salvation God has prepared for believers. In plain language, Peter is saying that the Old Testament prophets who spoke about the coming grace and suffering of Christ (mentioned in verses 10-11) were told that their prophecies were not primarily for their own benefit, but for the benefit of future generations—specifically, the Christians Peter is writing to. Those same truths the prophets glimpsed and wrote about have now been fully proclaimed through the preaching of the gospel, made possible by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Peter adds a striking detail: even angels, who dwell in God's presence, long to understand more fully these things concerning salvation.
The letter was written by the apostle Peter to Christians scattered across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey), many of whom were facing suffering, social ostracism, and possibly the beginnings of persecution for their faith. Peter's purpose was to encourage these believers by reminding them of the greatness and certainty of their salvation, urging them to stand firm despite hardship. In this section, he draws a comparison between the Old Testament prophets—who spoke about a Messiah and salvation they would not personally see fulfilled—and the New Testament believers, who are living in the very time when those prophecies have come true
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