Elberfelder Bible - unrevised version (ca. 1900)

1PetrusG4074, ApostelG652 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547, den FremdlingenG3927 von der ZerstreuungG1290 von PontusG4195, GalatienG1053, KappadocienG2587, AsienG773 undG2532 BithynienG978, auserwähltG1588 2nachG2596 VorkenntnisG4268 GottesG2316, des VatersG3962, durchG1722 HeiligungG38 des GeistesG4151, zumG1519 GehorsamG5218 undG2532 zur BlutbesprengungG129 G4473 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547: GnadeG5485 undG2532 FriedeG1515 sei euchG5213 vermehrtG4129! 3GepriesenG2128 sei der GottG2316 undG2532 VaterG3962 unseresG2257 HerrnG2962 JesusG2424 ChristusG5547, derG3588 nachG2596 seinerG846 großenG4183 BarmherzigkeitG1656 unsG2248 wiedergezeugtG313 hat zuG1519 einer lebendigenG2198 HoffnungG1680 durchG1223 die AuferstehungG386 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547 ausG1537 den TotenG3498, 4zuG1519 einem unverweslichenG862 undG2532 unbeflecktenG283 undG2532 unverwelklichenG263 ErbteilG2817, welches inG1722 den HimmelnG3772 aufbewahrtG5083 ist fürG1519 euchG5209, 5die ihrG3588 durchG1722 GottesG2316 MachtG1411 durchG1223 GlaubenG4102 bewahrtG5432 werdet zurG1519 ErrettungG4991, die bereitG2092 ist, inG1722 der letztenG2078 ZeitG2540 geoffenbartG601 zu werden; 6worinG1722 G3739 ihr frohlocketG21, die ihr jetztG737 eine kleine ZeitG3641, wennG1487 es nötigG1163 istG2076, betrübtG3076 seid durchG1722 mancherleiG4164 VersuchungenG3986;   7auf daßG2443 die BewährungG1383 euresG5216 GlaubensG4102, vielG4183 köstlicherG5093 als die des GoldesG5553, das vergehtG622, aberG1161 durchG1223 FeuerG4442 erprobtG1381 wird, erfundenG2147 werde zuG1519 LobG1868 undG2532 HerrlichkeitG5092 undG2532 EhreG1391 inG1722 der OffenbarungG602 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547; 8welchenG3739 ihr, obgleichG1161 ihr ihn nichtG3756 gesehenG1492 habt, liebetG25; anG1519 welchenG3739 glaubendG4100, obgleich ihr ihn jetztG737 nichtG3361 sehetG3708, ihr mit unaussprechlicherG412 undG2532 verherrlichterG1392 FreudeG5479 frohlocketG21, 9indem ihr das EndeG5056 euresG5216 GlaubensG4102, die ErrettungG4991 der SeelenG5590, davontragetG2865; 10überG4012 welcheG3739 ErrettungG4991 ProphetenG4396 nachsuchtenG1567 undG2532 nachforschtenG1830, dieG3588 vonG4012 der GnadeG5485 gegenG1519 euchG5209 geweissagtG4395 haben, 11forschendG2045, aufG1519 welcheG5101 oderG2228 welcherleiG4169 ZeitG2540 der GeistG4151 ChristiG5547, derG3588 inG1722 ihnenG846 war, hindeuteteG1213, als er von den LeidenG3804, die aufG1519 ChristumG5547 kommen sollten, undG2532 von den HerrlichkeitenG1391 danachG3326 G5023 zuvor zeugteG4303; 12welchenG3739 es geoffenbartG601 wurde, daßG3754 sie nichtG3756 für sich selbstG1438, sondernG1161 für euchG5213 die DingeG846 bedientenG1247, dieG3739 euchG5213 jetztG3568 verkündigtG312 worden sind durchG1223 die, welche euchG5209 das Evangelium gepredigtG2097 haben durchG1722 den vomG575 HimmelG3772 gesandtenG649 HeiligenG40 GeistG4151, inG1519 welche DingeG3739 EngelG32 hineinzuschauenG3879 begehrenG1937. 13DeshalbG1352 umgürtetG328 die LendenG3751 eurerG5216 GesinnungG1271, seid nüchternG3525 und hoffetG1679 völligG5049 aufG1909 die GnadeG5485, die euchG5213 gebrachtG5342 wird beiG1722 der OffenbarungG602 JesuG2424 ChristiG5547; 14alsG5613 KinderG5043 des GehorsamsG5218 bildetG4964 euch nichtG3361 nachG4964 den vorigenG4386 LüstenG1939 inG1722 eurerG5216 UnwissenheitG52, 15sondernG235 wieG2596 der, welcher euchG5209 berufenG2564 hat, heiligG40 ist, seidG1096 auchG2532 ihrG846 heiligG40 inG1722 allemG3956 WandelG391; 16dennG1360 es steht geschriebenG1125: "SeidG1096 heiligG40, dennG3754 ichG1473 binG1510 heiligG40 ".   17UndG2532 wennG1487 ihr den als VaterG3962 anrufetG1941, derG3588 ohne Ansehen der PersonG678 richtetG2919 nachG2596 eines jedenG1538 WerkG2041, so wandeltG390 die ZeitG5550 eurerG5216 FremdlingschaftG3940 inG1722 FurchtG5401, 18indem ihr wissetG1492, daßG3754 ihr nichtG3756 mit verweslichenG5349 Dingen, mit SilberG694 oderG2228 GoldG5553, erlöstG3084 worden seid vonG1537 euremG5216 eitlenG3152, von den Vätern überliefertenG3970 WandelG391, 19sondernG235 mit dem kostbarenG5093 BluteG129 ChristiG5547, alsG5613 eines LammesG286 ohne FehlG299 undG2532 ohne FleckenG784; 20welcher zwarG3303 zuvorerkanntG4267 ist vorG4253 GrundlegungG2602 der WeltG2889, aberG1161 geoffenbartG5319 worden amG1909 EndeG2078 der ZeitenG5550 umG1223 euretwillenG5209 G1223, 21dieG3588 ihr durchG1223 ihnG846 glaubetG4100 anG1519 GottG2316, der ihnG846 ausG1537 den TotenG3498 auferwecktG1453 undG2532 ihmG846 HerrlichkeitG1391 gegebenG1325 hat, auf daßG5620 euerG5216 GlaubeG4102 undG2532 eure HoffnungG1680 aufG1519 GottG2316 seiG1511.   22Da ihr eureG5216 SeelenG5590 gereinigtG48 habt durchG1722 den GehorsamG5218 gegen die WahrheitG225 zurG1519 ungeheucheltenG505 BruderliebeG5360, so liebetG25 einanderG240 mitG1537 InbrunstG1619 aus reinemG2513 HerzenG2588, 23die ihr nichtG3756 wiedergeborenG313 seid ausG1537 verweslichemG5349 SamenG4701, sondernG235 aus unverweslichemG862, durchG1223 das lebendigeG2198 undG2532 bleibendeG3306 WortG3056 GottesG2316; 24dennG1360 "allesG3956 FleischG4561 ist wieG5613 GrasG5528, undG2532 alleG3956 seineG846 HerrlichkeitG1391 wieG5613 des GrasesG5528 BlumeG438. Das GrasG5528 ist verdorrtG3583, undG2532 [seine]G846 BlumeG438 ist abgefallenG1601; 25aberG1161 das WortG4487 des HerrnG2962 bleibtG3306 inG1519 EwigkeitG165 ". DiesG5124 aberG1161 istG2076 das WortG4487, welchesG3588 euchG5209 verkündigtG2097 worden ist.


Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary
 1   This epistle is addressed to believers in general, who are strangers in every city or country where they live, and are scattered through the nations. These are to ascribe their salvation to the electing love of the Father, the redemption of the Son, and the sanctification of the Holy Ghost; and so to give glory to one God in three Persons, into whose name they had been baptized. Hope, in the world's phrase, refers only to an uncertain good, for all worldly hopes are tottering, built upon sand, and the worldling's hopes of heaven are blind and groundless conjectures. But the hope of the sons of the living God is a living hope; not only as to its object, but as to its effect also. It enlivens and comforts in all distresses, enables to meet and get over all difficulties. Mercy is the spring of all this; yea, great mercy and manifold mercy. And this well-grounded hope of salvation, is an active and living principle of obedience in the soul of the believer. The matter of a Christian's joy, is the remembrance of the happiness laid up for him. It is incorruptible, it cannot come to nothing, it is an estate that cannot be spent. Also undefiled; this signifies its purity and perfection. And it fadeth not; is not sometimes more or less pleasant, but ever the same, still like itself. All possessions here are stained with defects and failings; still something is wanting: fair houses have sad cares flying about the gilded and ceiled roofs; soft beds and full tables, are often with sick bodies and uneasy stomachs. All possessions are stained with sin, either in getting or in using them. How ready we are to turn the things we possess into occasions and instruments of sin, and to think there is no liberty or delight in their use, without abusing them! Worldly possessions are uncertain and soon pass away, like the flowers and plants of the field. That must be of the greatest worth, which is laid up in the highest and best place, in heaven. Happy are those whose hearts the Holy Spirit sets on this inheritance. God not only gives his people grace, but preserves them unto glory. Every believer has always something wherein he may greatly rejoice; it should show itself in the countenance and conduct. The Lord does not willingly afflict, yet his wise love often appoints sharp trials, to show his people their hearts, and to do them good at the latter end. Gold does not increase by trial in the fire, it becomes less; but faith is made firm, and multiplied, by troubles and afflictions. Gold must perish at last, and can only purchase perishing things, while the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour, and glory. Let this reconcile us to present afflictions. Seek then to believe Christ's excellence in himself, and his love to us; this will kindle such a fire in the heart as will make it rise up in a sacrifice of love to him. And the glory of God and our own happiness are so united, that if we sincerely seek the one now, we shall attain the other when the soul shall no more be subject to evil. The certainty of this hope is as if believers had already received it.

 10   Jesus Christ was the main subject of the prophets' studies. Their inquiry into the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow, would lead to a view of the whole gospel, the sum whereof is, That Christ Jesus was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification. God is pleased to answer our necessities rather than our requests. The doctrine of the prophets, and that of the apostles, exactly agree, as coming from the same Spirit of God. The gospel is the ministration of the Spirit; its success depends upon his operation and blessing. Let us then search diligently those Scriptures which contain the doctrines of salvation.

 13   As the traveller, the racer, the warrior, and the labourer, gathered in their long and loose garments, that they might be ready in their business, so let Christians do by their minds and affections. Be sober, be watchful against all spiritual dangers and enemies, and be temperate in all behaviour. Be sober-minded in opinion, as well as in practice, and humble in your judgment of yourselves. A strong and perfect trust in the grace of God, is agreeable with best endeavours in our duty. Holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. It must be in all affairs, in every condition, and towards all people. We must especially watch and pray against the sins to which we are inclined. The written word of God is the surest rule of a Christian's life, and by this rule we are commanded to be holy every way. God makes those holy whom he saves.

 17   Holy confidence in God as a Father, and awful fear of him as a Judge, agree together; and to regard God always as a Judge, makes him dear to us as a Father. If believers do evil, God will visit them with corrections. Then, let Christians not doubt God's faithfulness to his promises, nor give way to enslaving dread of his wrath, but let them reverence his holiness. The fearless professor is defenceless, and Satan takes him captive at his will; the desponding professor has no heart to avail himself of his advantages, and is easily brought to surrender. The price paid for man's redemption was the precious blood of Christ. Not only openly wicked, but unprofitable conversation is highly dangerous, though it may plead custom. It is folly to resolve, I will live and die in such a way, because my forefathers did so. God had purposes of special favour toward his people, long before he made manifest such grace unto them. But the clearness of light, the supports of faith, the power of ordinances, are all much greater since Christ came upon earth, than they were before. The comfort is, that being by faith made one with Christ, his present glory is an assurance that where he is we shall be also, John 14:3. The soul must be purified, before it can give up its own desires and indulgences. And the word of God planted in the heart by the Holy Ghost, is a means of spiritual life, stirring up to our duty, working a total change in the dispositions and affections of the soul, till it brings to eternal life. In contrast with the excellence of the renewed spiritual man, as born again, observe the vanity of the natural man. In his life, and in his fall, he is like grass, the flower of grass, which soon withers and dies away. We should hear, and thus receive and love, the holy, living word, and rather hazard all than lose it; and we must banish all other things from the place due to it. We should lodge it in our hearts as our only treasures here, and the certain pledge of the treasure of glory laid up for believers in heaven.