1 Peter 1:12
What angels long to look into
- The gospel’s word εὐαγγελίζομαι euangelizomai · to speak good news
Original
Translations
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
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 heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
to whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they were ministering these, which now were told to you (through those who proclaimed good news to you), by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven, to which things messengers desire to look into intently.
이 섬긴 바가 자기를 위한 것이 아니요 너희를 위한 것임이 계시로 알게 되었으니 이것은 하늘로부터 보내신 성령을 힘입어 복음을 전하는 자들로 이제 너희에게 고한 것이요 천사들도 살펴 보기를 원하는 것이니라
그들이 자기들을 위해 그것들을 수행하지 아니하고 우리를 위해 수행하였음이 그들에게 계시되었는데 그것들은 곧 복음을 선포한 자들이 하늘에서 보내신 성령님과 더불어 이제 너희에게 전한 것이요 천사들도 살펴보기를 갈망하는 것이니라.
Commentaries
Matthew Henry on 1Pet 1:10-12 as a whole
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…
Read the whole commentary →Wesley 1Pet 1:12
To whom - So searching. It was revealed, that not for themselves, but for us they ministered - They did not so much by those predictions serve themselves, or that generation, as they did us, who now enjoy what they saw afar off. …
Read the whole commentary →
Note
The prophets served this news before it came, the evangelists brought it, and the angels lean down to look at it. It was meant for scattered, ordinary believers in the provinces of Asia Minor.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
1 Peter 1:12First Peter is written to "the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia" (1 Peter 1:1). Peter has spoken of the salvation they will inherit, and now he says that "the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully" (1 Peter 1:10). The Spirit of Christ in them "predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow" (1 Peter 1:11), and they tried to work out when and how. This verse is the answer they were given. Their work was not for themselves. It was for people who would live long after them.
The gospel word is the verb , an aorist middle participle with a personal object: tōn euangelisamenōn humas, "those who preached the gospel to you." Peter does not name them. What matters is how they spoke, "by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven," the Spirit poured out at Pentecost (Acts 2:33). The same Spirit who spoke beforehand in the prophets now works through the evangelists, so that prophecy and preaching are one testimony. Then the angels: they "long to look into these things." The verb is , to stoop and peer in, the word used when the disciple "bent down and looked in at the linen cloths" in the empty tomb (John 20:5). Even the angels bend down to see this news.
The versions differ on whom the prophets served. The BSB, with the Greek text most modern editions print, has "not serving themselves, but you." The KJV, following a text that reads hēmin, "us," for humin, "you," has "not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister," and the LSV agrees. The two Greek words differ by a single letter. Among the Korean Bibles the 흠정역 follows the KJV (우리를 위해) and the 개역한글 reads "you" (너희를 위한 것). Whether "us" or "you," the prophets' labour reached the church of the new covenant. The phrase about the Spirit varies too. The KJV has "with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven," the BSB "by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven," the one stressing the Spirit's presence with the preachers, the other His power working through them.
Matthew Henry draws the lesson that "The doctrine of the prophets, and that of the apostles, exactly agree, as coming from the same Spirit of God" Matthew Henry, and adds that "The gospel is the ministration of the Spirit; its success depends upon his operation and blessing" Matthew Henry. Wesley sees "A beautiful gradation" here. Prophets and kings longed to see and hear what Christ did and taught (Luke 10:24), and "What the Holy Ghost taught concerning Christ the very angels long to know" Wesley.
The news the prophets saw from far off, and that angels stoop to look into, has come to whoever reads this verse as something "announced" to them. They are the "you" for whom the prophets served.