1 Peter 1:10-12, The Glorious Nature of Our Salvation

Muhammad understood that his followers needed to have a sense that what he was teaching was not new, in every sense, but was an ancient faith consistently taught in every generation. So in Surah [chapter] 7, called Al-A’raf, in the Qur’an, he seeks to give ancient examples of the preaching of Islam by Noah (of Biblical repute), Hud, Salih and Shuaib, claiming these were ancient prophets sent to ancient peoples [Noah (7:59-62), Hud (7:65-68), Salih (7:73), Shu’aib (7:85)]. But there is no record of what they preached (only Muhammad’s summary) and so there is no way to demonstrate they actually lived (though Noah has Biblical attestation).

The Apostle Peter, on the other hand, appeals to the prophets of the Old Testament as communicators of the gospel, and we have the manuscripts of their prophecies and specific historical context for their existence. Peter’s attestation that Christianity is not brand new in every respect, but historically consistent with the true faith in every generation, can be reliably demonstrated.

¹⁰ It was concerning this salvation that the prophets searched and carefully inquired when they were prophesying of the grace coming to you, ¹¹ inquiring as to the circumstances and timing the Spirit of Christ in them was making known as he predicted the sufferings of Messiah and the glories to follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that it was not for them but for you they were serving up these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit who was sent from heaven, into which things angels desire to look.

Peter’s readers have been suffering persecution for their faith in Jesus. Peter has assured them in the first nine verses of his letter that their future salvation, their incorruptible inheritance, is assured. Now he notes how this coming salvation was prophesied by prophets who knew what they were describing was not for them but for those who had believed in Jesus. They didn’t know exactly when it was going to happen but wanted to know.

The prophecies of Jesus the Messiah had been preached from the very beginning of the church (see Acts 2). Jesus had opened the apostles’ understanding to see the prophecies’ relation to him:

⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:4-47)

Peter alludes to prophecies of the suffering of Messiah and the glories to follow. There are several prophecies to this effect (in the Psalms, Hosea, Micah, Malachi, Zechariah, and many in Isaiah) with Isaiah 53 being perhaps the most famous:

[Messiah’s sufferings] ⁴ Surely he took up our pain  and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God,  stricken by him, and afflicted. ⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,  he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him,  and by his wounds we are healed. ⁶ We all, like sheep, have gone astray,  each of us has turned to our own way; and Yahweh has laid on him  the iniquity of us all.

[Messiah’s glories, particularly his resurrection] ¹⁰ Yet it was Yahweh’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of Yahweh will prosper in his hand. ¹¹ After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

The Spirit of Christ in the prophets was making this known to them and they desired to know when it would come about. Daniel’s prophecy of the Seventy Sevens (see chapter 4, Daniel’s timetable of events) gives some timing, but not all. Peter wants his readers to know that they have begun to experience what the prophets had foretold. It’s fulfillment was happening to them.

The Holy Spirit who was sent from heaven on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) had preached the gospel to them through missionaries like Peter and Paul, and they were enjoying what the prophets could only dream about. Indeed, even angels desired to look into these things. Angelic interest in the ministry of Jesus and his church is chronicled in a number of places in the New Testament:

^{1 Corinthians 6:3} Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!

^{1 Corinthians 11:10} It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels.

^{Hebrews 1:14} Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

^{Hebrews 13:2} Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

The Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the New Testament explains Peter’s intentions here:

Peter indicates that the suffering Christians are privileged above the ancient prophets and holy angels, a teaching also found in Hebrews 1:14 and 2:16. These Christians have been told by their neighbors that they have abandoned their ancestral traditions, but in fact they stand in a most ancient tradition. They have probably been told that they have abandoned the gods, but in fact the angels above envy them and the Holy Spirit of God is the one who has brought the gospel to them and whom they have experienced at conversion. They are “plugged into” heaven. Throughout the whole thanksgiving Peter has countered their sense of alienation by emphasizing that they belong to heaven, have a reward coming, are related to God, and even stand in an ancient tradition.