Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Peter 1:16
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
16. because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy ] Literally, ye shall be holy, the future, as in the Ten Commandments, having the force of the imperative. The words, which occur frequently in the Levitical code (Lev 11:44; Lev 19:2; Lev 20:26), were applied sometimes to the priests as such, sometimes to the whole nation as a kingdom of priests. We see from ch. 1Pe 2:5, that the Apostle’s thought is that all members of the Church of Christ have succeeded to that character, and are sharers in the priestly function, offering spiritual sacrifices.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy – Lev 11:44. This command was addressed at first to the Israelites, but it is with equal propriety addressed to Christians, as the professed people of God. The foundation of the command is, that they professed to be his people, and that as his people they ought to be like their God. Compare Mic 4:5. It is a great truth, that people everywhere will imitate the God whom they worship. They will form their character in accordance with his. They will regard what he does as right. They will attempt to rise no higher in virtue than the God whom they adore, and they will practice freely what he is supposed to do or approve. Hence, by knowing what are the characteristics of the gods which are worshipped by any people, we may form a correct estimate of the character of the people themselves; and, hence, as the God who is the object of the Christians worship is perfectly holy, the character of His worshipers should also be holy. And hence, also, we may see that the tendency of true religion is to make people pure. As the worship of the impure gods of the pagan moulds the character of the worshippers into their image, so the worship of Yahweh moulds the character of His professed friends into His image, and they become like him.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
I am your Father, and therefore you ought to imitate and obey me: or, I that have severed you from other people, that you should be mine, Lev 20:26, to which place particularly this seems to refer.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16. Scripture is the truesource of all authority in questions of doctrine and practice.
Be ye . . . for I amItis I with whom ye have to do. Ye are mine. Therefore abstain fromGentile pollutions. We are too prone to have respect unto men[CALVIN]. As I am thefountain of holiness, being holy in My essence, be yetherefore zealous to be partakers of holiness, that ye may beas I also am [DIDYMUS].God is essentially holy: the creature is holy in so far as it issanctified by God. God, in giving the command, is willing to givealso the power to obey it, namely, through the sanctifying of theSpirit (1Pe 1:2).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Because it is written,…. In Le 11:44
be ye holy, for I am holy: an argument the apostle knew must have weight with these persons, who were chiefly Jews, scattered abroad among the Gentiles, and had a value for the Scriptures of truth; and therefore, as the argument for holiness of life, from the nature and perfections of God, is strong, it must receive additional strength from this being the declared will of God, even their sanctification on this account; and though holiness, equal to God, is never to be attained to by a creature, yet so far as it is capable of it, it is desirable, because agreeable both to the nature and will of God, by all such who are truly his children, who love his name, adore his perfections, give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness, fear his goodness, and obey his will.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Because it is written ( ). “Because ( stronger than below) it stands written” (regular formula for O.T. quotation, perfect passive indicative of ). The quotation is from Lev 11:44; Lev 19:2; Lev 20:7. Reenforced by Jesus in Mt 5:48. The future here is volitive like an imperative.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “Because it is written.” Peter accepted and gave sanction to the Old Testament Law in which God declared His Holiness, Lev 11:44.
2) “Be ye holy.” (Gk. hagioi esesthe) Holy ye shall be – or a state or condition of holiness, separation, ye shall maintain.
3) “For I am holy” (Gk. hoti) because, (ego) I am or I be holy. What the Trinitarian Elohim God was, Jesus Christ became in the flesh and called His children to follow it, Mar 8:34-37; Heb 7:26.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(16) Be ye holy; for I am holy.The better reading here is, Ye shall he holy; it is still, however, a command, not a promiseexcept that all Gods commands are promises. The command comes some five or six times in the Book of Leviticus, addressed not only to the Levites, but to all the people. It would, therefore, apply twice over to the recipients of this letter by virtue of their twofold consecration, in the old and in the new Israel.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘Because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy”.’
And this requirement is confirmed by the Scriptures. The citation is from Lev 11:44 (compare Exo 22:31; Lev 19:2; Lev 20:26), and is significantly connected there with the need for ‘cleanness’ and separation from all that grovel in the earth or bear the stamp of death (see our commentary on Leviticus). For that was the purpose of the laws of ‘cleanness’, to set their minds on what was wholesome and was free from the taint of death and corruption so that they may be truly holy to God.
These laws were not just haphazard regulations. They were based on very sound and identifiable principles and were intended to teach an important lesson which was very relevant here. The basic idea was that foodstuffs should be avoided that were in some ways connected with grovelling in the dirt and connecting with the dust of death. The animals that chewed the cud and had divided hooves spent their time eating in grassy areas and among good pasture, the remainder were often found in places where there was dirt and death. The birds that were acceptable generally obtained their food in the air, or among the grainfields, while those which were predators or waders were connected with death and delving into the mud. The fish that were clean swam in the clear water. The others swam in the murky dirt at the bottom of the river or sea. It was not just a question as to whether food was edible, (although it unquestionably acted to some extent as a kind of good health guide), but rather that not eating it was a testimony to the fact that as God’s people they lived cleanly and above the sphere of dirt and death. They were holy. It was the badge that marked them off from their contemporaries as belonging to a holy and living God.
Thus Peter was not calling on his readers to follow the food laws of Leviticus. He was calling on them to live lives that were above the general sordidness of mankind, by not delving into the corrupt behaviour of mankind in general, but walking in the higher sphere, in the way of righteousness. Compare how Jesus made clear the meaning of the laws of cleanliness when He pointed out that cleanliness came from a clean heart, while what was ‘unclean’ came from a sinful heart (Mar 7:15-23)..
‘It is written’ was a standard way of indicating that the words came from Scripture. It was also later used of the New Testament writings. It indicates that what is written in them is what will be. Once so written it is certain of accomplishment. Thus the requirement for holiness and Christ-likeness is the equivalent of being ‘fixed in stone’. The use of the passive tense leaving the subject unidentified regularly indicates in Scripture that God is the subject. ‘It has been written.’ Who by? By God. Thus it is God Who has caused it to be written. ‘Men spoke from God being moved by the Holy Spirit’ (2Pe 1:21); compare also ‘words which the Holy Spirit teaches’ (1Co 2:13). And it is stressing that God’s final intention is that we should be made like Him so that we can dwell with Him (Isa 57:15).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Ver. 16. Be ye holy ] i.e. Separate from sin, and dedicated to God, in conformity to whom stands our happiness. See Trapp on “ Mat 5:48 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
16 .] because it is written ( gives the reason not only for the designation of God as the Holy One, but for the whole exhortation which precedes for the duty of assimilation to Him in His Holiness), Ye shall be holy because I am holy (see Mat 5:48 ; Eph 5:1 ; 1Jn 3:3 ).
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Be ye holy, &c. Quoted from Lev 11:44. See also Lev 19:2; Lev 20:7.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
16.] because it is written ( gives the reason not only for the designation of God as the Holy One, but for the whole exhortation which precedes-for the duty of assimilation to Him in His Holiness), Ye shall be holy because I am holy (see Mat 5:48; Eph 5:1; 1Jn 3:3).
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Lev 11:44, Lev 19:2, Lev 20:7, Amo 3:3
Reciprocal: Exo 15:11 – glorious Exo 19:6 – and an Exo 20:26 – thy nakedness Exo 22:31 – holy Exo 28:36 – HOLINESS Lev 6:18 – every one Lev 20:26 – the Lord Num 15:40 – be holy Deu 10:12 – to walk Deu 14:21 – an holy 1Sa 2:2 – none holy Psa 99:9 – for the Isa 5:16 – sanctified Hab 1:13 – of Mat 5:48 – ye Luk 6:36 – General Rom 3:10 – As it is 1Co 1:2 – called Eph 5:1 – followers 1Th 2:12 – walk 2Ti 1:9 – called Heb 12:10 – partakers Heb 12:14 – and holiness 1Jo 3:7 – even Rev 15:4 – thou only
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
PERSONAL HOLINESS
Be ye holy; for I am Holy.
1Pe 1:16
The question at once meets us, What is holiness? The original word, which we have translated holiness, means without earthliness. We are of the earth, earthy; the contrast to holiness, so that, more practically, God only is holiness. He, and He only, is Holy; and everything else is holy just as it connects itself with Him: that which is dedicated to Him, that which has Him in it, that which is like Him, that which serves Himthat is holy. Heaven is the holy of holies, because heaven combines all these; and nothing can enter there which is not holy. Holiness is one of the signs of being a sainta saint on earth, and a saint in heaven.
I address myself now to those who feel that they are not holy, or, if holy at all, much more unholy, and who ask, How shall I be holy? How shall I become one of the holy family?
I. It is the province of the Holy Ghost to make you so.There is no other way in the world. And if you do not recognise and use that well, looking to the Holy Ghost, every effort you can make will be a failure. It is His province, and He Himself must do it. It is His prerogative. It is His business. It is His work. He and He only makes holiness.
II. The next step to be holy is to at once give up and conquer anythinghowever dear, however pleasantwhich your conscience now tells you is incompatible with holiness, and which makes you, if not hate God, yet certainly, in feelings, unholy!
III. Recognise your unholiness morehowever good, or however small, in anything you allow. The very sense of your unholiness shows there is a token for good, which God has given you, and you must work it out: Lord, Thou hast not quite left me. Thou hast, in Thy mercy, given me this feeling, that I am a sinner. Now give me more. Give me more. Do Thine own work, Lord, in my soul, and do Thou guide me.
IV. Undertake some special means or step to holiness.More prayer. Could not you go to your room, in the middle of the day, and have a little prayer? Could not you be in the spirit of prayer everywhere?those silent prayers, even in the midst of business! More earnest prayer, more personal prayer, in the closet and everywhere! More faithful dealings with your own soul! More real study of your Bible in secret communion with God? Could not you just fancy yourself sitting at the foot of the Cross, and looking up to that dear Lord, as bleeding there, till the very sight of Him brings holiness from us?
V. Cultivate some religious companion.Look around you, and see; and make, if you can, one, one real, religious friend. It will be a great help to you.
VI. Undertake some work at once.Some work expressly for Godfor His poor, for His children, for His Churchdone with a purer and higher motive than before, for His sake.
VII. Pay more attention to your public and religious duties.Take the Holy Communion more regularly, and with more faith and expectation of what you are going to find there.
VIII. Deal with your conscience.Be scrupulous in the little things, the trifles, of life. Let your family, and your servants, and your whole household, have cause to see, and say that you are endeavouring to be a better Christian, and more like your Master. And you will find it a very good thing to take an interest in somebodys soul, somebodys soul!
Illustration
The nature of man makes resemblance to God possible. It is a sublime truth that there is such resemblance between God and our poor hearts that even in our fallen condition there is enough of the Divine image left upon us for us to hear this heavenly voice and to know that it has a triumphant message even for us. We are not so smitten but that these words appeal to our conscience and are verified by our experience. It is possible for us to yield ourselves unto God, because He is God, and we are made in His likeness.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
1Pe 1:16. This citation is in Lev 11:44 where God is admonishing the children of Israel to be holy and not like the heathen nations about them.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
1Pe 1:16. Because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy. The future, ye shall be, is better supported than the imperative, be ye. The sense, however, remains .substantially the same. Peter appends a reason for his counsel, and this he expresses in words which he takes from Gods charge to Israel. They occur repeatedly in the Pentateuch (e.g. Lev 11:44; Lev 19:2; Lev 20:7; Lev 20:26), but they apply with even greater force to the subject of Gods wider choice in the New Testament Israel. They are used by Peter because they mean that the relation which results from Gods call, being a covenant relation, conveys obligations on two sides.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 16
1 Peter 1:16; Leviticus 11:44,19:2.
Fuente: Abbott’s Illustrated New Testament
1:16 {9} Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
(9) He shows that sanctification does necessarily follow adoption.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Peter reinforced this imperative with an Old Testament quotation (cf. Lev 11:44-45; Lev 19:2; Lev 20:7).
"When it comes to the use of the OT, 1 Peter stands out among the NT letters, especially when one compares the number of citations and allusions to the length of the letter. 1 Peter contains about the same number of OT references per unit of text as does Hebrews. Only Revelation contains more." [Note: Davids, p. 24.]
The writer just quoted listed nine citations of Old Testament passages in 1 Peter and 20 allusions to Old Testament passages.
In the context, Israel was to be holy so she could have intimate fellowship with God. We cannot expect to enjoy intimate fellowship with God who is holy unless we are holy too. Intimate fellowship with God is the greatest good human beings can experience (cf. Php 3:8), but without holiness it is impossible.
"The Word reveals God’s mind, so we should learn it; God’s heart, so we should love it; God’s will, so we should live it. Our whole being-mind, will, and heart-should be controlled by the Word of God. . . .
"We do not study the Bible just to get to know the Bible. We study the Bible that we might get to know God better. Too many earnest Bible students are content with outlines and explanations, and do not really get to know God. It is good to know the Word of God, but this should help us better know the God of the Word." [Note: Wiersbe, 2:397.]