The Gospel the Angels Desired to Look Into 1 Peter 1:12

Peter told the Christians who were “scattered abroad”, the prophets “enquired and searched diligently” about the “salvation” they knew. This “salvation” involved “the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow”, and in chapter one and verse twelve of his letter, Peter went on to add that “the angels desire to look into” this “gospel” where we read:

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.

The verse begins, “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things,...” Peter began with the words, “Unto whom” or “for who, one or some” “it was revealed” which means “uncovered, laid open what has been veiled or covered up, disclosed, made bare and manifest”, “that not unto themselves” which refers to “the prophet who enquired and searched diligently for this salvation”, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means “moreover, in addition, also, now and it declares what is about to be stated takes precedence over what was just stated” “unto us” which refers to “Peter and the Christians to whom he is writing” “they did minister” which means “serve with, attend to, wait upon, render and supply” “the things” or “their ideas and writings”. Though the prophets desired to know about the “salvation” of which they wrote, they actually were writing these things for people who would receive them in the future.

The verse continues, “...which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;” Peter went on to say, “which” or “that or what” “are now reported” which in the Greek is the phrase “anaggellō nyn anaggellō” and means “announced, made know, reported and rehearsed” “unto you” which refers to “the Christians who were scattered” “by them that have preached the gospel” which means “the ones who have declared, announced, brought and proclaimed the good news and glad tidings” “unto you” which refers to “the Christians who were scattered” “with the Holy” or “most sacred, pure, morally, religiously and ceremonially blameless” “Ghost” which refers to “the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son” “sent down” or “ordered, appointed and dismissed” “from heaven” which means “the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”. The early preachers of “the gospel” declared the “salvation” plan of God, and the people to whom Peter wrote were the recipients of their words.

Finally the verse says, “which things the angels desire to look into.” Peter ended this verse by writing, “these things” which again refers to “the ideas and writings of the gospel of salvation” “the angels” or “messengers from God” “desire” which means “long for, covet and seek for” “to look into” or “look at with the head bowed forward, body bent and stooped”. The idea was “the angels” looked carefully into and inspected curiously about “these things” of which the prophets wrote and the Christians knew first hand.

When we think about Peter's words, we begin to understand the significance of this “gospel” of which was “preached”. The prophets declared it, but did not fully understand what they proclaimed, and “the angels” knew of it, but leaned forward in close inspection to discover what it meant. This should excite us. We get to experience “the gospel” of “salvation” through “the Holy Spirit of God”, and we know what the prophets declared and the angels desired to know. God Almighty had and has a great plan of “salvation” for all of mankind, and though the prophets did not know what they were declaring, and the angels sought to understand it, it was the Lord God who knew “salvation” through His Son Jesus was going to give people the opportunity to be in a relationship with Him again. Bless the Lord for His wonderful provision of “the gospel”, and may everyone who reads these words understand what a blessing it is for us to be born in this time of revelation.

Next time Peter shares how we are to react to the gospel which we know, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ;download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.