We are in another season of Primary Elections. But Mike Ratliff’s post today speaks a word from 1 Peter about our truly Primary Election the one where God has made his choice.
I may add to this post periodically as I’ve seen the idea or doctrine come up quite frequently recently.
Our current Bible Study just concluded Chapter 14 of Plumer’s Classic work,
The Grace of Christ -Sinners Saved by Unmerited Kindness
by William S. Plumer
“We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved.” Acts 15:11
With these words:
That the doctrine of election is a ground of encouragement to pious preachers of the Gospel is certain. Thousands have told us so. It was so to Paul. “Then the Lord said to Paul in a night vision, ‘Don’t be afraid, but keep on speaking and don’t be silent. For I am with you, and no one will lay a hand on you to hurt you, because I have many people in this city.’ And he stayed there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.” Acts 18:9-11. The previous context shows that the Jews at Corinth “opposed Paul and became abusive.” In fact the work of founding a church there was but just begun. Yet God says, “I have many people in this city.” The only fair logical meaning, is that among the crowds of the ungodly in that city, were many of God’s elect, whom he purposed by Paul’s ministry soon to bring to a saving knowledge of Christ. The doctrine of election, rightly understood, holds out the only ground of encouragement, which we have, for preaching the blessed Gospel. If God has no elect—we preach in vain!
Our last Zoom Bible study in Ephesians went over such passages as:
Eph 1:3-14 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
It’s interesting that we read in Mark’s Gospel a similar brief account of how all this will end:
Mrk 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
Mrk 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Mike’s post is unusual as he has essentially posted the whole Book of 1 Peter except Chapter 5. And has placed it in full format at the top of today’s blog.
Just observing a few things about Election from verse 1 & 2 in Chapter 1 I see:
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who reside as exiles, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to the obedience of Jesus Christ and the sprinkling of His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. LSB
Mike’s own translation:
1 Peter an Apostle of Jesus Christ to the Chosen exiles of the dispersion of Pontus, of Galatia, of Cappadocia, of Asia, and of Bithyinia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by sanctification of the Spirit resulting in obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, Grace to you and peace, may it be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:1-2 translated from the NA28 Greek text)
The word Elect isn’t used, but the Word Chosen implies the same meaning.
Both the KJV and the older Geneva Bible place the word in the translation of verse 2. Remember no verses numbers were in the original Greek, and not the comma after verse 1, these are one sentence.
KJV
1Pe 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
1Pe 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
Much of this English Translation came from the Geneva Bible but originated with Tyndale.
Geneva Bible 1560
1 Peter 1
Peter an Apostle of JESUS CHRIST, to athe strangers
that dwell here and there throughout Pontus, Galacia,
Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 1
2 Elect according to the bforeknowledge of God the Father
unto sanctification of the spirit, ^through cobedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be
multiplied unto you.
Notes:
Chapter 1
2 He sheweth that through the abundant mercy of God we are
elect and regenerate to a lively hope,
1 a Which were Jews to whom he was appointed to be an Apostle.
2 b The free election of God is the efficient cause of o ur salvation, the material cause is Christ’s obedience, our effectual calling is the formal cause, and the final cause is our sanctification.
2 ^Or, unto obedience.
2 c To wit, of Christ.
3 *2 Co r. 1.3, Eph. 1.3
And the Book Introduction is:
The First Epistle General of Peter
The Argument
He exhorteth the faithful to deny themselves, and to contemn the world, that being delivered from all carnal affections and impediments, they may more speedily attain to the heavenly kingdom of Christ, whereunto we are called by the grace of God revealed to us in his Son, and have already received it by faith, possessed it by hope, and are therein confirmed by holiness of life. And to the intent this faith should not faint, seeing Christ contemned and rejected almost of the whole world, he declareth that this is nothing else but the accomplishing of the Scriptures which testify that he should be the stumbling stone to the reprobate and the sure foundation of salvation to the faithful: therefore he exhorteth them courageously to go forward, considering what they were, and to what dignity God hath called them. After, he entreateth particular points, teaching subjects how to obey their governors, and servants their masters, and how married folks ought to behave themselves. And because it is appointed for all that are godly, to suffer persecutions, he sheweth them what good issue their afflictions shall have, and contrary wise what punishment God reserveth for the wicked. Last of all he teacheth how the ministers ought to behave themselves, forbidding them to usurp authority over the Church: also that young men ought to be modest, and apt to learn, and so endeth with an exhortation.
The even older Tyndale bible reads like this:
The first pistel off S. Peter the Apostle.
Peter an apostle of Jesu Christ, to them that dwell here and there as strangers thorow out, Pontus, Galacia, Capadocia, Asia, and Bethinia,
elect by|according to| the foreknowledge of God the father, thorow the sanctifying of the spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace be with you, and peace be multiplied.
From this one can see that the positioning of the word Elect goes back at least to Tyndale, but it’s the same sentence.
Tyndale’s Prologue or Introduction reads’;
A Prologue to the first Epistle off Saint Peter
This epistle did saint Peter write to the heathen that were converted and exhorteth them to stand fast in the faith, to grow therein and to wax perfect, thorow all manner of suffering and also good works.
In the first he declareth the justifying of faith thorow Christ’s blood, and comforteth them with the hope of the life to come, and sheweth that we have not deserved it, but that the prophets prophesied it should be given us, and as Christ which redeemed us out of sin and all uncleanness is holy, so he exhorteth to lead an holy conversation: and because we be richly bought and made heirs of a rich inheritance, to take heed that we lose it not again thorow our own negligence.
In the second chapter he sheweth that Christ is the foundation and head corner-stone, whereon all are built thorow faith, whether it be Jew or gentile, and how that in Christ they are made priests, to offer themselves to God (as Christ did himself) and to flee the lusts of the flesh that fight against the soul. And first he teacheth them in general to obey the worldly rulers and then in special he teacheth the servants to obey their masters be they good or bad, and to suffer wrong of them as Christ suffered wrong for us.
In the third he teacheth the wives to obey their husbands, yea though they be unbelievers and to apparel themselves godly and as it becometh holiness. And thereto that the husbands suffer and bear the infirmity of their wives and live according to knowledge with them. And then in general he exhorteth them to be soft, courteous, patient and friendly one to another, and to suffer for righteousness after the ensample of Christ.
In the fourth he exhorteth to flee sin and to tame the flesh with soberness, watching and prayer, and to love each other, and to know that all good gifts are of God and every man to help his neighbour with such as he hath received of God, and finally not to wonder, but to rejoice though they must suffer for Christ’s name’s sake, seeing as they be here part takers {partakers} of his afflictions, so shall they be part takers {partakers} of his glory to come.
In the fifth he teacheth the bishops and priests how they should live and feed Christ’s flock: and warneth us of the devil which on every side lieth in wait for us.
Rainbow Trout 