SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:8
al cual, no habiendo visto, le amis; en el cual creyendo, aunque al presente no lo veis, os alegris con gozo inefable y glorificado;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - 1 Peter 1:8
Verse 8. Whom having not seen, ye love] Those to whom the apostle wrote had never seen Christ in the flesh; and yet, such is the realizing nature of faith, they loved him as strongly as any of his disciples could, to whom he was personally known. For faith in the Lord Jesus brings him into the heart; and by his indwelling all his virtues are proved, and an excellence discovered beyond even that which his disciples beheld, when conversant with him upon earth. In short, there is an equality between believers in the present time, and those who lived in the time of the incarnation; for Christ, to a believing soul, is the same to-day that he was yesterday and will be for ever. Ye rejoice with joy unspeakable] Ye have unutterable happiness through believing; and ye have the fullest, clearest, strongest evidence of eternal glory. Though they did not see him on earth, and men could not see him in glory, yet by that faith which is the evidence of things not seen, and the subsistence of things hoped for, they had the very highest persuasion of their acceptance with God, their relation to him as their Father, and their sonship with Christ Jesus.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. Whom having not seen, ye love , etc.] That is, Jesus Christ, whom they had never seen with their bodily eyes, being Jews, who dwelt not in Judea, when Christ was upon earth, but were scattered about in several parts of the Gentile world; and yet Christ being made known to them, through the preaching of the Gospel, they received and embraced him, and their affections were strongly set upon him: they loved him because of his excellencies and perfections, because of the loveliness of his person, and because he first loved them; they loved him because of the fulness of grace that was in him, because of what he had done for them, and was unto them, and because of the offices he sustained on their account, and the relations he stood in to them; they loved him above all creatures and things, and all of him, and that belong unto him, his people, truths, ordinances, ways, and worship; they loved him with all their hearts, and in the sincerity of their souls, though they had never seen his face in the flesh; whereas sight often begets and increases love: their love was not carnal, but spiritual; it was a fruit of the Spirit of God in their souls; was accompanied with faith in Christ, and proceeded upon the report the Gospel made of him: in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing ; the Arabic version adds, in him: that is, in Christ, who was then received up into heaven, and must be retained there until the time of the restitution of all things; and therefore not now to be beheld with corporeal sight: and yet these regenerate ones, and lovers of Christ, believed in him; (see John 20:29) not with a notional, historical, and temporary faith, believing not merely what he said, or did, or does, or will do; but looking on him, and to him, for life and salvation; going out of themselves to him, embracing of him, leaning upon him as their Saviour and Redeemer; venturing their souls upon him, committing their all unto him, expecting all from him, both grace and glory: and so rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory ; with a joy in believing on him, which is better experienced than expressed; a joy that not only strangers intermeddle not with, know nothing of, which entirely passes their understanding, but is such as saints themselves cannot speak out, or give a full and distinct account of; they want words to express it, and convey proper ideas of it to others: and it is a joy that is glorious; there is a rejoicing that is evil and scandalous; but this is honourable, and of which none need be ashamed; it is solid and substantial, and the matter of it always abiding, when the joy of the hypocrite is but for a moment; it is a joy on account of the glory of God, which the believer lives in the hope and faith of; and it is a beginning, a presage and pledge of it; it is a glory begun here; it is the firstfruits, and a part also of it; and by it saints may know a little what heaven itself will be.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - This epistle is addressed to believers in general, who are strangers in every city or country where they live, and are scattered through the nations. These are to ascribe their salvation to the electing love of the Father, the redemption of the Son, and the sanctification of the Holy Ghost; and so to give glory to one God in three Persons, int whose name they had been baptized. Hope, in the world's phrase, refer only to an uncertain good, for all worldly hopes are tottering, buil upon sand, and the worldling's hopes of heaven are blind and groundles conjectures. But the hope of the sons of the living God is a livin hope; not only as to its object, but as to its effect also. It enliven and comforts in all distresses, enables to meet and get over all difficulties. Mercy is the spring of all this; yea, great mercy an manifold mercy. And this well-grounded hope of salvation, is an activ and living principle of obedience in the soul of the believer. The matter of a Christian's joy, is the remembrance of the happiness lai up for him. It is incorruptible, it cannot come to nothing, it is a estate that cannot be spent. Also undefiled; this signifies its purit and perfection. And it fadeth not; is not sometimes more or les pleasant, but ever the same, still like itself. All possessions her are stained with defects and failings; still something is wanting: fai houses have sad cares flying about the gilded and ceiled roofs; sof beds and full tables, are often with sick bodies and uneasy stomachs All possessions are stained with sin, either in getting or in using them. How ready we are to turn the things we possess into occasions an instruments of sin, and to think there is no liberty or delight in their use, without abusing them! Worldly possessions are uncertain an soon pass away, like the flowers and plants of the field. That must be of the greatest worth, which is laid up in the highest and best place in heaven. Happy are those whose hearts the Holy Spirit sets on thi inheritance. God not only gives his people grace, but preserves the unto glory. Every believer has always something wherein he may greatl rejoice; it should show itself in the countenance and conduct. The Lor does not willingly afflict, yet his wise love often appoints shar trials, to show his people their hearts, and to do them good at the latter end. Gold does not increase by trial in the fire, it become less; but faith is made firm, and multiplied, by troubles an afflictions. Gold must perish at last, and can only purchase perishin things, while the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour and glory. Let this reconcile us to present afflictions. Seek then to believe Christ's excellence in himself, and his love to us; this wil kindle such a fire in the heart as will make it rise up in a sacrific of love to him. And the glory of God and our own happiness are s united, that if we sincerely seek the one now, we shall attain the other when the soul shall no more be subject to evil. The certainty of this hope is as if believers had already received it.
Greek Textus Receptus
ον 3739 ουκ 3756 {1: ειδοτες 1492 5761 } {2: ιδοντες 1492 5631 } αγαπατε 25 5719 εις 1519 ον 3739 αρτι 737 μη 3361 ορωντες 3708 5723 πιστευοντες 4100 5723 δε 1161 αγαλλιασθε 21 5736 χαρα 5479 ανεκλαλητω 412 και 2532 δεδοξασμενη 1392 5772
Vincent's NT Word Studies
8. Full of glory (dedoxasmenh). Lit., glorified, as Rev., in margin. Receiving (komizomenoi). The verb originally means to take care of or provide for; thence to receive hospitably or entertain; to bring home with a view to entertaining or taking care of. Hence, to carry away so as to preserve, to save, rescue, and so to carry away as a prize or booty. Generally, to receive or acquire. Paul uses it of receiving the awards of judgment (2 Cor. v. 10; Eph. vi. 8; Col. iii. 25). In Heb. it is used of receiving the promise (x. 36; xi. 39), and of Abraham receiving back Isaac (xi. 19). Peter uses it thrice, and in each case of receiving the rewards of righteousness or of iniquity. See ch. v. 4; 2 Peter ii. 13.
