Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity - See the notes on Romans 16:16, and on 1 Corinthians 16:20 (note). In the above places the kiss is called a holy kiss; here, φιληματι αγαπης, a kiss of Love; i.e. as a mark of their love to each other, in order that misunderstandings might be prevented. But ten or twelve MSS., with the Syriac, Arabic, Armenian, and Vulgate, have ἁγιῳ, holy; salute one another with a Holy kiss. The difference is not great.

Peace be with you all - May all prosperity, spiritual and temporal, be with all that are in Christ Jesus - at are truly converted to him, and live in his Spirit obedient to his will.

Amen - Is wanting, as usual, in some of the principal MSS. and versions.

The subscriptions are, as in other cases, various.

In the Versions:

The end of the First Epistle of the Apostle Peter. - Syriac.

The First Catholic Epistle of Peter the apostle is ended. - Syriac Philoxenian.

The end of the Epistle of St. Peter; may his supplication preserve us!

Amen. Praise be to the Lord of never ending and eternal glory! Amen. - Arabic.

The First Epistle of Peter is completed; may his intercession be with us!

Amen, and Amen. - Aethiopic, Nothing in the Coptic.

Nothing in the printed Vulgate.

The end of the First Epistle of St. Peter. - Complutensian Polyglott.

The First Epistle of St. Peter is ended. - Bib. Vulgat. Edit. Princ.

continued...

with a. See on

Romans 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

1 Corinthians 16:20 All the brothers greet you. Greet you one another with an holy kiss.

2 Corinthians 13:12 Greet one another with an holy kiss.

1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greet all the brothers with an holy kiss.

Peace.

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit...

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world gives, give I to you. Let not your heart be troubled...

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer...

John 20:19,26 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week...

See on

Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 6:23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

in. See on

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER.

As the design of this Epistle is excellent, remarks Dr. Macknight, so is its execution, in the judgment of the best critics, does not fall short of its design. Ostervald says of the first Epistle of Peter, 'it is one of the finest books in the New Testament.' Erasmus pronounces it to be 'worthy of the prince of the Apostles, and full of apostolical dignity and authority;' and adds, 'it is sparing in words, but full of sense.--verbis pauca, sententiis differta.' 'As the true church of Christ,' says Dr. Clarke, 'has generally been in a state of suffering, the Epistles of Peter have ever been most highly prized by all believers. That which we have just finished is an admirable letter, containing some of the most important maxims and consolations for the Church in the wilderness. No Christian can read it without deriving from it both light and life. Ministers especially should study it well, that they may know how to comfort their flocks when in persecution and adversity. He never speaks to good in any spiritual case who is not furnished out of the Divine treasury. God's words invite, solicit, and command assent: on them a man may confidently rely. The words of man may be true, but they are not infallible; this is the character of God's word alone.' To these valuable remarks on the varied excellences and uses of this inimitable Epistle, it may be only necessary to add, that it is not only important in these respects, but is a rich treasury of Christian doctrines and duties from which the mind may be enriched and the heart improved, with the most ennobling sentiments.

The Church in Babylon
'The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you ...'--1 Peter v. 13. We have drawn lessons in previous addresses from the former parts of the closing salutations of this letter. And now I turn to this one to see what it may yield us. The Revised Version omits 'the church,' and substitutes 'she'; explaining in a marginal note that there is a difference of opinion as to whether the sender of the letter is a community or an individual. All the old MSS., with one weighty exception, …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

Consolations against Impatience in Sickness.
If in thy sickness by extremity of pain thou be driven to impatience, meditate-- 1. That thy sins have deserved the pains of hell; therefore thou mayest with greater patience endure these fatherly corrections. 2. That these are the scourges of thy heavenly Father, and the rod is in his hand. If thou didst suffer with reverence, being a child, the corrections of thy earthly parents, how much rather shouldst thou now subject thyself, being the child of God, to the chastisement of thy heavenly Father, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Seven Deacons
In those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration." The early church was made up of many classes of people, of various nationalities. At the time of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, "there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." Acts 2:5. Among those of the Hebrew faith who were gathered at Jerusalem were some …
Ellen Gould White—The Acts of the Apostles