1:2 foreknowledge. The “foreknowledge” of God involves more than just knowing ahead of time the choice that a given person will make, for “known unto God are all His works from the [foundation] of the world” (Acts 15:18), and He “worketh all things after the counsel of His own will” (Ephesians 1:11). Those whom He foreknew He then created as “the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory” (Romans 9:23). This in no way inhibits anyone who wants to be saved from coming to Christ, for He has invited all to “come unto me” (Matthew 11:28), with the assurance that “whosoever will” may come (Revelation 22:17). The natural man, however, in his own mind “receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God” (I Corinthians 2:14), and chooses not to come. The Father, in inscrutable ways, draws to Christ those whom He foreknew and made His elect. “No man can come to me,” said Jesus, “except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). We cannot, in our finite minds, comprehend the infinite mind and ways of God (Romans 11:33-36), but we can, and must, believe His Word. See also the note on I Peter 1:20.

1:2 obedience. The proof that we have been foreknown by God and are among His elect is that we are obedient to His Word, for we have been “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

1:2 multiplied. Paul normally began His epistles with “grace and peace” (e.g., Romans 1:7), but Peter begins with grace times peace! Marvelous is the implication of infinite grace (II Corinthians 8:9) multiplied by infinite peace (Philippians 4:7). The product can only be eternal fullness of joy (John 15:11).

1:3 begotten us again. “Begotten again” is the same as “born again” in I Peter 1:23.

1:3 lively hope. “Lively”—that is, our hope in Christ is made vibrantly alive by His resurrection, which guarantees forever the ultimate defeat of Satan, sin and death, and the fulfillment of His promise of everlasting life. On this hope, see also I Peter 1:13,21.

1:4 incorruptible. Contrast I Peter 1:23-24. Corruptible seed generates only glory that fades away, whereas the incorruptible seed generates an incorruptible inheritance that will never fade away. I Peter 1:4 says the inheritance is reserved for us, whereas I Peter 1:5 assures us that we are reserved for the inheritance!

1:5 kept. “Kept” means “being guarded.” Our keeping is not by our works or even by our faith (though it is received through faith), but by the power of God. We are in His hand (John 10:29).