Lydende Nuwe-Testamentiese gelowiges bedien deur die Ou-Testamentiese profete: Eksegese van 1 Petrus 1:10–12

Abstract

Suffering New Testament believers ministered by Old Testament prophets: Exegesis of 1 Peter 1:10–12. Even though 1 Peter 1:10–12 has received considerable attention in the research done on 1 Peter, the fact that Peter in these verses emphasises that the Old Testament prophets ministered to the New Testament believers, has not yet been properly investigated. This article focuses on the ministry by the prophets, mentioned in 1 Peter 1:10–12, and indicates how this ministry became a reality in the lives of the addressees. The exegesis done in this article follows the historical-grammatical model as practiced in the Reformed tradition. Although the exegesis is focused on 1 Peter 1:10–12, these verses are examined exegetically within the context of the whole letter. The article finds that, in 1 Peter 1:10–12, the apostle Peter urges his readers to continue praising God in the midst of the suffering they are going through. They are ministered to by the Old Testament prophets in their circumstances of suffering. This ministry of the prophets became a reality in the readers’ lives when evangelists provided, as good news, significant information regarding the witness of the Lord’s Spirit, through the prophets, about Christ’s sufferings and glories.

Contribution: The article highlights the unique encouragement of Peter in 1 Peter 1:10–12 to his readers to continue to praise God in the midst of the suffering they are experiencing as believers. The readers can still praise God, because they are, as New Testament believers, trustfully ministered to by the Old Testament prophets with the witness of the Spirit about Christ’s sufferings and glories.