1Pe 1:18-19 | RWP | e4.org | Knowing ( ειδοτες ). Second perfect active participle of οιδα , causal participle. The appeal is to an elementary Christian belief (Hort), the holiness and justice of God with the added thought of the high cost of redemption (Bigg). Ye were redeemed ( ελυτρωθητε ). First aorist passive indicative of λυτροω , old verb from λυτρον (ransom for life as of a slave, ), to set free by payment of ransom, abundant examples in the papyri, in N.T. only here, ; . The ransom is the blood of Christ. Peter here amplifies the language in . Not with corruptible things ( ου φθαρτοις ). Instrumental case neuter plural of the late verbal adjective from φθειρω to destroy or to corrupt, and so perishable, in N.T. here, verse ; ; .; . Αργυριω η χρυσιω (silver or gold) are in explanatory apposition with φθαρτοις and so in the same case. Slaves were set free by silver and gold. From your vain manner of life ( εκ της ματαιας υμων αναστροφης ). "Out of" ( εκ ), and so away from, the pre-Christian αναστροφη of verse , which was "vain" ( ματαιας . Cf. ). Handed down from your fathers ( πατροπαραδοτου ). This adjective, though predicate in position, is really attributive in idea, like χειροποιητου in (Robertson, Grammar , p. 777), like the French idiom. This double compound verbal adjective ( πατερ, παρα, διδωμ ), though here alone in N.T., occurs in Diodorus, Dion. Halic, and in several inscriptions (Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary ; Deissmann, Bible Studies , pp. 266f.). The Jews made a wrong use of tradition ( .), but the reference here seems mainly to Gentiles ( ).

‏ 1 Peter 1:18-19

Knowing ( ειδοτες ). Second perfect active participle of οιδα, causal participle. The appeal is to an elementary Christian belief (Hort), the holiness and justice of God with the added thought of the high cost of redemption (Bigg).

Ye were redeemed ( ελυτρωθητε ). First aorist passive indicative of λυτροω, old verb from λυτρον (ransom for life as of a slave, Mt 20:28), to set free by payment of ransom, abundant examples in the papyri, in N.T. only here, Lu 24:21; Tit 2:14. The ransom is the blood of Christ. Peter here amplifies the language in Isa 52:3f.

Not with corruptible things ( ου φθαρτοις ). Instrumental case neuter plural of the late verbal adjective from φθειρω to destroy or to corrupt, and so perishable, in N.T. here, verse 23; 1Co 9:25; 15:53f.; Ro 1:23. Αργυριω η χρυσιω (silver or gold) are in explanatory apposition with φθαρτοις and so in the same case. Slaves were set free by silver and gold.

From your vain manner of life ( εκ της ματαιας υμων αναστροφης ). "Out of" ( εκ ), and so away from, the pre-Christian αναστροφη of verse 15, which was "vain" ( ματαιας. Cf. Eph 4:17-24).

Handed down from your fathers ( πατροπαραδοτου ). This adjective, though predicate in position, is really attributive in idea, like χειροποιητου in Eph 2:11 (Robertson, Grammar, p. 777), like the French idiom. This double compound verbal adjective ( πατερ, παρα, διδωμ ), though here alone in N.T., occurs in Diodorus, Dion. Halic, and in several inscriptions (Moulton and Milligan's Vocabulary; Deissmann, Bible Studies, pp. 266f.). The Jews made a wrong use of tradition (Mt 15:2ff.), but the reference here seems mainly to Gentiles (1Pe 2:12).

But with precious blood ( αλλα τιμιω αιματ ). Instrumental case of αιμα after ελυτρωθητε (repeated from verse 18). Peter here applies the old adjective τιμιος (from τιμη, of Christ in 1Pe 2:7) to Christ as in 1:7 πολυτιμοτερον to testing of faith. The blood of anyone is "precious" (costly), far above gold or silver, but that of Jesus immeasurably more so.

As of a lamb ( ως αμνου ). This word occurs in Le 12:8; Nu 15:11; De 14:4 of the lamb prescribed for the passover sacrifice (Ex 12:5). John the Baptist applies it to Jesus (Joh 1:29, 36). It occurs also in Ac 8:32 quoted from Isa 53:7f. Undoubtedly both the Baptist and Peter have this passage in mind. Elsewhere in the N.T. αρνιον is used of Christ (Re 5:6, 12). Jesus is the Paschal Lamb. Peter sees clearly that it was by the blood of Christ that we are redeemed from sin.

Without blemish ( αμωμου ). Without (alpha privative) spot ( μωμος ) as the paschal lamb had to be (Le 22:21). So Heb 9:14.

Without spot ( ασπιλου ). Without (alpha privative) stain ( σπιλος spot) as in Jas 1:27; 2Pe 3:14; 1Pe 6:14.

Even the blood of Christ ( Χριστου ). Genitive case with αιματ, but in unusual position for emphasis and clearness with the participles following.