“Searching what , or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow .”
My Notes
What Does 1 Peter 1:11 Mean?
Peter describes the Old Testament prophets searching their own writings — trying to understand what the Spirit of Christ within them was pointing to when it predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow.
"The Spirit of Christ which was in them" — the prophets were indwelt by Christ's Spirit. The same Spirit that later rested on Jesus was already at work in the prophets, producing predictions they could not fully understand.
"Searching what, or what manner of time" — the prophets searched their own prophecies. They knew something was coming. They knew it involved suffering and glory. But the when and how remained mysterious.
The verse reveals that the Old Testament prophets served a future audience (v.12): the things they prophesied were not for themselves but for the generations who would see the fulfillment. They wrote for you — and they knew it.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does the Spirit of Christ being in the Old Testament prophets mean for the unity of Scripture?
- 2.How does the prophets 'searching their own writings' describe the mystery of prophecy?
- 3.What does it mean that the prophets wrote for you — a future audience they would never meet?
- 4.How does your position between the two advents give you understanding the prophets longed for?
Devotional
The Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify. The prophets who wrote centuries before Jesus were carrying his Spirit. The predictions they spoke came from the same Christ who would later fulfill them. The author and the subject were the same person.
Searching what, or what manner of time. They searched their own words. The prophets who wrote about coming suffering and glory did not fully understand what they had written. They knew something was coming. They searched for the when and the how.
The sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Suffering first. Glory after. The prophets saw both — the Messiah would suffer and then be glorified. The sequence was clear. The timing was not.
They ministered unto us (v.12). The prophets knew their prophecies served a future audience. They wrote for people they would never meet — including you. The words Isaiah spoke, the visions Daniel saw, the psalms David wrote — they were for you.
You read what prophets died to deliver. You understand what they searched to comprehend. The privilege of your position — living after the fulfillment — is something the prophets longed for.
The Spirit of Christ in the prophets pointed forward. The same Spirit in you looks back at the fulfillment and forward to the return. You stand between two advents — understanding what the prophets could only search for.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Searching what, or what manner of time,.... The prophets made a very diligent inquiry into the exact time when Christ…
Searching what - That is, examining their own predictions with care, to ascertain what they meant. They studied them as…
The glory that should follow - Not only the glory of his resurrection, ascension, exaltation, and the effusion of his…
The apostle having described the persons to whom he wrote, and declared to them the excellent advantages they were…
searching what, or what manner of time The two words have each a distinct force, the first indicating the wish of men to…
Cross References
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