God's call, "Be holy, because I am holy," was first heard in the second part of the Book of Leviticus, which, judging by everything known today about the history of the text...
God's call, "Be holy, because I am holy," was first heard in the second part of the Book of Leviticus, which, judging by everything known today about the history of the text of the Pentateuch, was written in the priestly circles of Jerusalem in the ninth century before Christ. Earlier (and this is clearly visible in the first part of the same Book of Leviticus), the main task of the faithful was to preserve ritual purity: it was precisely this that gave a person the possibility of approaching the altar, taking part in the sacrifice and the sacrificial meal, and being sanctified by touching the presence of God, which constituted the main meaning of all Yahwist sacrifices. But such sanctifications turned out to be only episodes in the spiritual life of the early Yahwists, although key episodes: after all, only priests could remain at the altar for any extended time, while everyone else at best spent several hours a week there. And in the time when the second part of the book appeared, it was revealed, if not to everyone, then at least to some, that the state of sanctification ("holiness") should become the norm for the people of God, although the Book of Leviticus does not say how to achieve this norm or even how to approach it; it offers only somewhat changed and partly expanded norms of ritual purity, not fundamentally different from those applied in the earlier period. There is nothing surprising here: the task of living in a state of sanctification, of remaining in it constantly, was in essence a task "for growth." It could be solved radically only in the Kingdom and only with the coming of the Messiah, although even this was still understood rather vaguely in the time when the call to holiness was heard. More centuries of the history of Revelation were needed, culminating in the coming of Christ, for the solution of the task that had been set to become fully possible, without concessions to human sinfulness and the relaxations connected with it. And now the apostle returns to the call first heard in the Book of Leviticus and undoubtedly well known to the first generation of Christians, who knew the Torah perfectly. He calls his fellow believers to see that in their life there would not be a single act incompatible with the state of sanctification ("holiness"), just as there were none in the life of the Savior Himself. And this call, of course, is no accident: it concerns life in the Kingdom, which is wholly and entirely a sacred space, sanctified by the breath of God. It is the space in which Christians are now to live.
1 holy obedience, the foundation of all which is, the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ - The atoning blood of Christ, which was typified by the sprinkling of the blood of sacrifices under the law; in allusion to which it is called "the blood of sprinkling."
1:13 Wherefore - Having such encouragement. Gird up the loins of your mind - As persons in the eastern countries were wont, in travelling or running, to gird up their long garments, so gather ye up all your thoughts and affections, and keep your mind always disencumbered and prepared to run the race which is set before you. Be watchful - As servants that wait for their Lord. And hope to the end - Maintain a full expectation of all the grace - The blessings flowing from the free favour of God. Which shall be brought to you at the final revelation of Jesus Christ - And which are now brought to you by the revelation of Christ in you.
1:14 Your desires - Which ye had while ye were ignorant of God.
1:16 Lev 11:44.
1:17 Who judgeth according to every man's work - According to the tenor of his life and conversation. Pass the time of your sojourning - Your short abode on earth. In humble, loving fear - The proper companion and guard of hope.
1:18 Your vain conversation - Your foolish, sinful way of life.
1:19 Without blemish - In himself.Without spot - From the world.
1:21 Who through him believe - For all our faith and hope proceed from the power of his resurrection. In God that raised Jesus, and gave him glory - At his ascension. Without Christ we should only dread God; whereas through him we believe, hope, and love.
1:22 Having purified your souls by obeying the truth through the Spirit, who bestows upon you freely, both obedience and purity of heart, and unfeigned love of the brethren, go on to still higher degrees of love. Love one another fervently - With the most strong and tender affection; and yet with a pure heart - Pure from any spot of unholy desire or inordinate passion.
1:23 Which liveth - Is full of divine virtue. And abideth the same for ever.
1:24 All flesh - Every human creature is transient and withering as grass. And all the glory of it - His wisdom, strength, wealth, righteousness. As the flower - The most short - lived part of it. The grass - That is, man.