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With such an aid to their faith and no hurdle of imperfect translations, it was no
wonder they could respond so effectively, and even with the warning by Peter of
tribulations and trials to be endured for the gospel, they could still rejoice with ecstatic
joy knowing that their God would reward their good response to such testing.
". . . . . even the salvation of your souls" (1: -9).
Soul is a word very often misunderstood. The general usage implies the whole of a
man including his character and mind. It is the complete me. Our physical body has
been described as the tabernacle or covering of the identity of each man. We shall find
this phrase waiting for us in II Pet. 1: 13, 14:
"Knowing that I must shortly put off this my tabernacle."
The alternative meanings for soteria (salvation, 1: 9) given in a concordance are safety
and soundness. They indicate the quality of physical and spiritual life of a believer. The
forgiveness of sins and being saved thereby from death is not involved in the word. Paul
in Philippians is helpful:
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh
in (energizes) you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2: 12, 13).
The course of wholesome growth of our soul (the complete `me') in every respect will
be directed and energized by God in Christ. In contrast we could not by works secure the
forgiveness of our sins.
As Peter recommends God's gospel of salvation to His brethren he is impelled to
glorify its origin and importance both in earth and in heaven:
"The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours searched and enquired
about this salvation: they enquired what person or time was indicated by the Spirit of
Christ within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ (Messiah) and the subsequent
glory. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the
things which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to
you through the gifts of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things in which angels long to
look" (I Pet. 1: 10-12, R.S.V.).
Paul in writing to the Romans also stresses the work of the O.T. prophets:
". . . . . the gospel of God, which He promised afore by His prophets in the holy
Scriptures" (Rom. 1: 2, 3).
Christ also stressed this to His disciples this foundation of the gospel:
"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the
Scriptures the things concerning Himself" (Luke 24: 27).
Over and above this evidence of the importance of the O.T. as preparing the world for
the Saviour and the One Mediator between it and God, the reference to the actual writers
of the prophecies studying what they had written proves they did not write these things