John Calvin Commentary 1 Peter 1:12

"To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angel desire to look into." — 1 Peter 1:12 (ASV)

Unto whom it was revealed This passage has been strangely distorted by fanatics to exclude the ancestors who lived under the Law from the hope of eternal salvation. For it does not deny that the prophets ministered effectively to their own age and built up the church, but it teaches us that their ministry is more useful to us, because the ends of the ages have come upon us.

We see how highly they praised the kingdom of Christ, how diligent they were in adorning it, and how earnestly they encouraged everyone to seek it; yet, through death, they were denied the privilege of seeing it as it now is. What else was this, then, but that they prepared the table so that others might later feast on the provisions set upon it?

Indeed, they tasted by faith those things which the Lord, through their hands, transmitted for us to enjoy; and they also partook of Christ as the true food of their souls. But what is spoken of now is the open display of this blessing. We know that the prophetic office was confined, so to speak, within certain limits, so that they might sustain themselves and others with the hope of Christ, who was to come.

Therefore, they possessed Him as one hidden and, in a sense, absent—absent, I mean, not in power or grace, but because He was not yet revealed in the flesh. Consequently, His kingdom was also still hidden, as if under coverings. Finally, by descending to earth, He, in a way, opened heaven to us, so that we might have a close view of those spiritual riches which previously were exhibited through types from a distance. This enjoyment, then, of Christ as revealed, is what distinguishes us from the prophets. From this, we learn how they ministered more to us than to themselves.

But though the prophets were warned from above that the grace they proclaimed would be postponed to another age, they were not negligent in proclaiming it; indeed, they were far from being overcome by weariness. If their patience was so great, surely we will be doubly and triply ungrateful if the enjoyment of the grace denied to them does not sustain us through all the evils that must be endured.

Which are now reported to you, or announced to you. He again highlights the difference between the former doctrine and the preaching of the gospel. For just as the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel, having a testimony from the Law and the Prophets, so also the glory of Christ, to which the Spirit previously testified, is now openly proclaimed. At the same time, he therefore proves the certainty of the gospel, because it contains nothing but what had long ago been testified to by the Spirit of God. He further reminds them that the gospel was preached under the banner of the same Spirit, by His dictation and guidance, so that they would not think of anything merely human in this matter.

Which things the angels desire to look into It is indeed the highest praise for the gospel that it contains treasures of wisdom still concealed and hidden from angels. But someone may object, saying that it is not reasonable that things hidden from angels—who always see the face of God and are His ministers in governing the church and in the administration of all His blessings—should be open and known to us.

To this I answer that things are open to us to the extent that we see them in the mirror of the Word. However, our knowledge is not said to be greater than that of angels; Peter only means that such things are promised to us that angels desire to see fulfilled.

Paul says that through the calling of the Gentiles, the wonderful wisdom of God was made known to angels. Indeed, it was a spectacle for them when Christ gathered into one body the lost world, which had been separated for so many ages from the hope of life. Thus, daily they observe with admiration the magnificent works of God in the government of His church. How much greater will their admiration be when they witness the final display of divine justice, when the kingdom of Christ is completed! This is still hidden, and its revelation is what they still expect and rightly wish to see.

The passage indeed can be understood in two ways: either that the treasure we have in the gospel fills the angels with a desire to behold it, as it is a sight particularly delightful to them; or that they eagerly desire to see the kingdom of Christ, whose living image is presented in the gospel. However, the latter seems to me to be the most fitting meaning.