John Calvin Commentary 1 Peter 1:25

"But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you." — 1 Peter 1:25 (ASV)

But the word of God The Prophet does not show what the word of God is in itself, but what we ought to think of it. For since humanity is vanity in itself, it remains that we ought to seek life elsewhere. Therefore, Peter ascribes power and efficacy to God’s word, according to the authority of the Prophet, so that it can confer on us what is real, solid, and eternal. This was what the Prophet had in view: that there is no permanent life except in God, and that this life is communicated to us by the word. However fading, then, the nature of humanity may be, yet we are made eternal by the word, for we are remolded and become new creatures.

This is the word which by the gospel is preached to you, or, which has been declared to you. He first reminds us that when the word of God is mentioned, we are very foolish if we imagine it to be remote from us in the air or in heaven; for we ought to know that it has been revealed to us by the Lord.

What, then, is this word of the Lord, which gives us life? It is the Law, the Prophets, and the Gospel. Those who wander beyond these limits of revelation find nothing but the impostures of Satan and his delusions, not the word of the Lord.

We should notice this all the more carefully because impious and Luciferian men, while craftily appearing to grant God’s word its due honor, at the same time attempt to draw us away from the Scriptures. Consider, for example, that unprincipled man, Agrippa, who highly extols the eternity of God’s word, yet treats the Prophets with scurrility, and thus indirectly laughs the Word of God to scorn.

In short, as I have already reminded you, no mention is made here of the word that lies hidden in the bosom of God, but of that which has proceeded from His mouth and has come to us. So again, it ought to be borne in mind that God designed to speak to us through the Apostles and Prophets, and their mouths are the mouth of the only true God.

Then, when Peter says, Which has been announced, or declared, to you, he intimates that the word is not to be sought elsewhere but in the Gospel preached to us. And truly, we do not know the way of eternal life except through faith. But there can be no faith unless we know that the word is destined for us.

To the same purpose is what Moses said to the people: Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven, etc.; nigh is the word, in thy mouth and in thy heart (Deuteronomy 30:12).

That these words agree with what Peter says, Paul shows in Romans 10:6, where he teaches us that it was the word of faith which he preached.

Moreover, this is no ordinary praise for preaching, for Peter declares that what is preached is the life-giving word. Indeed, God alone is He who regenerates us, but for that purpose He employs the ministry of men. For this reason, Paul glories that the Corinthians had been spiritually begotten by him (1 Corinthians 4:15).

It is indeed certain that those who plant and those who water are nothing; but whenever God is pleased to bless their labor, He makes their doctrine efficacious by the power of His Spirit, and the voice, which is in itself mortal, is made an instrument to communicate eternal life.