Chapter
1 2 3 4 5
Verse

1 Peter 1:12

ESV It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
NIV It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
NASB It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.
CSB It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven —angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.
NLT They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.
KJV Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
NKJV To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

What does 1 Peter 1:12 mean?

Verses 10 and 11 explained an important truth about the earlier prophets of Israel. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the prophets of the Old Testament had written about a coming salvation by God's grace. They had written about a savior who would suffer and then be glorified. Then they had searched and asked: "Who is this person and when will this happen?"

What was revealed to them was this: As they wrote the words of God under the influence of the Holy Spirit, they were serving not themselves but future generations. The Christ would come after their time.

Peter means for his readers (and for us) to understand what a huge deal it is that the message of salvation by God's grace has been revealed to us now. God didn't tell the prophets—or, apparently, the angels, even when they asked—but He has shown us. Hundreds of years after the prophets' time, this good news, or "gospel," about salvation through faith in Christ, was delivered. It was given to Peter's audience by that same Holy Spirit, through the preaching and teaching of others. And now, thousands of years later, it has been delivered to us by that same Holy Spirit.
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