Why does 1 Peter 1:10-12 prove the Old Testament prophets did not understand the Gospel of Grace?
1 Peter 1:10-12 shows the Old Testament prophets inquired and searched diligently about salvation and the grace to come, asking what time or manner the Spirit of Christ signified. Because they had to search, they did not understand it; God kept the Gospel of Grace secret, revealing it not to them but to us.
Les explains that the prophets’ inquiring and searching proves they did not already know. They prophesied of the grace that should come, and verse 11 says they searched what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ in them did signify when He testified beforehand of Christ’s sufferings and the glory. Peter says it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us, they ministered these things now reported by those who preached the gospel, which the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven, things angels desire to look into. Les concludes the Old Testament prophets did not understand this Gospel of Grace; God never intended them to understand it and had been keeping it secret. He ties this to Romans 16, noting that if the Old Testament prophets had understood it, and if Abraham had seen Christ die, be raised, and offer salvation to the whole world, that verse would be almost spurious, but it is the truth.
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
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.
More Questions
What were the Old Testament prophets searching for in 1 Peter 1?
The Old Testament prophets were not simply telling the future; they were also searching to learn what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating as they wrote.
Why could the Old Testament prophets not understand their own prophecies?
The Old Testament prophets could not put it all together—they did not fully understand how the Messiah's suffering and the coming glory fit together.