Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Peter 1:13

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind , be sober , and hope to the end for the grace , that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The following Exhortation may be connected, either with v. 4. being so glorious an Inheritance is reserved in Heaven for you, gird up, &c. or with v. 12. seeing ye know those things, which the Prophets that foretold them, did not fully see, and the Angels themselves desire to look into; the Grace of God vouchsafed to you, is so excellent and admirable, gird up, &c.

i. e. Let your Minds be attent, prompt, ready, prepared for your spiritual Work, restrained from all those Thoughts, Cares, Affections, and Lusts, which may entangle, detain, hinder them, or make them unfit for it. It is a Metaphor taken from the Custom of the Oriental Nations, who wearing long loose Garments, were wont to gird them up about their Loins, that they might not hinder them in their travelling, or working, 1 King. 18.46. and 2 King. 4.29. Luke 17.8. See on Luke 12.35, 37. Perhaps it may have a special Respect to the like Rite used at the Passover, Exod. 12.11. when the Israelites were just ready to enter upon their Journey, and go out of Egypt.

This may relate, either, 1. to the Body, and then the sense agrees with Luke 21.34. where the Cares of this Life seem to be opposed to the girding up the Loins of the Mind, and Surfeiting and Drunkenness, to Sobriety here. Or rather, 2. to the Soul, and then girding up the Loins of the Mind, may refer to the Understanding, and Thoughts, and Sobriety, to the VVill and Affections, and may signifie that Moderation which belongs to them, in Opposition to their Inordinateness, which is a sort of Drunkenness. Or, it may be rendred, be watchful, as it is translated, 2 Tim. 4.5. and with which it is joined, 1 Thess. 5.6, 8. and so it agrees well with the former clause; they that have the Loins of their Mind girt up, being of a vigilant, present Mind, and ready for any VVork, they are to undertake.

Gr. perfectly, as in the Margin, i. e. sincerely, entirely, with a firm Confidence; but the following words favour our Translation, which signifies Perseverance in hope. See Heb. 3.6.

Final Salvation, which is the Gift of Grace, Rom, 6.23. and is called the Grace of Life, 1 Pet. 3.7.

Called the appearing of Jesus Christ, v. 7.

Marginal references: Eph. 6.14.; Or, perfectly.