1 Peter1
King James Version · Public Domain
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11Searching 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.
12Unto 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.
13Wherefore 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;
14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Peter 1.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The apostle blesses God for his special benefits through Christ. (1–9). Salvation by Christ foretold in ancient prophecy. (10–12). All are exhorted to holy conversation. (13–16). Such as is suitable to their principles, privileges, and obligations. (17–25).
vv1-9
This epistle is addressed to believers in general, who are strangers in every city or country where they live, and are scattered through the nations. These are to ascribe their salvation to the electing love of the Father, the redemption of the Son, and the sanctification of the Holy Ghost; and so to give glory to one God in three Persons, into whose name they had been baptized. Hope, in the world's phrase, refers only to an uncertain good, for all worldly hopes are tottering, built upon sand, and the worldling's hopes of heaven are blind and groundless conjectures. But the hope of the sons of the living God is a living hope; not only as to its object, but as to its effect also. It enlivens and comforts in all distresses, enables to meet and get over all difficulties. Mercy is the spring of all this; yea, great mercy and manifold mercy. And this well-grounded hope of salvation, is an active and living principle of obedience in the soul of the believer. The matter of a Christian's joy, is the remembrance of the happiness laid up for him. It is incorruptible, it cannot come to nothing, it is an estate that cannot be spent. Also undefiled; this signifies its purity and perfection. And it fadeth not; is not sometimes more or less pleasant, but ever the same, still like itself. All possessions here are stained with defects and failings; still something is wanting: fair houses have sad cares flying about the gilded and ceiled roofs; soft beds and full tables, are often with sick bodies and uneasy stomachs. All possessions are stained with sin, either in getting or in using them. How ready we are to turn the things we possess into occasions and instruments of sin, and to think there is no liberty or delight in their use, without abusing them! Worldly possessions are uncertain and soon pass away, like the flowers and plants of the field. That must be of the greatest worth, which is laid up in the highest and best place, in heaven. Happy are those whose hearts the Holy Spirit sets on this inheritance. God not only gives his people grace, but preserves them unto glory. Every believer has always something wherein he may greatly rejoice; it should show itself in the countenance and conduct. The Lord does not willingly afflict, yet his wise love often appoints sharp trials, to show his people their hearts, and to do them good at the latter end. Gold does not increase by trial in the fire, it becomes less; but faith is made firm, and multiplied, by troubles and afflictions. Gold must perish at last, and can only purchase perishing things, while the trial of faith will be found to praise, and honour, and glory. Let this reconcile us to present afflictions. Seek then to believe Christ's excellence in himself, and his love to us; this will kindle such a fire in the heart as will make it rise up in a sacrifice of love to him. And the glory of God and our own happiness are so united, that if we sincerely seek the one now, we shall attain the other when the soul shall no more be subject to evil. The certainty of this hope is as if believers had already received it.
vv10-12
Jesus Christ was the main subject of the prophets' studies. Their inquiry into the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow, would lead to a view of the whole gospel, the sum whereof is, That Christ Jesus was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification. God is pleased to answer our necessities rather than our requests. The doctrine of the prophets, and that of the apostles, exactly agree, as coming from the same Spirit of God. The gospel is the ministration of the Spirit; its success depends upon his operation and blessing. Let us then search diligently those Scriptures which contain the doctrines of salvation.
vv13-16
As the traveller, the racer, the warrior, and the labourer, gathered in their long and loose garments, that they might be ready in their business, so let Christians do by their minds and affections. Be sober, be watchful against all spiritual dangers and enemies, and be temperate in all behaviour. Be sober-minded in opinion, as well as in practice, and humble in your judgment of yourselves. A strong and perfect trust in the grace of God, is agreeable with best endeavours in our duty. Holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. It must be in all affairs, in every condition, and towards all people. We must especially watch and pray against the sins to which we are inclined. The written word of God is the surest rule of a Christian's life, and by this rule we are commanded to be holy every way. God makes those holy whom he saves.
Key Words
Πέτρος (Pétros): a (piece of) rock (larger than G3037 (λίθος)); as a name, Petrus, an apostle
ἀπόστολος (apóstolos): a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ("apostle") (with miraculous powers)
Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs): Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites
Χριστός (Christós): anointed, i.e. the Messiah, an epithet of Jesus
παρεπίδημος (parepídēmos): an alien alongside, i.e. a resident foreigner
διασπορά (diasporá): dispersion, i.e. (specially and concretely) the (converted) Israelite resident in Gentile countries
Πόντος (Póntos): a sea; Pontus, a region of Asia Minor
Γαλατία (Galatía): Galatia, a region of Asia
Καππαδοκία (Kappadokía): Cappadocia, a region of Asia Minor
Ἀσία (Asía): Asia, i.e. Asia Minor, or (usually) only its western shore
Cross References
1 Peter 1Direct Old Testament quotation: 'Be ye holy; for I am holy,' reinforcing God's call to holiness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Direct Old Testament quotation; repeating the foundational commandment of personal holiness under the Law.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Direct Old Testament quotation comparing human frailty (grass) with the enduring word of the Lord.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The premier prophetic text foretelling the 'sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Confirms the prophets spoke by the 'Spirit of Christ' (the Holy Ghost) driving their messianic witness.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Alludes to eating the Passover with loins girded; signals readiness for spiritual pilgrimage.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Parallels Christ's blood as a lamb 'without blemish' and spot offering perfect spiritual purification.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Echoes the pattern of Christ's sufferings followed by the glory given to Him by God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallel theological concept of being born again by the word of truth as incorruptible seed.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Underlies the covenant ritual of 'sprinkling of the blood,' now fulfilled in Christ.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Explicates the theological link between God's 'foreknowledge' and being conformed to Christ's image.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Pronounces blessing on those who, like Peter's readers, have not seen Christ yet believe.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Details the 'former lusts in your ignorance' that the believers must abandon.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Echoes being chosen/foreordained before the foundation of the world for holiness and election.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Links being 'born again' here to the 'begotten again' unto a lively hope in verse 3.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Jesus explicitly defines the seed of spiritual regeneration as the word of God.
Supported by John Calvin, JFB
Verbal echo of the rich man fading away like the flower of the grass.
Supported by JFB
Addresses the 'scattered' believers (dispersion) using the same distinct terminology.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Links God's foreknowledge and determinate counsel to the unfolding of redemptive history.
Supported by JFB
The Old Testament metaphor of God testing and refining His people like silver/gold.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Identifies Christ directly as the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away sin.
Supported by JFB
The Passover lamb requirement of being 'without blemish' prefigures Christ's perfect spotlessness.
Supported by JFB
Focuses on God as the agent who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Links 'obeying the truth' with the 'obedience' of believers mentioned in the greeting.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Connects regeneration and faith to hearing the preached word of God.
Supported by John Calvin
Identifies the eternal, abiding word specifically with the gospel message preached to them.
Supported by JFB