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1 Peter1

World English Bible · Public Domain

1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you,

5who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various trials,

7that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—

8whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory,

9receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently. They prophesied of the grace that would come to you,

11searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them pointed to when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow them.

12To them it was revealed that they served not themselves, but you, in these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

13Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ—

14as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance,

15but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior,

16because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

17If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear,

18knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things like silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers,

19but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ,

20who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake,

21who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

22Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently,

23having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever.

24For, “All flesh is like grass, and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls;

25but the Lord’s word endures forever.” This is the word of Good News which was preached to you.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Peter 1.

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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.

Cross References

1 Peter 1
v16Leviticus 11:44quotation

Direct Old Testament quotation: 'Be ye holy; for I am holy,' reinforcing God's call to holiness.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v16Leviticus 19:2quotation

Direct Old Testament quotation; repeating the foundational commandment of personal holiness under the Law.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v24Isaiah 40:6-8quotation

Direct Old Testament quotation comparing human frailty (grass) with the enduring word of the Lord.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v11Isaiah 53:1-10fulfillment

The premier prophetic text foretelling the 'sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.'

Supported by Matthew Henry

v112 Peter 1:21thematic

Confirms the prophets spoke by the 'Spirit of Christ' (the Holy Ghost) driving their messianic witness.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v13Exodus 12:11allusion

Alludes to eating the Passover with loins girded; signals readiness for spiritual pilgrimage.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v19Hebrews 9:14thematic

Parallels Christ's blood as a lamb 'without blemish' and spot offering perfect spiritual purification.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v211 Peter 1:11thematic

Echoes the pattern of Christ's sufferings followed by the glory given to Him by God.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v23James 1:18thematic

Parallel theological concept of being born again by the word of truth as incorruptible seed.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v2Exodus 24:6allusion

Underlies the covenant ritual of 'sprinkling of the blood,' now fulfilled in Christ.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v2Romans 8:29thematic

Explicates the theological link between God's 'foreknowledge' and being conformed to Christ's image.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v8John 20:29thematic

Pronounces blessing on those who, like Peter's readers, have not seen Christ yet believe.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v141 Peter 4:3thematic

Details the 'former lusts in your ignorance' that the believers must abandon.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v20Ephesians 1:4thematic

Echoes being chosen/foreordained before the foundation of the world for holiness and election.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v231 Peter 1:3thematic

Links being 'born again' here to the 'begotten again' unto a lively hope in verse 3.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v23Luke 8:11thematic

Jesus explicitly defines the seed of spiritual regeneration as the word of God.

Supported by John Calvin, JFB

v24James 1:10-11allusion

Verbal echo of the rich man fading away like the flower of the grass.

Supported by JFB

v1James 1:1thematic

Addresses the 'scattered' believers (dispersion) using the same distinct terminology.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Acts 2:23thematic

Links God's foreknowledge and determinate counsel to the unfolding of redemptive history.

Supported by JFB

v7Psalms 66:10thematic

The Old Testament metaphor of God testing and refining His people like silver/gold.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v19John 1:29typology

Identifies Christ directly as the sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away sin.

Supported by JFB

v19Exodus 12:5typology

The Passover lamb requirement of being 'without blemish' prefigures Christ's perfect spotlessness.

Supported by JFB

v21Hebrews 13:20thematic

Focuses on God as the agent who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v221 Peter 1:2thematic

Links 'obeying the truth' with the 'obedience' of believers mentioned in the greeting.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v23Romans 10:17thematic

Connects regeneration and faith to hearing the preached word of God.

Supported by John Calvin

v25Romans 10:8thematic

Identifies the eternal, abiding word specifically with the gospel message preached to them.

Supported by JFB