1 Peter 1

Peter writes to scattered Christians who feel like outsiders and are suffering for their faith. He lifts their eyes to the living hope, the secure inheritance and the costly salvation they have in Christ. Then he calls them to holy living, fearless trust and deep love, built on God’s unfailing word.

1 Peter 1:1

Peter writes as an apostle, one sent with Christ’s authority. His readers are Christians scattered across what is now Turkey. God has chosen them, yet they live as outsiders in the world. Their true identity comes from God’s choice, not from where they live.

BSA: exiles (“strangers, sojourners”): They are pictured as temporary residents whose true home is elsewhere. elect (“chosen by God, select”): Their standing rests on God’s choice, not on their own achievement.

Greek: παρεπιδήμοις (parepidēmois, G3927) — “temporary residents, resident aliens.” It describes people living in a place without being citizens of it. Peter uses it to show that believers belong first to God’s kingdom.

1 Peter 1:2

All three Persons of God work in salvation. The Father chose, the Spirit sets apart, and the blood of Jesus cleanses. The result is a life of obedience. Peter prays that grace and peace will be multiplied to his readers.

BSA: sanctified (“set apart, made holy”): The Spirit claims believers for God and makes them holy. sprinkling (“ceremonial purification”): It echoes Old Testament sacrifice, where blood sprinkled cleansed and sealed a people for God.

See also: Exodus 24:7-8; Ephesians 1:3-5.

1 Peter 1:3

Peter begins with praise. God’s great mercy, not our effort, gave us a second birth. That new life brings a hope that is alive because Jesus is alive. Christian hope is not wishful thinking, because it rests on the resurrection.

BSA: new birth (“begotten us again, regenerated us”): God himself gives a fresh beginning of life, as a father gives life to a child. mercy (“abundant kindness, loving compassion”): The new birth comes from God’s generous compassion toward people who deserved nothing.

Greek: ἀναγεννήσας (anagennēsas, G313) — “caused to be born again.” The word means being fathered or begotten anew. It shows that believers receive a new life from God and do not create it themselves.

See also: John 3:3; 1 Corinthians 15:20.

1 Peter 1:4

Believers have an inheritance, and Peter describes it with three negatives. It cannot rot, be stained, or fade. It is kept in heaven, so no thief, war or time can touch it. It is held safe for you.

BSA: reserved (“kept safe, preserved”): The inheritance is being guarded for the believer and cannot be lost.

See also: Matthew 6:19-20.

1 Peter 1:5

The inheritance is kept safe for us, and we are kept safe for it. God’s power stands guard over believers while they trust him. Faith is the way they are held, and the full salvation will be shown at the end.

BSA: shielded (“guarded, protected”): The word pictures a garrison standing guard around a city.

Greek: φρουρουμένους (phrouroumenous, G5432) — “being guarded as by a garrison.” It is a military word for sentries guarding a town. God’s power keeps watch around the believer.

See also: John 10:28-29.

1 Peter 1:6

Peter does not deny that these believers hurt. They rejoice in their salvation and also grieve in their trials. Both are true at once. He reminds them that the suffering is only for a little while when set beside eternity.

BSA: trials (“temptations, testings”): Hardships test what a person really trusts. various (“manifold, diverse”): Trials come in many kinds, and God’s care meets each of them.

See also: James 1:2-3.

1 Peter 1:7

Fire tests gold to show it is pure. Suffering tests faith in the same way. Gold will pass away in the end, but proven faith will bring praise to Christ and honor to the believer when Jesus is revealed. Trials have a purpose.

BSA: proven character (“trial, testing”): Faith is shown genuine by being tested. revelation (“apocalypse, unveiling”): Christ’s return will pull back the curtain on what is now hidden.

Greek: δοκίμιον (dokimion, G1383) — “what is tested and found genuine.” It points to the result of an assay, a test that shows metal to be real. Faith that comes through suffering is shown to be real.

See also: Job 23:10.

1 Peter 1:8

Peter’s readers never saw Jesus in the flesh. Even so, they love and trust him. Their joy is so deep that words cannot hold it. Faith gives a real relationship with someone unseen.

BSA: inexpressible (“unspeakable, beyond words”): Their joy is too big for ordinary speech. glorious (“full of glory, glorified”): Their joy already shares in the glory of heaven.

See also: John 20:29.

1 Peter 1:9

The goal of faith is the salvation of the soul, meaning the whole person. Peter says believers are receiving it even now, though its fullness is still to come. Faith already holds the first payments of what God has promised.

BSA: goal (“end, culmination”): Salvation is the finish line that faith is running toward. souls (“the seat of emotions, desires, and spiritual life”): God saves the whole inner life, not a small part of a person.

1 Peter 1:10-11

The Old Testament prophets spoke of a coming salvation, and they studied their own words hard to understand them. The Spirit of Christ was already at work in them. He pointed to a suffering Messiah and to the glory that would follow.

BSA: searched (“investigated carefully, sought out”): The prophets dug into their own messages like miners seeking treasure. sufferings (“hardships, afflictions”): The Messiah’s path to glory led through real pain.

See also: Isaiah 53:3-5; Luke 24:25-27.

1 Peter 1:12

God told the prophets that their message was for later generations. Now it has been announced through the gospel, in the power of the Spirit sent from heaven. It is so wonderful that even angels long to look into it. Believers hold what angels watch with wonder.

BSA: long (“yearn, desire deeply”): Angels have a strong desire to understand salvation. look into (“stoop, gaze”): The picture is of leaning over to look closely at something precious.

Greek: παρακύψαι (parakupsai, G3879) — “to stoop and peer in.” It is the word used of stooping to look into the empty tomb. Angels bend down to look at salvation.

See also: John 20:5.

1 Peter 1:13

Because of all this, Peter calls his readers to be ready and clear-headed. In his day people tucked up long robes before work or travel. Believers should fix their hope on the grace that comes when Christ appears.

BSA: prepare your minds for action (“gird up the loins of your understanding”): It pictures tucking in a long robe so that nothing hinders you. sober-minded (“morally alert, discreet”): It means a steady mind that is not swept away by every passing thing.

Greek: ἀναζωσάμενοι (anazōsamenoi, G328) — “having tied up one’s robe.” It shows a person getting ready to move quickly, with the loose robe tied up around the waist. Peter applies the picture to the mind.

1 Peter 1:14

Believers are now children who obey their Father. Peter tells them not to be shaped again by the cravings they followed before they knew God. Their old way was ignorance of God, and they now know better.

BSA: conform (“mold yourselves to fit”): The world presses like a mold, and believers should not take its shape. passions (“strong desires, lusts”): These are the driving desires that ruled life before knowing God.

See also: Romans 12:2.

1 Peter 1:15-16

God is holy, and he calls his children to share his character in everything they do. Peter quotes the Old Testament command to show that this is not new. Holiness means belonging to God and becoming like him.

BSA: holy (“set apart, dedicated to God”): Holiness means belonging to God and living differently because of it.

Greek: ἅγιοι (hagioi, G40) — “holy, set apart.” The root idea is being set apart for God. It covers both belonging to him and living in a way that fits his purity.

See also: Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:2.

1 Peter 1:17

Believers call God Father, but he is also an impartial judge. He does not play favorites. So they should live with a serious, reverent respect for him, remembering that this world is not their permanent home.

BSA: impartially (“without respect of persons, based on merit”): God looks at what a person actually does, not at status or reputation. fear (“awe and trembling”): This is not terror of a harsh master, but deep respect for a holy Father.

See also: Romans 2:11.

1 Peter 1:18-19

Believers were bought out of slavery to a pointless way of life. The price was not silver or gold but the precious blood of Christ. He is like a spotless lamb, as in the Old Testament sacrifices. Our freedom cost more than anything money could pay.

BSA: redeemed (“ransomed, set free”): A price was paid to set a captive free. empty (“futile, useless”): The life they were rescued from led nowhere.

Greek: ἐλυτρώθητε (elutrōthēte, G3084) — “you were ransomed.” It comes from the language of paying a ransom to free a slave or prisoner. It shows that our freedom was bought at great cost.

See also: Exodus 12:5; Isaiah 53:7.

1 Peter 1:20

God’s plan to save through Christ was not an emergency fix. Christ was known and chosen before the world was made. In these last times he has appeared, and he came for the sake of Peter’s readers and for us.

BSA: revealed (“manifested, made visible”): What was planned in eternity became visible in Jesus.

See also: Revelation 13:8.

1 Peter 1:21

Believers come to trust the Father through Jesus. God raised him from the dead and gave him glory. That is why their faith and hope rest on God himself. The resurrection shows that the Father accepted Christ’s sacrifice.

BSA: glorified (“honored, gave praise to”): God publicly honored Jesus after his death.

See also: Acts 2:32-33.

1 Peter 1:22

Obeying the truth of the gospel cleanses the inner life and produces real love for other believers. Peter then calls them to love one another earnestly and from a clean heart. Faith in Christ shows itself in love for his people.

BSA: genuine (“unfeigned, sincere”): The love is to be real, without pretending. deeply (“mutually”): The love is to flow in every direction among believers.

Greek: ἐκτενῶς (ektenōs, G1619) — “intensely, stretched out.” It describes an effort that is fully stretched, like a runner reaching forward. Peter asks for love that strains and does not tire.

See also: John 13:34-35.

1 Peter 1:23

Human life starts from a seed that will eventually die. The new birth comes from a seed that cannot die: the living word of God. Believers have a life that shares in the word’s own endurance.

BSA: born again (“begotten anew, having a new life”): This is a fresh start given by God, not earned. enduring (“remaining forever”): God’s word does not fade, so the life it gives lasts too.

See also: John 1:12-13; James 1:18.

1 Peter 1:24-25

Peter quotes Isaiah. Human life and glory fade like grass and flowers, but God’s word stands forever. The word that Isaiah spoke of is the gospel that was preached to these believers. They can build everything on it.

BSA: withers (“dries up, becomes barren”): Everything human fades, however impressive it looks. stands (“remains, abides”): God’s word stays firm when everything else is gone.

See also: Isaiah 40:6-8; Matthew 24:35.