The Epistles · Chapter 1 of 5

1 Peter 1

Peter writes to exiles scattered across Asia Minor, blessing God for a living hope born through Christ's resurrection and an inheritance kept in heaven. Though grieved by trials, they rejoice; tested faith is more precious than gold. They love a Savior they have not seen. Redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, born again by the enduring word, they are called to holiness and sincere love.

What happens in 1 Peter 1

Peter addresses believers as elect exiles, chosen through the Father's foreknowledge, the Spirit's sanctifying, and the sprinkled blood of Jesus Christ. He erupts in praise: God has begotten us again to a living hope by raising Jesus from the dead, and to an incorruptible inheritance reserved in heaven, while we are guarded by God's power through faith. Present trials, though painful, refine faith like fire tests gold, and will yield praise and glory when Christ appears.

Though they have never seen him, they love him and rejoice with joy unspeakable. Peter notes the prophets searched their own words about this coming grace, and even angels long to look into it. He calls them to gird up their minds, to be holy as God is holy, and to live reverently as those redeemed not by silver or gold but by the precious blood of the spotless Lamb, foreordained before the world. Born again by the living word, they must love one another fervently.

1 Peter 1 in context

Peter, apostle of Jesus, writes to mostly Gentile believers scattered through the northern provinces of Asia Minor, likely facing rising hostility for their faith. The letter steadies a suffering church by anchoring it in what cannot be shaken: election, resurrection hope, and a guarded inheritance.

Its language of exile and pilgrimage frames Christian life as a sojourn toward home, and chapter one lays the foundation of hope before the calls to holy living.

Main themes of 1 Peter 1

1 Peter 1 (KJV)

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.

Verses to carry from 1 Peter 1

“Blessed 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,”1 Peter 1:3

“Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:”1 Peter 1:8

“Forasmuch 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;”1 Peter 1:18

Reflection

Peter wrote to people who had never seen Jesus, yet loved him. Where is your faith being tested right now, and can you see it not as gold being lost but as gold being refined? Set your hope fully on the grace that will be revealed when Christ appears.

A prayer from 1 Peter 1