1 Peter Chapter 1

New Testament Epistle (General) 25 Verses

What is 1 Peter 1 about?

Suffering and hope — instructions for a scattered, persecuted church living as strangers in a hostile world. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
3Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,
7that the proof of your faith, [being] more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:
8whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.
10Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that [should come] unto you:
11searching what [time] or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.
12To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angel desire to look into.
13Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14as children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in [the time of] your ignorance:
15but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living;
16because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.
17And if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man`s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:
18knowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;
19but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, [even the blood] of Christ:
20who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake,
21who through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.
22Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:
23having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.
24For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth:
25But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.

What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, etc.] The writer of this epistle describes himself first by his name, Peter, the same with Cephas, which signifies a rock, or stone; a name given him by Christ at his first conversion, and which respected his after firmness, solidity, resolution, and constancy; for his former name was Simeon, or Simon, as sometimes called; (see <400418>Matthew 4:18 <430142>John 1:42) and he further describes himself by his office, as an apostle of Jesus Christ; being one of the twelve apostles, and the first of that number; who saw Christ in the flesh, was conversant with him, had his call and…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“ADDRESS TO THE ELECTED OF THE GODHEAD: THANKSGIVING FOR THE LIVING HOPE TO WHICH WE ARE BEGOTTEN, PRODUCING JOY AMIDST SUFFERINGS: THIS SALVATION AN OBJECT OF DEEPEST INTEREST TO PROPHETS AND TO ANGELS: ITS COSTLY PRICE A MOTIVE TO HOLINESS AND LOVE, AS WE ARE BORN AGAIN OF THE EVER-ABIDING WORD OF GOD. (1Pe. 1:1-25) Peter--Greek form of Cephas, man of rock. an apostle of Jesus Christ--"He who preaches otherwise than as a messenger of Christ, is not to be heard; if he preach as such, then it is all one as if thou didst hear Christ speaking in thy presence" [LUTHER]. to the strangers scattered--literally,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ - On the word apostle, see the Romans 1:1 note; 1 Corinthians 9:1 ff notes. To the strangers - In the Greek, the word “elect” (see 1 Peter 1:2) occurs here: ἐκλεκτοῖς παρεπιδήμοις eklektois parepidēmois, “to the elect strangers.” He here addresses them as elect; in the following verse he shows them in what way they were elected. See the notes there: The word rendered “strangers” occurs only in three places in the New Testament; Hebrews 11:13, and 1 Peter 2:11, where it is rendered pilgrims, and in the place before us. See the notes at Hebrews 11:13. The word means, literally,…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“To the sojourners - Upon earth, the Christians, chiefly those of Jewish extraction. Scattered - Long ago driven out of their own land. Those scattered by the persecution mentioned Act 8:1, were scattered only through Judea and Samaria, though afterwards some of them travelled to Phenice, Cyprus, and Antioch. Through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia - He names these five provinces in the order wherein they occurred to him, writing from the east. All these countries lie in the Lesser Asia. The Asia here distinguished from the other provinces is that which was usually called the Proconsular Asia being…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“1:1 to God’s chosen people: Peter opens his letter to suffering Christians by reminding them of the status they enjoy because of God’s act on their behalf (1:2). • living as foreigners (literally exiles of the dispersion): An exile had been uprooted from his or her homeland and taken to live in a foreign country. Peter uses the concept metaphorically to remind Christians that they are living in a world dominated by anti-Christian values and ways of life. • Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia were Roman provinces in what is now Turkey. They might be listed in the order of the route that a messenger…”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“Peter: Mat 4:18, Mat 10:2; Joh 1:41, Joh 1:42, Joh 21:15-17 the: Pe1 2:11; Act 2:5-11; Eph 2:12, Eph 2:19; Heb 11:13 scattered: Lev 26:33; Deu 4:27, Deu 28:64, Deu 32:26; Est 3:8; Psa 44:11; Eze 6:8; Joh 7:35; Joh 11:52; Act 8:4; Jam 1:1 Pontus: Act 2:5, Act 2:9, Act 2:10, Act 18:2 Galatia: Act 16:6, Act 18:23; Gal 1:2 Cappadocia: Act 2:9 Asia: Act 6:9, Act 16:6, Act 19:10, Act 20:16-18; Co1 16:19; Co2 1:8; Ti2 1:15; Rev 1:11 Bithynia: Act 16:7 1 Peter 1:2”
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