1 Peter 1

King James Version

Full text for 1 Peter Chapter 1

1¶ Peter, 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.

3¶ 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,

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.

6¶ Wherein 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.

10¶ Of 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.

13¶ Wherefore 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.

24¶ For 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Peter addresses the scattered elect, blessing God for their new birth into a living hope and an incorruptible inheritance through Christ's resurrection. He encourages them to rejoice in their salvation despite trials, which refine their faith. Believers are exhorted to live holy lives, redeemed by Christ's precious blood, and to love one another. Their spiritual rebirth is by the enduring Word of God.

Medium Summary

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, writes to the scattered elect, chosen by God and sanctified by the Spirit, wishing them grace and peace. He blesses God for their new birth into a living hope through Christ's resurrection, securing an incorruptible inheritance in heaven, preserved by God's power. Though they face trials, these serve to prove their faith, which is more precious than gold, leading to praise at Christ's appearing. Peter reminds them that prophets of old diligently searched into this salvation, which is now preached by the Gospel. Therefore, believers are called to be sober, to hope fully in Christ's revelation, and to live holy lives, not conforming to past lusts. Their redemption was not by corruptible things but by the precious, spotless blood of Christ, who was foreordained and manifested for their faith and hope in God. Finally, they are urged to love one another fervently, having been born again by the incorruptible, everlasting Word of God.

Long Summary

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, addresses the elect strangers scattered throughout various regions, chosen according to God the Father's foreknowledge, sanctified by the Spirit, for obedience and the sprinkling of Christ's blood, wishing them multiplied grace and peace. He praises God for His abundant mercy, which has begotten them again unto a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This hope leads to an incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading inheritance reserved in heaven, kept by God's power through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed. In this hope, they greatly rejoice, even though they may experience temporary heaviness through manifold temptations. These trials prove their faith, which is more precious than perishing gold, and are intended to result in praise, honour, and glory at Christ's appearing. Though they have not seen Him, they love and believe in Him, rejoicing with unspeakable joy, receiving the salvation of their souls. Peter reveals that the prophets diligently enquired and searched concerning this salvation, prophesying of the grace that would come, understanding that they ministered not to themselves but to the believers of these latter times. These truths, now preached by the Gospel with the Holy Ghost, are so profound that even angels desire to look into them. Therefore, Peter exhorts them to gird up the loins of their mind, be sober, and hope completely for the grace to be brought at Christ's revelation. As obedient children, they are not to fashion themselves according to former lusts but to be holy in all manner of conversation, just as God who called them is holy, as it is written, "Be ye holy; for I am holy." He reminds them to pass their time in fear, knowing that the Father judges impartially. Their redemption was not purchased with corruptible things like silver or gold from their vain traditions, but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish or spot, who was foreordained before the world's foundation and manifested in these last times. Through Christ, they believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that their faith and hope might be in God. Having purified their souls by obeying the truth through the Spirit, they are now commanded to love one another with a pure heart fervently, being born again not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which lives and abides forever. For all flesh is like grass that withers, but the word of the Lord endures forever, which is the very gospel preached unto them.

Core Concepts

  • Elect StrangersPeter addresses believers as 'strangers scattered' and 'elect,' chosen by God's foreknowledge and sanctified by the Spirit. This highlights their spiritual identity and divine calling amidst their earthly dispersion.
  • Living Hope and Incorruptible InheritanceThrough Christ's resurrection, believers are begotten again unto a 'lively hope' and an 'inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled,' reserved in heaven and kept by God's power. This emphasizes the secure and eternal nature of their future.
  • Trial of FaithBelievers experience 'manifold temptations' and 'heaviness,' but these trials are presented as a refining process for their faith, which is more precious than gold. This process leads to praise, honour, and glory at Christ's appearing.
  • Holiness and ObedienceThe chapter exhorts believers to be 'holy in all manner of conversation' because God is holy, and to live as 'obedient children,' not conforming to former lusts. This stresses the ethical implications of their new birth and divine calling.
  • Redemption by Christ's BloodRedemption is declared to be not by corruptible things like silver or gold, but by the 'precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.' Christ was foreordained before the world's foundation, highlighting the unique and costly nature of their salvation.
  • Born Again by the WordBelievers are 'born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.' This emphasizes the spiritual transformation and the eternal power of God's Word in their new life.
  • Fervent Brotherly LoveHaving purified their souls by obeying the truth through the Spirit, believers are commanded to 'love one another with a pure heart fervently.' This underscores the practical outcome of their spiritual renewal in their community and relationships.