American King James Version - AKJV - 1999
1 Peter 1
1
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 11:13
Psalm 44:11
Acts 8:4
Ephesians 2:19
Matthew 24:22
John 11:52
Deuteronomy 4:27
Deuteronomy 28:64
1 Peter 2:11
References Jesus
James 1:1
2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, be multiplied.
Reference
Blood
Hebrews 12:24
Grace
2 Peter 1:2
Parallel theme
Mark 13:27
Mark 13:20
References God
Romans 11:2
Acts 2:23
Romans 16:26
References Jesus
2 Timothy 2:10
Spirit
2 Thessalonians 2:13
1 Peter 1:22
3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Reference
Blessing
2 Corinthians 1:3
Ephesians 1:3
Grace
Ephesians 1:7
Exodus 34:6
Hope
Romans 15:13
1 John 3:3
Romans 12:12
Parallel theme
1 John 2:29
References God
1 Peter 1:23
1 John 5:4
4
To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Reference
5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Reference
Faith
Galatians 2:20
Parallel theme
Philippians 1:6
Job 19:25
1 Peter 1:13
John 17:15
References God
Jude 1:1
Salvation
Ephesians 2:8
Hebrews 9:28
2 Timothy 3:15
Isaiah 51:6
6
Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
Reference
7
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Reference
Glory
Romans 2:7
Jude 1:24
Parallel theme
Job 23:10
James 1:12
Isaiah 48:10
1 Peter 4:12
Proverbs 17:3
Zechariah 13:9
1 Corinthians 3:13
Malachi 3:3
8
Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Reference
10
Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come to you:
Reference
Parallel theme
John 5:39
Daniel 2:44
Hebrews 11:13
Proverbs 2:4
Matthew 26:24
Prophecy
Matthew 13:17
Luke 10:24
Acts 7:52
Acts 10:43
John 7:52
11
Searching 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.
Reference
Glory
John 12:41
Parallel theme
Zechariah 14:9
Genesis 3:15
Genesis 49:10
Isaiah 49:6
Luke 24:44
Spirit
2 Peter 1:21
Romans 8:9
Revelation 19:10
Galatians 4:6
12
To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they did minister the things, which are now reported to you by them that have preached the gospel to you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Reference
Holy
2 Corinthians 6:6
Parallel theme
Ephesians 3:10
Mark 16:15
Hebrews 4:2
Revelation 5:11
1 Peter 1:25
Spirit
John 15:26
1 Corinthians 2:10
Romans 15:19
2 Corinthians 1:22
13
Why gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
Reference
Hope
1 Peter 3:15
1 John 3:3
Parallel theme
1 Peter 5:8
Luke 12:35
1 Peter 4:7
2 Timothy 4:8
Ephesians 6:14
Luke 17:30
References Christ
Hebrews 9:28
References Jesus
1 Corinthians 1:7
14
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
Reference
17
And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
Reference
18
For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
Reference
Parallel theme
1 Corinthians 6:20
1 Corinthians 7:23
Galatians 1:4
Ephesians 4:17
Romans 1:21
1 Peter 1:7
1 Peter 4:3
Psalm 39:6
Psalm 62:10
Redemption
Titus 2:14
19
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Reference
Blood
1 John 1:7
Revelation 5:9
Ephesians 1:7
Colossians 1:14
Revelation 1:5
Parallel theme
John 1:29
Exodus 12:5
John 1:36
Matthew 20:28
1 John 2:2
20
Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Reference
21
Who 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.
Reference
Faith
John 12:44
Ephesians 1:15
Glory
Hebrews 2:9
References God
Hebrews 7:25
1 Peter 3:22
Resurrection
Acts 2:24
22
Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brothers, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently:
Reference
23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and stays for ever.
Reference
References God
1 Peter 1:3
John 3:3
John 1:13
1 John 5:18
1 John 3:9
John 3:5
Word
Hebrews 4:12
John 6:63
James 1:18
Matthew 24:35
24
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass wither, and the flower thereof falls away:
Reference
Summary of 1 Peter 1
1 Peter 1 encourages Christians living as temporary residents in the world to remain hopeful and faithful through suffering because God has given them new life through Jesus Christ's resurrection, an eternal inheritance preserved in heaven, and a salvation that will ultimately be revealed, while their present trials refine their faith and prepare them to live holy, obedient, loving lives founded upon the enduring word of God rather than temporary human achievements.
Peter begins by addressing believers scattered throughout several regions of Asia Minor, describing them as people chosen by God who are living away from their ultimate home.
Their identity is therefore defined less by their earthly location and more by their relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Peter immediately focuses on living hope, explaining that believers have been given new spiritual life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Their hope is not based upon temporary circumstances because they possess an inheritance kept safely in heaven that cannot decay, become polluted, or disappear.
God's power protects believers through faith while they wait for the final revelation of salvation, giving Christians confidence that their present struggles do not determine their ultimate future.
However, Peter does not pretend that believers will avoid suffering.
Instead, he explains that Christians may experience different trials and temporary sorrow, but these difficulties can test and strengthen their faith in much the same way that fire tests and purifies precious gold.
Faith that remains genuine through suffering will ultimately result in praise, honor, and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Peter emphasizes that believers can love Jesus even though they have not physically seen Him, because their faith is directed toward the risen Christ.
Their faith produces deep joy because they are moving toward the ultimate goal of salvation.
The chapter then connects Christian salvation with the Old Testament prophets, explaining that the prophets carefully investigated the salvation that God would later reveal through Christ.
They anticipated both the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow, although they did not personally experience the fulfillment of the promises they announced.
Peter therefore presents the gospel as the fulfillment of a much larger story that God had been revealing throughout history.
Because believers now understand this salvation, Peter calls them to prepare their minds, remain self-controlled, and place their complete hope in God's grace.
Their new identity should also produce a new way of living.
They should no longer return to the sinful desires that controlled their lives before they understood God's truth but should instead become holy because the God who called them is holy.
Holiness is therefore not presented as a narrow religious activity but as a transformation affecting every part of Christian conduct.
Peter reminds believers that they call upon God as their impartial Father and should therefore live with reverence during their temporary earthly journey.
Their redemption did not come through silver or gold, which eventually perish, but through the precious blood of Christ, whom Peter compares to a spotless and pure sacrificial lamb.
Christ's sacrifice was not an unexpected development but part of God's purpose established before creation and revealed in the final period of history through Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and glorification.
Because God raised Jesus from the dead and gave Him glory, believers can place their faith and hope firmly in God.
Peter then connects salvation with Christian love, explaining that believers who have been purified through obedience to the truth should sincerely and deeply love one another.
Their spiritual transformation should therefore become visible through the way they treat fellow believers.
The chapter closes by contrasting temporary human life with God's enduring word.
Human beings and their earthly glory are compared with grass and flowers that eventually wither and disappear, while God's word remains forever.
The gospel that Peter and others preached is therefore not temporary human philosophy but the enduring message through which God gives new spiritual life.
The central message of 1 Peter 1 is that Christians living as temporary residents in a changing and sometimes hostile world should remain firmly anchored in the living hope provided through Jesus Christ's resurrection, trusting God's promised eternal inheritance while allowing present trials to strengthen their faith and responding to God's grace through holiness, obedience, self-control, sincere love, and confidence in the enduring word of God rather than placing their ultimate hope in temporary earthly circumstances.
Peter begins by addressing believers scattered throughout several regions of Asia Minor, describing them as people chosen by God who are living away from their ultimate home.
Their identity is therefore defined less by their earthly location and more by their relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Peter immediately focuses on living hope, explaining that believers have been given new spiritual life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Their hope is not based upon temporary circumstances because they possess an inheritance kept safely in heaven that cannot decay, become polluted, or disappear.
God's power protects believers through faith while they wait for the final revelation of salvation, giving Christians confidence that their present struggles do not determine their ultimate future.
However, Peter does not pretend that believers will avoid suffering.
Instead, he explains that Christians may experience different trials and temporary sorrow, but these difficulties can test and strengthen their faith in much the same way that fire tests and purifies precious gold.
Faith that remains genuine through suffering will ultimately result in praise, honor, and glory when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Peter emphasizes that believers can love Jesus even though they have not physically seen Him, because their faith is directed toward the risen Christ.
Their faith produces deep joy because they are moving toward the ultimate goal of salvation.
The chapter then connects Christian salvation with the Old Testament prophets, explaining that the prophets carefully investigated the salvation that God would later reveal through Christ.
They anticipated both the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow, although they did not personally experience the fulfillment of the promises they announced.
Peter therefore presents the gospel as the fulfillment of a much larger story that God had been revealing throughout history.
Because believers now understand this salvation, Peter calls them to prepare their minds, remain self-controlled, and place their complete hope in God's grace.
Their new identity should also produce a new way of living.
They should no longer return to the sinful desires that controlled their lives before they understood God's truth but should instead become holy because the God who called them is holy.
Holiness is therefore not presented as a narrow religious activity but as a transformation affecting every part of Christian conduct.
Peter reminds believers that they call upon God as their impartial Father and should therefore live with reverence during their temporary earthly journey.
Their redemption did not come through silver or gold, which eventually perish, but through the precious blood of Christ, whom Peter compares to a spotless and pure sacrificial lamb.
Christ's sacrifice was not an unexpected development but part of God's purpose established before creation and revealed in the final period of history through Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and glorification.
Because God raised Jesus from the dead and gave Him glory, believers can place their faith and hope firmly in God.
Peter then connects salvation with Christian love, explaining that believers who have been purified through obedience to the truth should sincerely and deeply love one another.
Their spiritual transformation should therefore become visible through the way they treat fellow believers.
The chapter closes by contrasting temporary human life with God's enduring word.
Human beings and their earthly glory are compared with grass and flowers that eventually wither and disappear, while God's word remains forever.
The gospel that Peter and others preached is therefore not temporary human philosophy but the enduring message through which God gives new spiritual life.
The central message of 1 Peter 1 is that Christians living as temporary residents in a changing and sometimes hostile world should remain firmly anchored in the living hope provided through Jesus Christ's resurrection, trusting God's promised eternal inheritance while allowing present trials to strengthen their faith and responding to God's grace through holiness, obedience, self-control, sincere love, and confidence in the enduring word of God rather than placing their ultimate hope in temporary earthly circumstances.