The Book of 1 Peter with Commentary
Commentary Chapters:
1
1-2
2
2-2
3
3-2
4
5
New King James Version
1
Peter 1
Commentary
"Refined
In The Fire"
"Be
Holy, For I am Holy"
Greeting to the Elect Pilgrims
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,
and Bithynia, 2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
A Heavenly Inheritance
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according
to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in
heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for
salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need
be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of
your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it
is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the
revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen[a] you love. Though
now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy
inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your
faith—the salvation of your souls.
10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully,
who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what,
or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was
indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and
the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to
themselves, but to us[b] they were ministering the things which now
have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to
you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels
desire to look into.
Living Before God Our Father
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your
hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming
yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who
called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it
is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”[c]
17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges
according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout
the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not
redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your
aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with
the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world,
but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe
in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your
faith and hope are in God.
The Enduring Word
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the
Spirit[d] in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently
with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed
but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides
forever,[e] 24 because
“ All
flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of
man[f] as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls
away,
25 But the
word of the LORD endures forever.”[g]
Now this is the word which by the gospel
was preached to you.
1
Peter 2
Commentary
"Standing
on, or Stumbling over the Chief Cornerstone?"
"For
to This You Were Called"
1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy,
envy, and all evil speaking, 2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk
of the word, that you may grow thereby,[a] 3 if indeed you have tasted
that the Lord is gracious.
The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People
4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but
chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being
built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Therefore it is
also contained in the Scripture,
“ Behold,
I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone,
elect, precious,
And he who believes
on Him will by no
means be put to shame.”[b]
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are
disobedient,[c]
“ The
stone which the builders
rejected
Has become the chief
cornerstone,”[d]
8 and
“ A stone
of stumbling
And a rock of
offense.”[e]
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to
which they
also were appointed.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who
called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were
not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy
but now have obtained mercy.
Living Before the World
11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly
lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable
among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they
may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of
visitation.
Submission to Government
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the
Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to
governors,
as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for
the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that
by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice,
but
as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear
God. Honor the king.
Submission to Masters
18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to
the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable,
if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering
wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your
faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you
take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you
were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[f] leaving us[g] an
example, that you should follow His steps:
22
“ Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found
in His
mouth”;[h]
23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when
He
suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges
righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree,
that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by
whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray,
but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer[i] of your souls.
1
Peter 3
Commentary
"An
Arm and a Leg"
"When
God's Patience Run's Out"
Submission to Husbands
1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that
even
if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the
conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct
accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely
outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine
apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart,
with
the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very
precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times,
the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being
submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling
him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid
with any terror.
A Word to Husbands
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor
to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of
the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
Called to Blessing
8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one
another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;[a] 9 not
returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary
blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a
blessing. 10 For
“ He who
would love life
And see good days,
Let him
refrain his tongue from
evil,
And his lips from
speaking deceit.
11 Let him
turn away from evil and
do good;
Let him
seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the
eyes of the LORD are on
the righteous,
And His
ears are open to their
prayers;
But the face of the
LORD is against
those who do evil.”[b]
Suffering for Right and Wrong
13 And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is
good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’
sake,
you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor
be
troubled.”[c] 15 But sanctify the Lord God[d] in your hearts,
and
always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for
the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 16 having a good
conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile
your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17 For it is better, if it
is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
Christ’s Suffering and Ours
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust,
that He might bring us[e] to God, being put to death in the flesh but
made alive by the Spirit, 19 by whom also He went and preached to the
spirits in prison, 20 who formerly were disobedient, when once the
Divine longsuffering waited[f] in the days of Noah, while the ark was
being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved
through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves
us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but
the
answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of
Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of
God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
1
Peter 4
Commentary
"Judgement
Begins at the House of God"
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us[a] in the flesh,
arm
yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the
flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of
his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3
For we have spent enough of our past lifetime[b] in doing the will of
the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness,
revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to
these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same
flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account
to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason
the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be
judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the
spirit.
Serving for God’s Glory
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and
watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for
one another, for “love will cover a multitude of
sins.”[c]
9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has
received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the
manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the
oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability
which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through
Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and
ever. Amen.
Suffering for God’s Glory
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is
to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but
rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s
sufferings,
that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding
joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you,
for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.[d] On their part He
is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you
suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other
people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian,
let
him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.[e]
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and
if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not
obey the gospel of God? 18 Now
“ If the
righteous one is scarcely
saved,
Where will the
ungodly and the sinner
appear?”[f]
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of
God
commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
1
Peter 5
Commentary
"A
Shepherd's Heart, A Shepherd's Reward"
Shepherd the Flock
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow
elder
and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the
glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among
you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly,[a] not for
dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted
to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd
appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Submit to God, Resist the Devil
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes,
all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility,
for
“ God
resists the proud,
But gives grace to
the humble.”[b]
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
that
He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He
cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because[c] your adversary the devil walks
about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him,
steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are
experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may[d] the God of
all grace, who called us[e] to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after
you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle
you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Farewell and Peace
12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written
to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of
God in which you stand.
13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so
does Mark my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.