1 Peter 1:3–13, 18–21

Bible Studies for Life
Chair of Philosophy, Samford University, Southwestern Seminary graduate

Hope That Lives
1 Peter 1:3–13, 18–21
In this letter Peter alludes to believers in Rome who were suffering for their faith. Instead of telling them to flee, the apostle draws their attention to the significance of Christ’s suffering for the redemption of the world. Christ’s suffering enables the believer to transform his or her own sufferings into a testimony of God’s eternal nature.

Saint’s Inheritance (3–5)
Verses 3–12 are actually one long sentence. Peter lays out his thought according to a Trinitarian pattern — verses 3–5 deal with God the Father, 6–9 with the Son’s work and 10–12 with the Spirit working through the prophets. Peter starts by blessing God the Father. He is grateful for what God has done, which Peter describes according to four clauses — 1) for God’s mercies; 2) for giving us a lively hope; 3) for the resurrection, which is the historical basis of our hope; and 4) for our inheritance, which is incorruptible, undefiled and unfading and protects us. It’s important to see the order — God acts and we are grateful.

Gratitude is a mark of genuine faith because it acknowledges that we do not save ourselves or make ourselves worthy of salvation. Salvation is a gift and by being grateful, we expand our attentions and affections toward God.
The contrary is also true — if we are ungrateful, we become self-centered and cannot acknowledge God. But in gratitude, our hearts become filled with devotion for the gift.

Purpose of Christian Suffering (6–9)
Peter’s attention now turns to the Son’s work, but his examination is not merely speculative. He turns to Christ because of life and death needs. The readers suffer extreme trials, which refer to persecutions, not to natural hardships. But these trials have a purpose — to make their faith more genuinely about God. Peter contrasts two reasons for faith. Some people have faith because God will make their lives better. Others have faith because of knowing God’s nature. The first is easier but wrongheaded. The second is more demanding but true.

For Peter, trials can make us finally assess why we have faith. The sufferings become a smelting process, forcing us to either keep a superficial faith or a profound one. Why keep faith if we suffer for it? Faith should be kept because it is not about our wants and accomplishments but God’s gift of salvation, which is the foundation for the enduring hope.         

Uniqueness of the Lively Hope (10–13)
Peter seems to anticipate a question here — does our faith make Christ’s redemptive work true? Peter’s answer is no. The work of God makes faith certain, and God the Spirit has inspired the ancient Hebrew prophets to prepare for Christ’s vicarious suffering.

Christ’s death was not an accident. It was planned. A divine goal works through human history. Though many historical events may be arbitrary and inexplicable to us, we know, by the work of God the Spirit through the prophets, that the central event of all time is Christ’s death and resurrection. The cross exposes the reality and defines the meaning of all history. Even the angels long to see this.

Eternal Dimension of Redemption (18–21)
The apostle says believers have been ransomed. The word indicates one bought off a slave market. Peter’s readers were enslaved and a ransom had to be paid to procure their salvation. Though they were guilty and should pay their debt, they could not because they were slaves. Only one who is both powerful enough to pay the debt but innocent of the guilt can truly ransom those who need it. That is Christ, the Son of God, who is both divine and one like a sacrificial lamb for others.

Peter understands the profound truth that Christ’s ransom was destined from the “foundation of the world.” The phrase suggests eternity. The cross has always been God’s plan to redeem the world. Christ’s death and resurrection are not accidents but central to God’s eternal nature. In Christ, we experience the eternal desire of God to be reconciled to the world. In Christ’s suffering, God pays the ultimate cost to bring about redemption. And for that, like Peter, we should bless God.