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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 1Pe_1:17-21
17If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, 21who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
1Pe_1:17 "if" This is a first class conditional sentence which is assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes.
▣ "you address as Father" This is a present middle indicative (cf. Hos_11:1-3; Jer_3:19), implying that believers will continue to call upon YHWH in family terms (cf. Rom_8:15; Gal_4:6) as Jesus taught them (cf. Mat_6:9). See hyperlink at Mar_13:32.
▣ "the One who impartially judges" God will call into account not only those who have never known Him, but also those who claim to know Him (cf. 1Pe_4:5; 1Pe_4:17-18; Rom_14:12; 2Co_5:10). Those to whom much is given, much is required (cf. Luk_12:48)!
If we call Him Father, then we should reflect the family characteristic, as does the eldest Son! Our Father, the Holy One, is an impartial judge (cf. Deu_10:17; 2Ch_19:7; Act_10:34; Rom_2:11; Gal_2:6; Eph_6:9; Col_3:25; 1Pe_1:17).
Human beings have a choice (cf. Deu_30:15-20; Jos_24:15; Eze_18:30-32) in how they will relate to God. He can be a loving Father if they trust in Christ (cf. Joh_1:12; Rom_10:9-13) or He can be a holy judge if they rely on their own merits or performance of religious rites, rules, and procedures (cf. Mat_25:31-46; Col_2:20-23). Do you want mercy or justice?
The term "impartial" reflects an OT idiom, "to lift the face." Judges should not be affected by who is accused, rather by their actions.
▣ "according to each one's work" This is a moral universe. God is the Judge. Humans will give an account unto God for the gift of life (cf. Mat_25:31-46; 2Co_5:10; Rev_20:11-15). We are all stewards and we reap what we sow (cf. Job_34:11;Psa_28:4; Psa_62:12; Pro_12:14; Pro_24:12; Isa_3:10-11; Jer_17:10; Hos_4:9; Mat_16:27; Mat_25:31-46; Rom_2:6; 1Co_3:8; Gal_6:7; Col_3:25; Rev_2:23; Rev_20:12-13; Rev_22:12).
▣ "conduct yourself in fear" There is an appropriate respect due a holy God (cf. 2Co_5:21). That respect is that His children live godly lives, knowing that they will give an account to God for the gift of life and the gospel.
▣ "during the time of your stay on earth" This refers to believers sojourning in an alien land (cf. 1Pe_1:1; 1Pe_2:11; Heb_11:9-10). This world is not our home!
1Pe_1:18 "knowing" Our knowledge of Christ's work on our behalf causes us to live a life of Christlike obedience.
There has been speculation among commentators as to Peter's use of early church creeds, hymns, or worship liturgy. 1Pe_1:18-21; 1Pe_2:21-25 show signs of poetic pattern. Paul also made use of this creedal, hymnic, liturgical material or possibly even catechismal literature made lyrical to aid memory (cf. Eph_5:19; Php_2:6-11; Col_1:15-16; Col_3:15-20; 1Ti_3:16; 2Ti_2:11-13).
▣ "redeemed" The term "redeemed" reflects an OT term "to buy someone back" from poverty or slavery. There are two Hebrew terms (ransom, redeem). One has the added connotation of "to be bought back by a near kin" (go'el, the kinsman redeemer, cf. Rth_4:1; Rth_4:3; Rth_4:6; Rth_4:8; Rth_4:14). Jesus is our near-kin who has purchased our forgiveness with His own life (cf. Isaiah 53; Mar_10:45; 2Co_5:21). See hyperlink at Mar_10:45.
NASB, NJB "from your futile way of life"
NKJV "from your aimless conduct"
NRSV "from the futile ways"
TEV "from the worthless manner of life"
There are two ways of interpreting this phrase.
1. It refers to OT traditions (cf. Isa_29:13; Mat_15:1-20; Mar_7:1-23) and reflects the Hebrew term "vain," "empty" or "mist" (cf. Jer_2:5; Zec_10:2). The next phrase alludes to the sacrificial system of the OT. If so, then Peter is speaking to believing Jews.
2. It refers to 1Pe_1:14 and to the immoral, pagan, past experience of Gentile believers.
For a general sense of this term see Act_14:15; 1Co_15:17; Tit_3:9 and Jas_1:26.
1Pe_1:19 "with precious blood as a lamb" This phrase is an allusion to Israel's sacrificial system (cf. Leviticus 1-7). God graciously allowed sinful mankind to approach Him by means of sacrifice. Sin takes a life. Life is in the blood (cf. Lev_18:11; Lev_18:14). God allowed the substitution of an animal life. John the Baptist called Jesus "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (cf. Joh_1:29). Jesus' prophesied death (cf. Isa_53:7-8) dealt with the sin of the entire world (cf. Joh_3:16-17; Joh_4:42; 1Jn_2:2; 1Jn_4:14).
▣ "unblemished and spotless" These are OT sacrificial metaphors for acceptable animals for sacrifice (cf. Lev_22:19-20), but here they refer to the sinlessness of Jesus (cf. Joh_8:46; Joh_14:30; Luk_23:41; 2Co_5:21; Heb_4:15; Heb_7:26-27 : 1Pe_2:22; 1Pe_3:18, 1Jn_3:5). He was an acceptable, holy sacrifice.
1Pe_1:20 "For He was foreknown" This is a perfect passive participle. God's redemptive work is described by this very term in 1Pe_1:2. Christ's death was not an afterthought (cf. Gen_3:15; Psalms 22; Isaiah 53; Mar_10:45; Act_2:23; Act_3:18; Act_4:28; Act_13:29). Jesus came to die!
▣ "before the foundation of the world" This phrase is used several times in the NT. It speaks of the pre-creation activity of God for mankind's redemption (cf. Mat_25:34; Joh_17:24; Eph_1:4; 1Pe_1:19-20; Rev_13:8). This also implies the pre-existence of Jesus (cf. Joh_1:1-2; Joh_8:57-58; 2Co_8:9; Php_2:6-7; Col_1:17; Rev_13:8).
▣ "but has appeared" This is an aorist passive participle which means "God has caused Him to be clearly revealed" (cf. Heb_9:26; 1Jn_1:2; 1Jn_3:5; 1Jn_3:8).
▣ "in these last times" This refers to Jesus' incarnation at Bethlehem. He existed as deity from all eternity, but was clearly revealed in human form in Bethlehem according to prophecy (cf. Mic_5:2).
The last days began with Jesus' birth as He inaugurated the Kingdom. They will be consummated at the Second Coming. See Special Topic: This Age and the Age to Come at 1Pe_1:5.
▣ "who through Him are believers in God" This is literally "the ones. . .believing." The adjective pistos is used as a substantive ( "the believing ones").
The etymological background of the term believe (Hebrew emeth, Greek, pistis) helps establish the contemporary meaning. In Hebrew it originally referred to a person in a stable stance. It came to be used metaphorically for someone who was dependable, loyal, or trustworthy. The Greek equivalent is translated into English by the terms "faith," "believe," and "trust." Biblical faith or trust is not primarily something we do, but someone in whom we put our trust. It is God's trustworthiness, not ours, which is the focus. Fallen mankind trusts God's trustworthiness, faiths His faithfulness, believes in His Beloved. The focus is not on the abundance or intensity of human faith, but the object of that faith.
1Pe_1:21 "who raised Him from the dead" This shows God's approval of Jesus' life and death. This is a recurrent theme of Peter (cf. Act_2:24-28; Act_2:32; Act_3:15; Act_3:26; Act_4:10; Act_5:30; Act_10:40; 1Pe_1:13; 1Pe_3:18; 1Pe_3:21, and Paul, Act_13:30; Act_13:33-34; Act_13:37; Act_17:31; Rom_4:24; Rom_8:11; Rom_10:9; 2Co_4:14). This was confirmation of the Father's acceptance of the Son's substitutionary death (cf. 1 Corinthians 15). Theologically all three persons of the Trinity were active in Christ's resurrection.
1. the Father (Act_2:24; Act_3:15; Act_4:10; Act_5:30; Act_10:40; Act_13:30; Act_13:33-34; Act_17:31)
2. the Spirit (Rom_8:11)
3. the Son (Joh_2:19-22; Joh_10:17-18)
▣ "and gave Him glory" In this context the Father's acceptance and approval of the Son's words and works are expressed in two great events.
1. Jesus' resurrection from the dead
2. Jesus' ascension to the Father's right hand
See hyperlink at Mar_10:37 b.