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1 Peter 1:15-21

(Called to Be Holy)

 

(From The Orthodox Study Bible):

 

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.” (1)

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; (2)

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.(3)

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.

 

***Verse-by-Verse Study Notes Provided in This Bible***

(1) Verse 16: Holiness belongs to God, and we, who cannot attain holiness on our own but receive it from Him, are called to live a holy life before Him. Indeed, Christians are called to holiness in every area of their lives. In the Lord’s Prayer we say, “Hallowed be Your Name.” It is not that we want God’s name to be made holy by our prayers, but that His name may be made holy in us.

(2) Verse 17: Why should we pray in fear? Because the Father we serve will judge us according to each one’s work. While being certain of God’s mercy, we conduct ourselves with care.

(3) Verses 18 and 19: Our salvation has been purchased by the infinitely precious blood of Christ. We are not our own and are to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the price paid for our redemption (See 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

 

(From The New Analytical King James Study Bible):

 

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [living](1);

16 Because it is written, Be ye [Ye shall be] holy; for I am holy.

17 And 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:

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain(2) conversation [manner of life](1) received by tradition [handed down] from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained [foreknown indeed](3) before the foundation(4) of the world, but was manifest(5) in these last times for you,

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.

 

***Footnotes***

 

(1) In this sentence, the term “conversation” comes from the original ancient Greek word “anastrophe” (Strong’s G391). Its ancient script, spelling, pronunciation, and definitions include: ἀναστροφή anastrophḗ, an-as-trof-ay'; from G390; behavior:—conversation.

 

(2) In this sentence, the term “vain” comes from the original ancient Greek word “mataios” (Strong’s G3152). Its ancient script, spelling, pronunciation, and definitions include:  μάταιος mátaios, mat'-ah-yos; from the base of G3155; empty, i.e. (literally) profitless, or (specially), an idol:—vain, vanity.

 

(3) In this sentence, the term “foreordained” comes from the original ancient Greek word “proginosko” (Strong’s G4267). Its ancient script, spelling, pronunciation, and definitions include: προγινώσκω proginṓskō, prog-in-oce'-ko; from G4253 and G1097; to know beforehand, i.e. foresee:—foreknow (ordain), know (before).

 

(4) In this sentence, the term “foundation” comes from the original ancient Greek word “katabole” (Strong’s G2602). Its ancient script, spelling, pronunciation, and definitions include: καταβολή katabolḗ, kat-ab-ol-ay'; from G2598; a deposition, i.e. founding; figuratively, conception:—conceive, foundation.

 

(5) In this sentence, the term “manifest” comes from the original ancient Greek word “phaneroo” (Strong’s G5319). Its ancient script, spelling, pronunciation, and definitions include: φανερόω phaneróō, fan-er-o'-o; from G5318; to render apparent (literally or figuratively):—appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).

 

(From The Amplified Holy Bible):

 

15 But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage];

16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY (set apart), FOR I AM HOLY.”

17 If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth.

18 For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] way of life inherited [by tradition] from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold,

19 but [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ.

20 For He was foreordained (foreknown) before the foundation of the world (1), but has appeared [publicly] in these last times for your sake

21 and through Him you believe [confidently] in God [the heavenly Father], who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.

 

***Study Note Provided in This Bible***

(1) Verse 20: The Son of God always existed and it was always known that He would be the Redeemer of mankind.

 

(From The Complete Jewish Study Bible):

 

15 On the contrary, following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life;

16 since the Tanakh(1) says, “You are to be holy because I am holy.”

17 Also, if you are addressing as Father the one who judges impartially according to each person’s actions (3), you should live out your temporary stay on earth in fear.

18 You should be aware that the ransom paid to free you from the worthless way of life which your fathers passed on to you(4) did not consist of anything perishable like silver or gold;

19 on the contrary, it was the costly bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah, as of a lamb without defect or spot.(5)

20 God knew him before the founding of the universe(6), but revealed him in the acharit-hayamim(2) for your sakes.

21 Through him you trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory; so that your trust and hope are in God.

***Footnotes***

(1) In this sentence, the term “Tanakh” refers to the foundational sacred text of Judaism, also known as the Hebrew Bible, an acronym for its three main sections: Torah (Instruction/Law), Nevi'im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings). It recounts the history of ancient Israel, its covenant with God, and provides laws, wisdom, and prophecy, forming the basis for Jewish faith, culture, and identity, and is broadly equivalent to the Christian Old Testament but with different organization and text order. In this verse, the Commandment of God to “Be Holy because I am Holy” is found in the Torah in Leviticus 11:44-45.

 

The explanation of, and original ancient script of the word Torah is: Torah (תורה): The first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) containing fundamental laws, narratives, and God's covenant.

 

(2) In this sentence, the term “acharit-hayamim” refers to the “latter days”, or “the end of the days”, or “the end times.”

***Verse-by-Verse Study Notes Provided in This Bible***

(3) Verse 17: The one who judges impartially according to each person’s actions: One is not saved by “faith alone” (see James 2:24), since “faith by itself, unaccompanied by actions, is dead” (see James 2:17).

(4) Verse 18: The worthless way of life which your fathers passed on to you: This is neither pagan idolatry nor the Mosaic Law, but instead the perversion of the Torah into an oppressive, legalistic “way of life which your fathers,” the Jewish establishment, “passed on to you” Jews who have come to believe in Yeshua the Messiah.

(5) Verse 19: A lamb without defect or spot: Starting with the lamb offered by each family at the time of the Exodus (see Exodus 12:5), all sacrifices were without blemish (see Leviticus 22:18-25; Hebrews 9:11-15). Yochanan the Immerser (John the Baptist) calls Yeshua “God’s lamb! The one who is taking away the sin of the world!” (see John 1:29).

(6) Verse 20: God knew him before the founding of the universe: This corresponds to the Jewish midrashic teaching that Messiah was present at creation. The Scriptures teach the preexistence of the Messiah (see John 1:1,14; Ephesians 1:3-6; 3:11; Colossians 1:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-3; Revelation 5:5-6). Yeshua is coeternal with the Father; he is not created and has no beginning and no end!

 

(From The New American Standard Bible):

 

15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

16 because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”

17 If 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;

18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you

21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

 

(From The Knox Bible – The Latin Vulgate):

 

15 No, it is a holy God who has called you, and you, and you too must be holy in all the ordering of your lives;

16 You must be holy, the scripture says, because I am holy.(1)

17 You appeal to God as your Father; yes, but he judges each man impartially by what he has done; look anxiously, then, to the ordering of your lives while your stay on earth lasts.

18 What was the ransom that freed you from the vain observances of ancestral tradition? You know well enough that it was not paid in earthly currency, silver or gold;

19 it was paid in the precious blood of Christ; no lamb was ever so pure, so spotless a victim.

20 Before the beginning of the world, God had foreknown him, but it was only in these last days that he was revealed, for your sakes;

21 through him you have learned to be faithful to God, who raised him from the dead and endowed him with glory; your faith and your hope are to be centred in God.

 

***Study Note Provided in This Bible***

(1) Verse 16: See Leviticus 11:44

 

 

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