1 Peter 1:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

NIV: who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

NASB: according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

CSB: according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

NLT: God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.

KJV: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

NKJV: 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.

The word "elect" appears in verse 1 in many translations, but it is described in verse two. What does it mean to be one of the "elect," one of the chosen ones of God? In what ways are believers in Christ the "elect"?

First, we are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. That means God knew us before something. Before what? Ephesians 1:4 says that God chose us in Christ even "before the foundation of the world." 1 Peter 1:20 says that Christ Himself was foreknown by the Father in the same way. God didn't just know about us; He knew us—personally, somehow—and He chose us. More, we are chosen through the sanctifying work of the Spirit. That means God's Holy Spirit is involved in making us "set apart" just for God, in making us people God can call "holy."

Finally, we are chosen for something: obedience to Jesus and "sprinkling with His blood." As odd as this sounds to a modern reader, Peter's Jewish audience would have understood that immediately. Under the Old Testament law, the blood of an animal sacrifice was required for the forgiveness of sin, and for showing what belonged to God. We have not been literally sprinkled with Jesus' physical blood, of course. Yet, His blood was literally spilled when He died on the cross to pay for our sin. His shedding of blood made it possible for us to be made clean from our sin and for God to claim ownership of us and declare us to be "holy." So, we fulfill our purpose in the universe when we obey Christ. It's what we were chosen for.

Peter ends the verse with his greeting, a prayer that God's grace and peace would be multiplied to those reading the letter

1 Peter 1:1–2 introduces the letter, identifying both writer and audience. The message is from the apostle whom Jesus named ''Peter,'' formerly named Simon. He writes to the Christians scattered and persecuted for their faith across several regions. Peter here refers to these believers as ''elect,'' meaning those specially chosen by God.

Peter, the apostle of Jesus, writes a letter to Christians facing persecution to comfort them with the truth of who they are in Christ—children of God with every reason to rejoice in their salvation and future glory in eternity. Next, he urges them to live like the holy ones of God they already are by obeying God now, loving each other earnestly, and placing all of their hope in the endless life to come.

This beautiful, profound, and challenging first chapter of 1 Peter lays the foundation for the rest of Peter’s letter. In spite of whatever suffering we may face, God Himself has already shown us great mercy in Christ by including us in His family! Jesus is our living hope. Our future is secure and endless and perfect. As the children of God we have every reason to rejoice, even in this present darkness. Peter then calls us to prepare ourselves to live as the holy people God has made us to be.

Some 30 years after the resurrection of Jesus, Christians are facing greater persecution for their faith. How should they respond? How should we respond to suffering today? The apostle Peter writes this letter both to comfort believers and to encourage them to stay strong. He urges them to put all their hope in their perfect future with Christ, and to obey and trust Him in the present, even in their suffering. Christ suffered greatly; now the Christ-followers have the opportunity to follow Him even in this, showing His grace and power in their hopefulness, obedience, and faith.