1 Peter 1:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

NIV: In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

NASB: In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

CSB: You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials

NLT: So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.

KJV: Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

NKJV: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

In verses 3–5, Peter has just described the reality of our position as believers in Jesus Christ. God's mercy to us is great. In Christ, we have a living hope that we, too, will be resurrected from the dead just as He was. Waiting for us is an endless, glorious inheritance with our Father in heaven. And right this minute, we ourselves are being shielded from losing that inheritance by God's limitless power. Through faith in Christ, we have been saved, are being saved, and will be saved!

Here, Peter makes an assumption about our response to this reality. He says that we rejoice in this. Do we? It's important here to separate the word "rejoice" from the idea of feeling only positive emotions. To "rejoice," in this sense, does not necessarily mean to "be happy," as we understand the terms today. While rejoicing may include positive feelings, the New Testament often communicates that rejoicing is a choice about how we think about our lives (James 1:2; Philippians 4:4).

In fact, Peter quickly acknowledges that his readers may be grieved or distressed by various trials in the present moment. He realizes they may be experiencing negative emotions because of their negative circumstances—and yet, he still assumes they are rejoicing in the reality of their eternal circumstances in Christ.

We must conclude then, that this "rejoicing" is less about feelings and more about faith. It is less about maintaining some perfect emotional state and more about a declaration: "My life is worth rejoicing over because of what God is doing for me right now. I am provided for. My future is secure. Nothing can change that. I am rejoicing!"

1 Peter 1:3–12 is one of the most loved passages in all of Scripture. It begins as a blessing to God, but also describes how incredibly He has blessed us in Christ. Because Jesus has risen from the dead, our hope is not a wish—it is as alive as He is. Our inheritance as God’s children is eternal, full of glory, and secured forever. Even in our suffering, we have every reason to rejoice. The mystery of God’s plan has been revealed to us in Christ. We are being saved!

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.