1 Peter 1:3-9
Chapter 1
3
Christian Hope
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for his great mercy. In raising Jesus Christ from the dead, he has given us new life and a living hope.4
The inheritance that does not decay, spoil, or fade away has been reserved for you in heaven,
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since God’s power will keep you faithful until salvation is revealed in the last days.
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There is reason for joy, then, even though you may, for a time, face many trials.
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This is how your faith will be tested, like gold in a furnace. Gold, however, fades away, but faith, which is much more valuable, will bring you, in the end, praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ returns.
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You have not seen him yet, and yet you love him; even without seeing him, you believe in him, and you experience a heavenly joy beyond words,
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for you are reaching the goal of your faith: the salvation of your souls.
Commentaries
Christian Hope.
After the greeting, the letter begins with a solemn blessing in the style of Jewish blessings (see 2 Cor 1:3). Blessing God is equivalent to giving thanks to Him. The author, or a disciple of Peter, offers this blessing for the salvation that the communities received through being reborn into new life. The hymn functions as a profession of faith, recited in a prayerful setting, emphasizing the main themes of the baptismal catechesis in which his listeners have already been initiated (see Tit 3:5). The hymn contains the central theme of the letter: the passion of Christ and His glorification, which continues in the suffering of Christians and in their future and ultimate liberation. However, it would be wrong to interpret everything that follows as purely spiritual, since “the future heaven” must already become a present reality through believers’ daily effort.