1 Peter 1:11 kjv

Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

1 Peter 1:11 nkjv

searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

1 Peter 1:11 niv

trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.

1 Peter 1:11 esv

inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories.

1 Peter 1:11 nlt

They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward.

1 Peter 1 verses

1 Peter 1 11 Meaning

The Old Testament prophets, inspired by the Holy Spirit (who is here called the Spirit of Christ), diligently sought to understand the specific time and exact circumstances surrounding the prophetic messages they received. These divine revelations concerned the Messiah’s destined sufferings, followed by the manifold glories that would ensue His completed work. The prophets themselves did not fully grasp the precise timing or the intricate details of these future events, though they faithfully proclaimed them.

1 Peter 1 11 Context

First Peter chapter 1 opens by addressing scattered believers, facing various trials and persecutions, referring to them as "exiles of the Dispersion." Peter emphasizes their new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ and their inheritance reserved in heaven, protected by God's power. He affirms that even amidst present sufferings, their faith is refined, leading to praise, glory, and honor at Christ's revelation. Verse 10 transitions to connect their present reality with the long-standing prophetic promises of salvation. In 1 Peter 1:11, Peter then clarifies that these prophecies about salvation and Christ were not fully understood in their timing by the Old Testament prophets themselves, but they diligently inquired, serving future generations. This establishes a divine continuity from Old Testament prophecy to Christ’s fulfillment and the salvation enjoyed by the current Christian believers, affirming that their trials are part of a grand, divinely ordained plan leading to ultimate glory. Historically, the original audience, predominantly Gentiles and some Jews scattered across Asia Minor, likely faced societal hostility and Roman persecution. Understanding that Christ's own suffering preceded His glory provided them a framework for enduring their own trials with hope and conviction.

1 Peter 1 11 Word analysis

• inquiring (ἐρευνώντες - ereunōntes): A present active participle, conveying the sense of diligent, laborious, and persistent searching or investigation. This implies that the prophets were not mere passive conduits of divine revelation; they actively engaged with the messages they received, seeking deeper comprehension. Their curiosity demonstrates the profundity of the revelation itself and the human capacity to wonder about divine mysteries. It indicates their dedicated commitment to discerning God's purposes.
• what person or what time (εἰς τίνα ἢ ποῖον καιρὸν - eis tina ē poion kairon): This phrase suggests two aspects of their inquiry. "τίνα" (tina) can refer to "what kind of person" or "what exact time/circumstance," while "ποῖον" (poion) generally means "what kind of," referring to quality or specific characteristics. "Καιρὸν" (kairon) means "time" or "season," denoting a specific period or opportunity. Together, the phrase conveys a search for the precise timing and the specific nature of the circumstances related to the Messiah's appearance, sufferings, and subsequent glory. They sought to understand the "when" and the "how" in detail, the exact 'era' or 'situation' these prophecies concerned.
• the Spirit of Christ (πνεῦμα Χριστοῦ - pneuma Christou): This powerful theological declaration identifies the Holy Spirit who inspired Old Testament prophets directly with Christ. It means that the Spirit through whom the prophets spoke was inherently connected to the pre-incarnate Christ. This highlights Christ’s eternal divine nature and His active involvement in revealing God’s plan from the very beginning. It establishes a profound Christocentric unity across all biblical revelation. This phrase firmly refutes any notion of the Old Testament prophets receiving inspiration from a different divine source.
• in them (ἐν αὐτοῖς - en autois): Indicates that the Spirit resided within the prophets, working directly through them as the source of their divine inspiration and enabling them to speak God's word. This signifies an intimate, internal operation of the Spirit.
• was indicating (ἐδήλου - edēlou): The imperfect tense implies a continuous or repeated act of making clear, declaring, or signifying. It points to an ongoing process of revelation through the prophets, yet the full clarity or understanding remained veiled for a future time.
• when He predicted (προμαρτυρόμενον - promartyromenon): A present middle/passive participle meaning "testifying beforehand" or "bearing witness in advance." This underscores the foretelling nature of prophecy. It emphasizes that these are divine forecasts of future events concerning the Messiah.
• the sufferings of Christ (τὰ εἰς Χριστὸν παθήματα - ta eis Christon pathēmata): "Παθήματα" (pathēmata) is plural, denoting the numerous afflictions, pains, and trials Christ would undergo. "Εἰς Χριστὸν" (eis Christon) means "unto Christ" or "concerning Christ," indicating these sufferings were specifically destined for or inherently connected to Him. This points to the divine necessity of the cross as prophesied. It covers His rejection, betrayal, physical pain, emotional anguish, and spiritual separation.
• and the glories that would follow (τὰς μετὰ ταῦτα δόξας - tas meta tauta doxas): "Δόξας" (doxas) is plural, signifying the multiple facets of Christ's post-resurrection exaltation. This includes His resurrection, ascension to the Father's right hand, enthronement, headship over the church, the sending of the Holy Spirit, His intercession, and ultimately, His second coming in power and great glory. "Μετὰ ταῦτα" (meta tauta) clearly establishes a sequential order: sufferings first, then glories.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "inquiring what person or what time": This phrase emphasizes the prophets' human limitations in comprehending the full scope of God's revelation. While delivering divine messages, they wrestled with the specificities of when and how these intricate prophecies concerning the Messiah would unfold. It portrays the prophetic process as a dialogue between divine revelation and human searching, demonstrating that some aspects of God's plan are purposefully concealed until their appointed time.
• "the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when He predicted": This is a powerful statement affirming the Christocentric nature of all Old Testament prophecy. The same Spirit who is intimately connected to Christ was actively at work inspiring the prophets. This means that prophecy concerning Jesus did not merely predict about Him from an external perspective, but it was His Spirit acting as the agent of that foretelling, profoundly linking Christ to the entire redemptive narrative.
• "the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow": This core juxtaposition highlights the indispensable theological pattern of Christ's life and ministry: the necessary path of humiliation and atonement followed by triumph and exaltation. This divinely ordained sequence is fundamental to Christian understanding, providing a pattern not only for Christ Himself but also, by extension, for His followers who are called to suffer with Him to ultimately share in His glory. The plural forms ("sufferings" and "glories") suggest a richness and multifaceted reality to both Christ's anguish and His subsequent exaltation.

1 Peter 1 11 Bonus section

The curiosity of the Old Testament prophets highlights a key principle of biblical interpretation: not all truth is revealed at once, and some revelations require divine timing for full comprehension. Their earnest inquiry serves as a model for diligent study of the Scriptures, yet also reminds us that complete understanding belongs to God. This verse provides significant evidence for the pre-existence of Christ and His divine identity, as His Spirit was actively involved in Old Testament revelation. The "glories" are not just Christ's resurrection but include His ascension, enthronement at God's right hand, the sending of the Spirit at Pentecost, His headship over the Church, and His future second coming in ultimate power and majesty. This emphasis on multiple "glories" elevates the scope of Christ's triumph far beyond mere resuscitation from death.

1 Peter 1 11 Commentary

1 Peter 1:11 offers a profound insight into divine revelation and the sweep of God's redemptive plan. It reveals that the Holy Spirit, intrinsically linked to Christ even before His earthly ministry, actively inspired the Old Testament prophets to foretell the crucial events of the Messiah's life. Yet, the precise details, especially the timing and circumstances of Christ's dual experience of suffering and subsequent glory, remained a mystery even to those very prophets who delivered the messages. They earnestly sought to decipher the depth and breadth of their own inspired words, underscoring the sovereign nature of God's timing and the progressive unfolding of His truth. This verse assures believers that their present sufferings, echoing Christ's own, are not arbitrary but are part of a pre-ordained divine sequence leading to ultimate glory. It also strongly ties Old Testament promises to New Testament fulfillment in Christ, confirming that Jesus is the culmination of all prophecy.