1 Peter 1:14 kjv

As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

1 Peter 1:14 nkjv

as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

1 Peter 1:14 niv

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

1 Peter 1:14 esv

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,

1 Peter 1:14 nlt

So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then.

1 Peter 1 verses

1 Peter 1 14 Meaning

Believers, as newly born children of God, are exhorted to live consistently with their divine parentage by actively refusing to imitate or yield to the sinful desires that once dominated their lives. This includes turning away from the passions that characterized their previous state of spiritual ignorance, embracing instead a life of active obedience to God's will.

1 Peter 1 14 Context

This verse is situated within Peter's broader exhortation to holiness, which stems from the believers' new identity in Christ. It follows his opening declaration of God's mercy in granting a new birth into a living hope (1 Pet 1:3-5) and His preservation of their inheritance (1 Pet 1:6-9). After affirming their glorious salvation and Christ's suffering, Peter issues practical commands for holy living. Verse 13 commands believers to "gird up the loins of their mind" (prepare for action, be disciplined mentally), "be sober," and "hope fully" in God's grace. Verse 14 then builds on this foundation by stating how believers should act: as "obedient children." This imperative is closely linked to the subsequent command in 1 Peter 1:15-16, "be holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'" Thus, 1 Peter 1:14 serves as a foundational step, asserting that because of their new identity and hope, they must decisively break from their past lifestyle of sin driven by spiritual blindness. Peter addresses believers, many of whom were Gentile converts in Asia Minor, who would have formerly been deeply immersed in pagan cultural practices marked by idolatry, sexual immorality, and excessive indulgence. His words provide a direct polemic against the societal norms they were emerging from, emphasizing a radical separation unto God.

1 Peter 1 14 Word analysis

• "As obedient children": (Greek: hōs tekna hypakoēs - literally, "as children of obedience").
  • "As" (hōs): Introduces the character or nature that defines the following command. It means "in the character of" or "consistent with being."
  • "obedient" (hypakoēs): From the root hypakouō, meaning "to hear under" or "to obey." This denotes a profound listening and yielding to authority, specifically to God's will. It’s not just performing actions, but performing them out of a disposition of submission to God. The genitive "of obedience" functions as a quality, indicating that obedience is the defining characteristic of these "children."
  • "children" (tekna): This term emphasizes a direct, familial relationship with God as their Father. It highlights their new spiritual identity by birth (1 Pet 1:3). Being "children of obedience" implies an inherent filial duty and privilege to reflect their Father's nature and follow His ways, contrasting with the previous "children of wrath" (Eph 2:3) or "children of disobedience" (Eph 5:6).
  Words-group analysis: "As obedient children" underscores that believers are defined by their new spiritual parentage, which naturally demands a corresponding lifestyle of obedience to their Heavenly Father. Their relationship to God shapes their behavior.
• "do not conform": (Greek: mē syschēmatizesthe - literally, "do not be fashioned together with" or "do not allow yourselves to be shaped by").
  • "do not" (mē): A strong prohibitive particle, indicating an ongoing action that must cease or not be initiated.
  • "conform" (syschēmatizesthe): The root schēma refers to an external form, pattern, or fashion, which is temporary and superficial. The prefix syn- means "with" or "together." This verb (in the present imperative middle/passive) commands believers not to allow themselves to be continuously molded, shaped, or fashion themselves externally according to worldly standards or forms. This is contrasted with metamorphoō (as in Rom 12:2, "be transformed"), which refers to an inward, essential, and lasting change of morphē (inner form or nature). Peter urges against superficial imitation or outward adaptation to ungodly ways.
  Words-group analysis: "Do not conform" is an imperative for a decisive and ongoing break from the world's ways. It warns against outward mimicry of worldly trends or patterns that would betray their inner spiritual transformation. The call is for authenticity consistent with their new identity.
• "to the evil desires you had": (Greek: tais proterais epithymiais - literally, "to the former desires").
  • "evil desires" / "former desires" (proterais epithymiais):
    • "evil" / "former" (proterais): This adjective explicitly points to "earlier" or "prior" times, specifically before their conversion. It signals a definitive chronological and moral break from their past lifestyle.
    • "desires" / "lusts" (epithymiais): This noun denotes strong longings, cravings, or passions. While epithymia can be neutral (a good desire), when paired with "former" and the context of "ignorance," it invariably refers to intense, often uncontrolled, selfish, and morally corrupt cravings for things contrary to God's will. These are impulses arising from humanity's fallen nature.
  Words-group analysis: "to the evil desires you had" clearly defines the specific object of the prohibition: the uncontrolled and sinful appetites that dominated their lives prior to salvation. These desires reflect a nature at odds with God and represent the old self they are to put off.
• "when you lived in ignorance": (Greek: en tē agnoia hymōn - literally, "in your ignorance").
  • "in ignorance" (en tē agnoia): Refers to their pre-conversion state, a lack of spiritual knowledge and moral discernment regarding God and His will. This isn't just an absence of information, but a spiritual blindness and an unawareness of righteousness, making their former sinful lifestyle understandable, though not excusable (Acts 17:30). Before receiving Christ, they did not truly know God's standards or His power to transform.
  Words-group analysis: "in ignorance" pinpoints the fundamental condition that allowed these "former desires" to hold sway. It sharply contrasts with the light and truth of the Gospel that they have now embraced, which necessitates a transformed life based on divine knowledge, not spiritual darkness.

1 Peter 1 14 Bonus section

• The phrase "children of obedience" is a Semitic idiom, similar to "children of light" or "children of wrath," indicating that obedience is the defining characteristic and essence of their new being.
• This verse highlights the transition from agnosia (ignorance), characteristic of the unregenerate life, to gnosis (knowledge) or spiritual discernment that should characterize believers. The acquisition of spiritual truth leaves no room for continuing in old patterns.
• Peter emphasizes the active role of the believer: they choose not to conform. While God enables, the responsibility for spiritual discipline and renunciation of sin lies with the Christian. It is a daily decision to live out one's new identity.
• The call to shed "former desires" is part of the "putting off the old self" (Eph 4:22) and is fundamental to spiritual growth. It implies a conscious disengagement from anything that aligns with the previous state of spiritual death and darkness.

1 Peter 1 14 Commentary

1 Peter 1:14 stands as a critical bridge between Peter's theological exposition of salvation and his practical exhortations for daily Christian living. The directive to live "as obedient children" signifies that salvation isn't merely a status but demands a responsive lifestyle. It grounds Christian conduct in Christian identity: because we are God's children through Christ's redemption, we ought to behave as such. This requires an active rejection of former ways. "Do not conform" implies a conscious, sustained effort not to mimic or yield to the external pressures and internal pull of ungodly patterns, recognizing that worldly forms are fleeting and antithetical to the Kingdom. The "evil desires" point to the sinful passions of the old self, which were once unregulated due to "ignorance" of God's holiness and His rightful claim. Now, enlightened by the Gospel, believers have no excuse to indulge those impulses. This verse calls for an ongoing sanctification process: shedding the old, embracing the new, motivated by God's holiness and His new birth in us.Practical application: Consider evaluating daily media consumption, friendships, or financial decisions through the lens of this verse. Does my entertainment feed "former desires" or promote Christ-like obedience? Do my social circles pull me towards "conformity" with the world or strengthen my walk as an "obedient child"? Do my spending habits reflect God's will or mere cravings?