1 Peter 1:2 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.

1 Peter 1:2 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.

1 Peter 1:2 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.

1 Peter 1:2 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.

1 Peter 1:2 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.

1 Peter 1 verses

1 Peter 1 2 Meaning

First Peter 1:2 articulates the divine orchestration of salvation for the Christian diaspora. It reveals the trinitarian work involved in their election: they are chosen by God the Father according to His prior knowledge, set apart by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, and called to respond in obedience to Jesus Christ, cleansed and atoned for by His atoning blood. The verse concludes with a rich apostolic blessing of grace and peace, signifying a divine provision for their journey.

1 Peter 1 2 Context

1 Peter chapter 1 verse 2 completes the apostolic salutation, following verse 1 which identifies Peter as an apostle and the recipients as "elect exiles of the Dispersion." The context emphasizes the identity of the persecuted believers as chosen and blessed by God, despite their scattered status and earthly suffering. This sets a strong theological foundation for the epistle, immediately grounding their identity, security, and hope in the Trinitarian work of God rather than their temporal circumstances. It counters the insecurity and fear of their exile by affirming their divine election and the profound spiritual reality of their salvation.

1 Peter 1 2 Word analysis

• chosen (ἐκλεκτοῖς - eklektois): Means "select," "elect," "picked out." This signifies a divine selection, not based on human merit, but on God's sovereign initiative. It emphasizes God's personal, purposeful action in designating believers as His own. It evokes the Old Testament concept of Israel as God's chosen people, but now extended to all who believe in Christ, transcending ethnic lines.
• according to the foreknowledge (πρόγνωσιν - prognōsin): Composed of pro (before) and gnosis (knowledge). It refers to God's prior knowledge, which is not merely passive observation but active, purposeful design. In theological terms, it implies God's pre-determination or election based on His omniscient awareness and intentional plan.
• of God the Father (Θεοῦ Πατρὸς - Theou Patros): Explicitly identifies the divine source of this election and foreknowledge. It emphasizes the primary role of the Father in initiating salvation.
• through the sanctifying work (ἐν ἁγιασμῷ - en hagiasmō): Literally "in sanctification." Hagiasmos means the process of being set apart, consecrated, or made holy. It refers to the Holy Spirit's ongoing work of transforming believers, conforming them to Christ's image, making them distinct from the world for God's purposes. This indicates the Spirit as the instrumental agent in applying God's election to believers' lives, making them holy.
• of the Spirit (Πνεύματος - Pneumatos): Refers to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. His active role is indispensable in effecting the Father's foreknowledge and preparing believers for Christ.
• to be obedient (εἰς ὑπακοὴν - eis hypakoēn): Hypakoēn means "obedience," from hupakouō, "to listen under," implying submissive listening. This specifies a crucial purpose of their election: not just salvation, but a life characterized by willing submission to God's will revealed in Christ. It's the expected response to grace, not a condition for receiving it.
• to Jesus Christ (Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ - Iēsou Christou): The object of their obedience. Christ is the supreme example and enabler of obedience.
• and sprinkled with His blood (καὶ ῥαντισμὸν αἵματος - kai rantismon haimatos): Rantismos means "sprinkling." This imagery directly references Old Testament purification rites (e.g., Ex 24:8, Lev 14) where blood was used to ratify covenants, purify from sin, and dedicate to God. In the New Testament, it signifies Christ's atoning sacrifice which cleanses believers from sin, initiates them into the new covenant, and consecrates them to God. It highlights the expiatory and purificatory work of Christ's sacrifice.
• His blood (αἵματος - haimatos): Refers specifically to the atoning, redemptive death of Jesus on the cross, providing cleansing and forgiveness for sins.
• Grace (χάρις - charis): Unmerited favor, divine enablement, benevolent action of God. It's the foundational gift from God.
• and peace (εἰρήνη - eirēnē): Shalom in Hebrew; implies not merely absence of conflict, but holistic well-being, wholeness, prosperity, and reconciliation with God and others.
• be yours in abundance (πληθυνθείη - plēthyntheiē): Literally, "be multiplied to you." A strong wish for an ever-increasing supply of God's grace and peace in their lives.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father: This phrase reveals the divine initiative and ultimate source of salvation. It speaks of God's sovereign election, His knowing and loving individuals even before time. It's a foundational theological concept stressing God's prior plan and purpose for the believers. It is polemical against any notion that human merit or accidental circumstances play a primary role in one's relationship with God, establishing divine causality.
• through the sanctifying work of the Spirit: This highlights the Holy Spirit's essential role in making God's eternal choice effective in human lives. The Spirit sets believers apart, regenerates, and empowers them for holy living. It describes the divine process of purification and transformation, indispensable for believers to truly live out their elected identity. It underscores that spiritual transformation is a work of the Spirit, not human effort.
• to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with His blood: This outlines the twofold purpose and outcome of God's Trinitarian work. "Obedient to Jesus Christ" implies an active response of faith that manifests in discipleship and conformity to His will, marking a transformed lifestyle. "Sprinkled with His blood" signifies both the means of atonement—forgiveness and cleansing from sin—and entrance into the New Covenant through Christ's sacrifice. This phrasing points to both a passive reception of atonement and an active commitment to living under Christ's Lordship. The order suggests that the cleansing power of the blood enables and empowers true obedience.

1 Peter 1 2 Bonus section

The order of the Trinitarian persons in this verse (Father, Spirit, Son) reflects a common pattern in New Testament theology: the Father as the initiator of the divine plan, the Spirit as the agent who applies it to humanity, and the Son as the means through whom reconciliation and redemption are accomplished. This triune involvement highlights the unity and synergy of God's work in salvation. Furthermore, the combination of "obedience to Jesus Christ" and "sprinkled with His blood" can be seen as two sides of the same coin of conversion and new life: the legal reality of cleansing by Christ's sacrifice, and the lived reality of responding in faithful submission to Him. This provides a balanced understanding of faith that encompasses both justification and sanctification from the very outset of Christian life. The Jewish connotation of "sprinkling of blood" would resonate deeply with Peter's audience, many of whom were Jewish converts or Gentiles familiar with the Old Testament, connecting the new covenant inaugurated by Christ to the old.

1 Peter 1 2 Commentary

First Peter 1:2 encapsulates the trinitarian dynamic of salvation that anchors the believer's identity amidst suffering. God the Father, in His boundless foreknowledge, elects a people. This election is not a cold decree but a purposeful choosing unto a living relationship. The Holy Spirit actively brings this election into effect, separating believers from the world unto God through ongoing sanctification, transforming their inner being and desires. The ultimate aim and tangible result of this divine work are twofold: a life characterized by willing obedience to Jesus Christ as Lord, and the spiritual reality of being cleansed and redeemed by the efficacy of His atoning blood, sealing their new covenant relationship with God. The concluding benediction of abundant grace and peace reinforces that their elected status ensures divine favor and internal wholeness, despite outward turmoil. This verse provides the ultimate comfort and assurance for those facing persecution, reminding them that their status as "exiles" on earth is overshadowed by their deep, unshakeable roots in the eternal plan of God through the Triune persons. For instance, just as a nation declares its citizens based on its own laws, so God declares and makes us His own through His sovereign will, making us distinct by His Spirit, and bringing us under the liberating authority of Christ's life and blood.