1 Peter 1:20 kjv

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

1 Peter 1:20 nkjv

He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

1 Peter 1:20 niv

He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

1 Peter 1:20 esv

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

1 Peter 1:20 nlt

God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.

1 Peter 1 verses

1 Peter 1 20 Meaning

1 Peter 1:20 declares that Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God, was eternally "foreknown" or chosen by God before creation began. Despite this eternal decree, He was revealed or "made manifest" in human history during what is referred to as "the last times." This divine revelation in time was specifically "for your sake," highlighting that Christ's coming and redemptive work are the purposeful culmination of God's eternal plan to save humanity. It emphasizes God's sovereign intent, the pre-existence of Christ, and the focused purpose of salvation for believers.

1 Peter 1 20 Context

1 Peter 1:20 is situated within a profound theological section of Peter's letter, immediately following the assertion of redemption through "the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Pet 1:19). The broader context of 1 Peter 1:13-25 calls believers to holiness and hope, grounding these commands in the certainty of their salvation, which is secure due to God's eternal purpose and Christ's finished work.

Historically, this verse addresses believers facing various trials and persecutions, possibly under Roman rule. Peter’s message provides comfort and steadfastness by emphasizing that their redemption is not a haphazard event but part of an immutable, eternal plan orchestrated by God from before time began. It reinforces the authority and finality of Christ's saving work against the backdrop of transient human suffering, offering profound assurance that their faith is anchored in a divine reality. It subtly contrasts this eternal, divinely revealed truth with any fleeting human philosophies or perishable systems of belief.

1 Peter 1 20 Word analysis

• He: Refers implicitly to Christ, who was just described as "the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot" (1 Pet 1:19). This highlights Christ's identity as the divinely chosen sacrificial Lamb.
• was foreknown (προεγνωσμένου - proegnōsmenou): This is a perfect passive participle of proginoskō, meaning "to know beforehand" or "to choose beforehand." It signifies not mere foresight, but God's eternal and sovereign pre-determination and election of Christ for His specific redemptive role. It speaks to the deliberate, active decision of God.
• before the foundation of the world (πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου - pro katabolēs kosmou): This phrase means "before the casting down/laying of the foundation of the cosmos." "Katabolē" literally means a 'laying down' or 'founding,' and "kosmou" refers to the ordered world or universe. It signifies a point in time before creation, an eternal past, affirming that Christ's role and identity as redeemer were part of God's eternal counsel, existing outside the bounds of linear time.
• but (δὲ - de): This conjunction introduces a strong contrast or transition. It signals a shift from Christ's eternal, unseen foreknowledge to His historical, visible manifestation.
• was made manifest (φανερωθέντος - phanerōthentos): A passive aorist participle of phaneroō, meaning "to make visible, reveal, make clear, bring into the open." This refers to Christ's incarnation and His public appearance in human history. It's not about His existence beginning at this point, but about His hidden pre-existence being unveiled for humanity.
• in the last times (ἐσχάτων χρόνων - eschatōn chronōn): This refers to "the final/ultimate times" or "the consummation of the ages." This eschatological term indicates the decisive and climactic period inaugurated by Christ's first advent, bringing the Old Testament covenant era to its fulfillment and beginning the final redemptive epoch before His second coming. It signifies the era where God's ultimate salvation plan unfolds decisively.
• for your sake (δι’ ὑμᾶς - di' hymas): This phrase means "because of you," "on account of you," or "for your benefit." It underscores the personal and redemptive purpose of Christ's manifestation. The eternal plan and the historical event were specifically designed for the salvation and spiritual benefit of believers, emphasizing the love and grace of God toward them.

Words-Group Analysis:

• He was foreknown before the foundation of the world: This phrase emphasizes Christ's eternal pre-existence, God's sovereign initiative, and the unchanging nature of His redemptive plan. It portrays a plan that is not reactive to human sin but eternally purposed and secure.
• but was made manifest in the last times: This group highlights the actualization of God's eternal plan in history. The contrast with "before the foundation of the world" underscores the intentionality and timing of Christ's incarnation as the decisive event in salvation history, bringing clarity to God's revelation.
• for your sake: This vital phrase brings the cosmic, eternal plan down to a personal, redemptive level for the audience. It provides a direct answer to "Why?" Christ's manifestation was not for general observation but for the specific salvation and benefit of those who believe.

1 Peter 1 20 Bonus section

The doctrine presented in 1 Peter 1:20 profoundly reinforces the security of the believer's salvation. If Christ was foreknown for His redemptive work before creation, and His manifestation occurred exactly as purposed, then the salvation He accomplished is rock-solid, anchored in God's eternal, unchangeable will. This also speaks to Christ's co-eternality with God the Father and the intricate unity of the Triune God in orchestrating salvation. Furthermore, the mention of "last times" highlights realized eschatology—the belief that the promised end-times, marked by salvation and the Spirit, have been inaugurated by Christ's first coming, with their full consummation awaiting His return. This instills urgency and hope in how believers live in this current age.

1 Peter 1 20 Commentary

1 Peter 1:20 encapsulates a magnificent truth central to Christian theology: God's redemptive plan in Christ is not an improvisation, but an eternal, immutable decree. From before the cosmos existed, God designated His Son for the work of salvation. This foreknowledge (proginoskō) is more than mere prescience; it speaks to a sovereign choice and pre-appointment, establishing the certainty and divine origin of Christ's identity and mission. When Christ finally "was made manifest," it was the precise fulfillment of this age-old purpose, breaking into human history at "the last times." This refers to the new era initiated by Christ’s advent, marking the decisive climax of God’s redemptive dealings with humanity. His coming was not for an abstract theological purpose, but profoundly "for your sake" – for the redemption and benefit of believers. This deepens the understanding of the preciousness of Christ's blood (1:19), linking the eternal decree to the sacrificial atonement and securing the believers' hope in a divinely guaranteed salvation.