1 Peter 1:3 kjv

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:3 nkjv

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:3 niv

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:3 esv

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:3 nlt

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,

1 Peter 1 verses

1 Peter 1 3 Meaning

This verse opens Peter's letter with a powerful doxology, an expression of praise and glory to God. It blesses the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, acknowledging Him as the supreme source of all spiritual blessings. The verse emphasizes that it is God, solely according to His immense and unconditional mercy, who has initiated and accomplished the spiritual rebirth of believers. This new birth is not a human achievement but a divine act, which gives rise to a dynamic, assured, and enduring "living hope." Crucially, this living hope and the reality of the new birth are irrevocably founded upon and guaranteed by the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

1 Peter 1 3 Context

First Peter is addressed to "elect exiles of the Dispersion" (1 Pet 1:1), Jewish and Gentile believers scattered across various provinces in Asia Minor, likely facing increasing social marginalization, ostracism, and even outright persecution for their faith. Peter’s primary purpose is to encourage these believers, remind them of their true identity and inheritance in Christ, and exhort them to steadfastness, holy living, and patient endurance amidst trials. Verse 3 serves as the opening of a grand doxology (1:3-12), setting a foundation of praise and spiritual truth before Peter delves into the specifics of Christian conduct and suffering. The entire chapter focuses on the certainty of the believers’ salvation, the refining nature of their trials, and the glorious hope that awaits them, all rooted in the sovereign plan of God and the completed work of Jesus Christ. This verse highlights that their ultimate hope and new life come from divine initiative, not their own circumstances or strength.

1 Peter 1 3 Word Analysis

• Blessed (εὐλογητός - eulogētos): Not simply "happy" or "fortunate" (μακάριος - makarios, which describes the state of blessed people), but "worthy of praise" or "to be praised." This specific Greek term is used exclusively for God in the New Testament when we ascribe blessing to Him, recognizing His inherent worthiness of glory and adoration. It is a direct and heartfelt ascription of praise.
• be: An implied verb, indicating the existing state or a command of recognition: "Worthy of praise is God..."
• the God and Father: A singular entity expressed with dual titles. "God" (θεός - Theos) emphasizes His divinity and ultimate power. "Father" (πατήρ - Patēr) highlights His relational aspect, particularly as the Father of Jesus Christ, and by extension, through Christ, the Father of all believers by adoption (Eph 1:5). This title complex affirms both God's transcendence and His intimate connection to believers.
• of our Lord Jesus Christ: Specifies the unique relationship between God the Father and His Son, Jesus.
  • Lord (κύριος - Kyrios): Denotes Christ's supreme authority, sovereignty, and divinity. It's a title of honor and reverence.
  • Jesus (Ἰησοῦς - Iēsous): The historical human name of God's Son.
  • Christ (Χριστός - Christos): The Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah" (Māshîaḥ), meaning "Anointed One." It signifies His office as the chosen, empowered Savior, King, and High Priest.
• who: Refers back to "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ," clearly identifying the subject of the divine action.
• according to His great mercy (κατὰ τὸ πολὺ αὐτοῦ ἔλεος - kata to polu autou eleos): This phrase underscores the sole cause and foundation of the new birth. It's not based on human merit or works (Titus 3:5), but solely on God's character.
  • great (πολύ - polu): Signifies immense, abundant, overwhelming.
  • mercy (ἔλεος - eleos): Divine compassion and active kindness towards those in need or distress. It implies God's benevolent intervention on behalf of the miserable and helpless, reaching out despite their unworthiness. It goes beyond pity, manifesting in redemptive action.
• has caused us to be born again (ἀναγεννήσας ἡμᾶς - anagennēsas hēmas): This is a key theological concept.
  • born again (ἀναγεννάω - anagennaō): Literally "re-begotten" or "re-produced." It is a passive verb (aorist participle indicating completed action), showing God as the active agent and humans as the recipients. This refers to a supernatural, spiritual transformation from spiritual death to life (Jn 3:3-8; Eph 2:1, 5), conferring a new nature and a new relationship with God. It's a fundamental change, not merely a moral improvement.
• to a living hope (εἰς ἐλπίδα ζῶσαν - eis elpida zōsan): The outcome or purpose of the new birth.
  • living (ζῶσαν - zōsan): A potent adjective here. It means active, vibrant, dynamic, enduring, efficacious, and real. Unlike dead hopes (e.g., in wealth, human achievement, or transient things), this hope is active in the present and assured for the future. It contrasts with anything perishable or fading.
  • hope (ἐλπίς - elpis): In the biblical sense, hope is not mere wishful thinking but a confident, joyful expectation and firm assurance concerning future good, rooted in God's promises and Christ's accomplished work (Rom 5:5; Heb 11:1).
• through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (δι' ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐκ νεκρῶν - di' anastaseōs Iēsou Christou ek nekrōn): This is the direct means and solid foundation for both the new birth and the living hope.
  • through (διά - dia): Indicating the instrument or means by which the divine work is accomplished.
  • resurrection (ἀνάστασις - anastasis): The literal, bodily raising of Christ from the grave. This historical event validates Christ's victory over sin and death, authenticates His claims, proves Him to be the Son of God, and serves as the definitive guarantee of both our spiritual new life now and our future physical resurrection (1 Cor 15:20-23; Rom 6:4). Without the resurrection, neither new birth nor hope would exist (1 Cor 15:17).

1 Peter 1 3 Bonus section

• The opening "Blessed be..." (Eulogētos) reflects a common doxological form in Jewish blessings, now profoundly reinterpreted with Christian content and a focus on Jesus Christ.
• The sequence of divine actions: God's mercy is the source, new birth is the result, leading to a living hope, all made possible through Christ's resurrection. This outlines the fundamental process of salvation from God's perspective.
• The emphasis on Christ's bodily resurrection was crucial in the early church, acting as a polemic against emerging Gnostic tendencies that denied the material world, including a literal resurrection, and the physical reality of Christ's suffering and death.
• Peter, despite his personal failures (denial of Christ), begins his letter by exalting the One who had mercy on him, demonstrating that personal experience of God's transforming mercy fuels authentic praise.

1 Peter 1 3 Commentary

First Peter 1:3 is a cornerstone of Christian theology, opening the epistle with a magnificent outburst of praise to God the Father. It reveals that the ultimate cause of salvation, including the spiritual transformation known as "new birth," is solely God's abundant and unfathomable mercy, not human merit. This new birth ushers believers into a "living hope"—a hope that is dynamic, assured, and capable of sustaining them through any trial. The power and certainty of this hope, and indeed the entire new life, are unequivocally grounded in the historical reality of Jesus Christ's bodily resurrection. His resurrection is not just a past event, but an ongoing source of power and assurance, guaranteeing believers' future inheritance and validating their spiritual standing. This doxology sets the stage for Peter's subsequent exhortations, reminding suffering believers that their present reality is framed by an eternal, glorious hope.