1 Peter 1:6 kjv

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

1 Peter 1:6 nkjv

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

1 Peter 1:6 niv

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

1 Peter 1:6 esv

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

1 Peter 1:6 nlt

So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.

1 Peter 1 verses

1 Peter 1 6 Meaning

This verse conveys a profound spiritual truth: believers are called to exultant joy, a deep, overflowing gladness, not in the absence of suffering, but precisely in the midst of it. This joy is rooted in the glorious future and secure, living hope previously mentioned (1 Pet 1:3-5), particularly the imperishable inheritance kept in heaven. Peter acknowledges the present reality of pain and sorrow due to various, multifaceted trials, yet firmly grounds the believer's enduring joy in the certainty of God's promises and the temporary nature of these difficulties.

1 Peter 1 6 Context

This verse immediately follows Peter's declaration of the Christian's unique inheritance: "an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" (1 Pet 1:4). He reminds his audience, scattered Christians throughout Asia Minor facing various pressures and social ostracism for their faith, that they "are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1 Pet 1:5). Thus, 1 Peter 1:6 links the believer's secure eternal hope and future salvation to their present experience of suffering. The surrounding verses (1 Pet 1:3-5) establish the ultimate reason for the "great joy" even in suffering: a divine, secure hope that contrasts sharply with the fleeting and painful "little while" of trials. This context provides a strong foundation for endurance, positioning suffering not as a sign of divine abandonment but as a purposeful, temporary aspect of the pilgrim journey towards ultimate salvation.

1 Peter 1 6 Word analysis

• In this (ἐν ᾧ, en hō): "In which" or "wherefore." This pronoun directly links the "great rejoicing" back to the preceding verses (1 Pet 1:3-5). The foundation of the believer's joy is the "living hope" through Christ's resurrection and the "imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance" kept in heaven, guaranteed by God's power. It signifies that the source of joy is objective and external, rooted in divine reality.
• you greatly rejoice (ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, agalliasthe): This verb signifies an overflowing, exultant, jubilant joy, not merely a quiet contentment. It often describes the kind of joy associated with a grand celebration or triumph. It is in the present tense, indicating an ongoing and characteristic state of believers, not just a fleeting emotion. This joy is supernatural, distinct from mere happiness derived from favorable circumstances.
• though now (ἄρτι, arti): "Now," "at present." This adverb emphasizes the current, temporary period in contrast to the future glorious reality. It grounds the verse in the present lived experience of the audience, acknowledging their immediate circumstances.
• for a little while (ὀλίγον, oligon): This adjective signifies a short duration or quantity. When applied to time, it stresses the temporary nature of the suffering experienced. Peter consistently contrasts the briefness of earthly trials with the eternity of heavenly glory. This perspective diminishes the perceived severity of suffering by placing it in an eternal timeframe.
• you may have had to suffer (λυπηθέντες, lypēthentes): An aorist passive participle derived from lypeō, meaning "to cause grief," "to sadden," or "to distress." The passive voice ("having been grieved" or "having been made sorrowful") acknowledges that suffering is an experience inflicted upon believers, something they endure, rather than actively choose. It affirms the genuine pain and sorrow that trials bring, validating the emotional reality for the struggling believer. The "may have had to" part of the translation implies an inevitability or divine permission for this suffering to occur, suggesting a necessary, if difficult, process.
• grief (ἐν λύπῃ, en lypē): "In sorrow" or "in distress." While lypēthentes conveys the action of being grieved, this phrase using the noun lypē further emphasizes the state or condition of deep sorrow, distress, or emotional pain experienced by believers during trials. It reinforces the reality that suffering evokes a genuine emotional response.
• in various (ποικίλοις, poikílois): "Manifold," "diverse," "of different kinds." This adjective indicates that the trials are not monolithic but come in many forms, sources, and intensities—ranging from social ostracism and verbal abuse to economic hardship and physical persecution. It conveys the unpredictable and multifaceted nature of the difficulties Christians might face, implying that God's testing encompasses all aspects of life.
• trials (πειρασμοῖς, peirasmois): This term, derived from peirasmos, refers to "tests," "temptations," or "proving experiences." In this context, it primarily refers to difficulties intended to test or prove the genuineness and strength of faith, rather than primarily "temptations to sin." These trials serve to reveal the quality of faith and ultimately purify it, much like a refiner's fire purifies gold.

1 Peter 1 6 Bonus section

The concept of "rejoicing in suffering" is a unique and paradoxical aspect of Christian experience, rarely found in other philosophies or religions. It is not masochism or stoicism that denies the reality of pain, but a deep theological joy derived from understanding suffering's ultimate purpose and limited duration in God's redemptive plan. Peter's readers were likely tempted to abandon their faith due to trials, seeing suffering as a sign of divine disfavor, a common pagan belief. Peter explicitly counters this by presenting suffering as a refining process sanctioned by God and serving to prepare them for glory, affirming their true belonging and ultimate security in Christ. This teaching would have been a powerful counter-cultural message for those facing adversity. The strength of this joy also acts as a powerful witness to the world, demonstrating a peace and hope that are not of this world.

1 Peter 1 6 Commentary

First Peter 1:6 presents a profound paradox at the heart of Christian experience: triumphant joy coexisting with real suffering. The verse immediately ties back to the magnificent hope laid out in verses 3-5—the secure, living, imperishable inheritance that awaits believers in heaven, guaranteed by God's power. This eschatological security is the foundation and object of the believer's "great rejoicing" (agalliasthe), an overflowing, jubilant gladness that transcends circumstances.

Peter then pivots to acknowledge the present reality: "though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials." He doesn't minimize the pain or grief (lypē) that accompanies trials, confirming that the sorrow is genuine and deeply felt. However, he carefully qualifies the suffering: it is "now," meaning in the current earthly existence, and only "for a little while" (oligon), a brief and temporary season compared to the eternal joy to come. This temporal perspective is critical; it relativizes the weight of present difficulties against the certainty of eternal glory (compare Rom 8:18).

The trials are also "various" (poikilois), meaning they come in diverse forms, from social ostracism to active persecution. Importantly, these are peirasmois—tests designed by God to prove the genuineness of faith (as further explained in v.7). They are not random misfortunes but purposeful occasions for faith to be examined, purified, and strengthened, akin to gold being refined in a fire. The joy in this context is not a denial of the pain but a divine, Christ-centered exultation that perseveres through pain, confident in God's sovereign plan and the glorious outcome of salvation.

This verse teaches us that Christian joy is not contingent on favorable external conditions, but on the unchangeable, unshakeable realities of God's grace and eternal promises. It is a foretaste of the full joy that awaits when faith becomes sight.

Examples for practical usage:

• When a believer faces job loss, the joy is not in unemployment itself, but in the trust that God will provide and use the hardship to refine faith and character.
• Facing unfair criticism for one's Christian beliefs can bring grief, but the joy is found in remembering that suffering for Christ's name aligns one with Him and earns a heavenly reward.
• Enduring a long-term illness is grievous, but the ability to greatly rejoice comes from the secure hope of ultimate healing in the new heavens and new earth, and the present growth in patience and reliance on God.