1 Peter 2 21

1 Peter 2:21 kjv

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 Peter 2:21 nkjv

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

1 Peter 2:21 niv

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21 esv

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21 nlt

For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2 verses

1 Peter 2 21 Meaning

For this specific calling of enduring hardship for righteousness, believers are appointed, drawing their ultimate example from Jesus Christ Himself. He willingly endured suffering on behalf of humanity, thereby establishing a perfect model for His followers to emulate. His suffering serves not only as atonement for sin but also as a definitive blueprint for how believers are to conduct themselves and bear up under unjust persecution, following precisely in His footsteps.

1 Peter 2 21 Context

First Peter 2:21 is situated within a broader passage (1 Pet 2:13-25) that encourages believers to live as free people who, despite facing hostility in a hostile world, remain subject to various authorities. Specifically, verses 18-20 address Christian servants (and by extension, all believers) who may suffer unjustly under harsh masters. Peter emphasizes that enduring such unjust suffering "for the sake of conscience toward God" is commendable. Verse 21 then introduces Christ as the supreme paradigm for such endurance.

Historically, believers in Asia Minor, to whom Peter was writing, were experiencing increasing societal pressure and occasional overt persecution for their faith. They were often marginalized, misunderstood, and treated with suspicion by Roman society. The letter encourages them to maintain good conduct and endure suffering righteously, showing that their faith, though it brings hardship, is honorable and pleasing to God, aligning them with the very path Christ walked.

1 Peter 2 21 Word analysis

• For to this (Greek: εἰς τοῦτο - eis touto): This phrase points back to the preceding context (verses 19-20), referring to the commendable act of enduring unjust suffering with patience and a clear conscience towards God. It signifies the divine purpose or calling behind such experiences.
• you have been called (Greek: ἐκλήθητε - eklēthēte): From the verb kaléō. This signifies a divine summons or invitation by God Himself. It implies a sovereign act of God, highlighting that suffering for righteousness is not accidental but an intentional part of the Christian life and a core aspect of their spiritual destiny and identity. The passive voice emphasizes God as the initiator of this call.
• because (Greek: ὅτι - hoti): This conjunction introduces the foundational reason and motivation for the divine calling: the suffering of Christ.
• Christ also (Greek: Χριστὸς καὶ - Christos kai): Emphasizes that Christ is not just an example, but the preeminent, foundational example. The "also" highlights His shared experience with believers in suffering, yet distinct in His sinlessness and redemptive purpose.
• suffered (Greek: ἔπαθεν - epathen): From paschō, referring to His intense, often unjust, and ultimately redemptive passion, crucifixion, and death. It encompasses physical and emotional agony, underscoring the severity of His experience.
• for you (Greek: ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν - hyper hymōn): "On behalf of" or "for the sake of you." This carries both a substitutionary and beneficial meaning. Christ suffered as a sacrifice for sins, securing redemption, but in this immediate context, the focus is on how His suffering also benefits believers by providing a perfect model to imitate.
• leaving you (Greek: ὑπολιμπάνων ὑμῖν - hypolimponan hymin): This participle implies leaving something behind as a legacy, a residue, or a pattern for subsequent action. Christ did not just suffer; He left the trace of His suffering and how He endured it.
• an example (Greek: ὑπογραμμὸν - hypogrammon): This is a unique and highly significant word in the New Testament, found only here. It literally means an "under-writing" or "copy-line." It refers to a guide-line, a sketch, or an outline provided by a teacher for a student to trace over, especially in writing or drawing. It implies a precise model that is to be copied exactly, not just a general idea. It's a template for meticulous imitation.
• so that you might follow (Greek: ἵνα ἐπακολουθήσητε - hina epakolouthēsēte): This purpose clause indicates the desired outcome. The verb epakolouthéō means to follow close upon, to follow after, to pursue diligently, to adhere to. It's an active, deliberate pursuit of the example.
• in his steps (Greek: τοῖς ἴχνεσιν αὐτοῦ - tois ichnesin autou): Ichnos refers to a footprint or track. This vivid metaphor concretizes the concept of imitation. Believers are to follow precisely in the path Christ walked, enduring hardship with the same mindset and attitude as He did. It means replicating His non-retaliatory endurance and His trust in God.

Word-Groups analysis:

• "For to this you have been called": This phrase underlines the divine mandate for Christian suffering. It implies that enduring injustice with a Christ-like attitude is not an accident of fate but part of God's design and purpose for His people. It gives theological weight and meaning to hardship.
• "because Christ also suffered for you": This explains the basis and nature of the calling. Christ's suffering is multi-faceted: it is vicarious (for us) and exemplary (for our imitation). It provides both the spiritual foundation for salvation and the practical pattern for righteous living, particularly under duress.
• "leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps": This defines the practical implication of Christ's suffering beyond atonement. It reveals His suffering as a deliberate act that created a discernible path for His disciples. The precision implied by "example" and "steps" urges believers not merely to admire Christ but to actively and diligently replicate His responses to injustice and pain.

1 Peter 2 21 Bonus section

• The imitatio Christi (imitation of Christ) is a central theme in Christian ethics, and this verse provides a crucial foundation for it, especially concerning the aspect of suffering righteously.
• The nature of Christ's suffering highlighted here (undeserved, borne with patience and trust in God) stands in stark contrast to the world's common responses of revenge or self-pity, urging believers to adopt a uniquely Christ-like counter-cultural response.
• While Christ's suffering was uniquely redemptive, Peter's point is that the manner of His suffering and His innocent endurance provide the template for how His followers ought to suffer for righteousness, emphasizing their identity with Him in every facet of life, including hardship.
• The "calling" signifies divine election and purpose, infusing suffering with deep theological meaning, transforming it from a random affliction into a participation in God's eternal plan.

1 Peter 2 21 Commentary

First Peter 2:21 profoundly links the Christian experience of suffering to the pattern established by Christ. It reveals that the "calling" for believers includes the expectation of hardship, especially when enduring unjustly for their faith. This is not arbitrary; it is precisely because Christ Himself suffered, not for His own sin but for humanity. His suffering is thus presented as serving a dual purpose: fundamentally, it is atoning, bringing salvation, but here, it is specifically highlighted as exemplary.

The imagery of Christ "leaving an example" as a "tracing copy" (hypogrammon) and urging believers to "follow in His steps" (ichnesin) underscores a demand for active, meticulous imitation. It's not enough to believe in Christ's atonement; believers are also called to replicate His attitudes and actions when faced with wrongful treatment. This includes His patient endurance, His trust in God the Father to judge righteously (as seen in 1 Pet 2:23), and His non-retaliatory spirit. The verse provides comfort and motivation: if Christ endured, we, too, can, and by doing so, we align ourselves more deeply with His life and mission, ultimately glorifying God even in pain. Practically, this might mean accepting an undeserved reprimand at work with grace, not returning a harsh word, or continuing to do good when maligned.