1 Peter 5 11

1 Peter 5:11 kjv

To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:11 nkjv

To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:11 niv

To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:11 esv

To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:11 nlt

All power to him forever! Amen.

1 Peter 5 verses

1 Peter 5 11 Meaning

This verse serves as a powerful doxology, an ascription of praise, honoring God's inherent majestic nature and absolute sovereign authority. It affirms that glory and dominion rightfully belong to God alone, not temporarily, but eternally without end. It acts as a final declaration of trust and worship, acknowledging His ultimate power over all things, including the sufferings faced by believers.

1 Peter 5 11 Context

First Peter is an epistle written by the Apostle Peter to scattered believers in various provinces of Asia Minor, likely facing increasing societal pressure and nascent persecution for their faith. The overarching theme is hope and steadfastness in Christ amidst suffering, guiding believers on how to live godly lives in a hostile world.

Chapter 5 focuses on concluding exhortations. Peter addresses elders on pastoring God's flock, younger members on submitting, and all believers on humility (5:5-6), casting anxieties on God (5:7), self-control, watchfulness against the adversary (5:8-9), and spiritual endurance. Verse 10, immediately preceding the doxology, offers immense encouragement: God Himself, who called them to His eternal glory in Christ, will "himself restore you, confirm, strengthen, and establish you" after they have suffered a little while. This verse assures believers that their trials are temporary and God is actively working to bring them to perfection.

Thus, 1 Peter 5:11 is not a detached, generic statement of praise but a direct theological conclusion flowing from the promises of verse 10. It is a confident affirmation of God's character and omnipotence, securing the believers' hope that the God who will restore them indeed possesses all glory and all dominion, eternally. It serves to reinforce Peter's exhortations by rooting the believers' confidence in the unchanging power and majesty of God, who will ultimately prevail over all suffering and opposition. It implicitly serves as a counterpoint to any power or authority that seeks to oppose God's purposes or distress His people.

1 Peter 5 11 Word analysis

• Αὐτῷ (autō): "To Him." This dative pronoun points back to God, specifically "the God of all grace" mentioned in verse 10. It emphasizes that the glory and dominion are exclusively His and are ascribed to Him as their rightful recipient.
• ἡ δόξα (hē doxa): "the glory." This term signifies renown, honor, majesty, and splendor. In a biblical sense, it denotes God's visible manifestation, His inherent nature, and the praise ascribed to Him for His character and works. It connects deeply with the Old Testament concept of kabod, implying weight, significance, and visible manifestation of God's presence and power. For believers undergoing hardship, attributing "the glory" to God reminds them that ultimate honor belongs to the One who permits and uses their suffering for their good and His greater purposes.
• καὶ (kai): "and." A simple conjunction, connecting "glory" and "dominion," showing they are equally and simultaneously God's.
• τὸ κράτος (to kratos): "the dominion" or "the power." This word refers to absolute, sovereign power and authority, often implying a mighty, unchallengeable force or rule. It's not just "strength" but governing authority. While believers may feel weak or powerless in persecution, attributing "the dominion" to God reminds them that He holds ultimate control, ruling over all earthly authorities and spiritual forces. This provides a deep well of assurance in the face of temporal adversities.
• εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας (eis tous aiōnas): "unto the ages" or "forever." This Greek phrase denotes unending duration. It expresses an eternal quality, emphasizing that God's glory and dominion are not temporal but everlasting.
• τῶν αἰώνων (tōn aiōnōn): "(of the ages)" - literally "to the ages of the ages," commonly translated as "forever and ever." This idiomatic phrase intensifies the preceding "unto the ages," creating a super-eternity. It underscores the absolute, endless, and never-diminishing nature of God's glory and dominion, providing an ultimate anchor of hope and trust. It affirms that His reign is timeless and surpasses all conceived measures of duration.
• Ἀμήν (Amēn): "Amen." A transliterated Hebrew word meaning "so be it," "truly," "it is firm," or "surely." It acts as a solemn affirmation or conclusion, signifying hearty assent to what has been said, or a prayer that what has been uttered will come to pass. Here, it seals Peter's doxology with conviction and emphasis, expressing a firm belief in the truth and permanence of God's glory and dominion.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "To Him be the glory and the dominion": This pairing is frequent in biblical doxologies, indicating that both God's majestic renown (glory) and His unshakeable ruling authority (dominion) are His inherent rights and prerogatives. They are inseparably linked as aspects of His supreme being. This provides a comprehensive statement of who God is and what He justly receives.
• "forever and ever. Amen.": This double affirmation of eternity, sealed with "Amen," strongly reinforces the unwavering and unchangeable nature of God's reign and splendor. It is a powerful declaration that God's supreme status is absolute, unaffected by any earthly turmoil or spiritual opposition. This phrase assures believers that their hope in God's ultimate restoration (as mentioned in verse 10) is built on an eternal foundation.

1 Peter 5 11 Bonus section

This doxology stands as a miniature creed, summarizing the very foundation of the Christian hope presented throughout the letter. Its brevity is part of its power; it succinctly captures the essence of divine nature and dominion, making it easily memorable and confessible. The placement directly after God's promise to restore and establish believers transforms it from a generic statement of praise into a deeply personal declaration of faith concerning the God who acts decisively on behalf of His people. It acts as an assurance that the "God of all grace" (v. 10) is indeed the "God of all glory and all dominion." The phrasing "to Him" implicitly excludes any other recipient, serving as an anti-idolatrous statement that deflects ultimate honor and authority from human rulers or forces, firmly placing them with the Most High.

1 Peter 5 11 Commentary

First Peter 5:11 functions as a climactic doxology, anchoring the entire letter's message of suffering, hope, and steadfastness in the ultimate reality of God's eternal sovereignty. After urging believers to humility, watchfulness, and steadfastness, and offering the profound promise that God Himself will restore and establish them, Peter erupts in praise. This isn't just a religious formality but a deeply theological statement affirming that despite persecution and hardship, the final word belongs to God.

The ascription of "glory" reminds believers of God's intrinsic majesty and splendor, reinforcing His worthiness of worship regardless of their circumstances. The addition of "dominion" (or "power") highlights His absolute rule and control over all creation and every event, even the evil schemes of the adversary mentioned in verse 8. These attributes are not momentary but "forever and ever," an emphatic declaration of eternity, underscoring God's immutability and His everlasting reign. The "Amen" firmly seals this confession, signifying heartfelt affirmation and an unwavering confidence in the God who not only reigns supreme but also powerfully intervenes for His suffering saints (v. 10). It calls believers to ground their lives in this eternal truth, transforming their perspective on earthly trials into a steadfast assurance of God's triumphant plan.

Practical usage:

• When facing personal weakness or overwhelming challenges, remember that God's "dominion" is absolute, empowering His people to endure.
• In times of distress, use this doxology as a reminder to ascribe "glory" to God, shifting focus from circumstances to His inherent majesty.
• Upon witnessing divine intervention or overcoming adversity, use "Amen" to affirm God's enduring power and His steadfast faithfulness.