1 Peter 1:3
What does 1 Peter 1:3 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 1:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 1:3 means
Peter bursts into praise, blessing the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation springs from God’s “great mercy,” not human merit. He has “begat us again”—granted new birth—so that believers share a new, living principle within. This new life comes “unto a living hope” through Jesus’ resurrection, which proves death is conquered and guarantees future restoration. Because Christ rose, Christian hope is not wishful thinking but vibrant and active. Our new identity does not depend on our stability but on God’s mercy and Christ’s victory. Praise, then, is the fitting first response to the sheer gift of regeneration and the surety of resurrection hope.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
KJV
King James Version · 1611Blessed 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,
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Blessedbethe God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who through his great mercy has given us a new birth and a living hope by the coming again of Jesus Christ from the dead,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Blessed <FI>is<Fi> the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to the abundance of His kindness did beget us again to a living hope, through the rising again of Jesus Christ out of the dead,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy hath regenerated us unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead:
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Blessed [be] theGod and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his great mercy, has begotten us again to a living hope through [the] resurrection of Jesus Christ from among [the] dead,
Context
After grounding identity in the Father, Spirit, and Jesus Christ (v. 2), Peter now praises God for the saving work that has made readers new. Verses 4–5 will describe the content and security of the hope tied to this new birth, and verses 6–9 will show how this hope sustains joy in trials. The doxology sets a worshipful frame before Peter addresses suffering, holiness, and love.
v.2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
v.3This passage
v.4unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 72:18
Blessed be Jehovah God, the God of Israel, Who only doeth wondrous things:
- Ephesians 3:20
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
- Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwelleth in you, he that raised up Christ Jesus from the dead shall give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
- Romans 5:10
For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life;
- Hebrews 3:6
but Christ as a son, over his house; whose house are we, if we hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end.
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