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1 Peter 1:14-16

as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance, but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.”

World English Bible · Public Domain
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1 Peter 1:14-16 sits inside this longer paragraph.

Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ— as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance, but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.” If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear, knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ, who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance,

    but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior;

    because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.”

  • TYNDALE Tyndale New Testament (1534)

    as obedient chyldren not facioninge youre selves vnto youre olde lustes of ignorancye:

    but as he which called you is holy even so be ye holy in all maner of conuersacion

    because it is written. Be ye holy for I am holy.

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  • GNV Geneva Bible (1599)

    As obedient children, not fashioning your selues vnto the former lustes of your ignorance:

    But as hee which hath called you, is holie, so be yee holie in all maner of conuersation;

    Because it is written, Be yee holie, for I am holie.

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Contradictions (1)

Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.

  • Is only God holy?

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Cross-references (44)

  • Leviticus 11:44 (v16) For I am Yahweh your God. Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any kind of…
  • Leviticus 19:2 (v16) “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘You shall be holy; for I, Yahweh your God, am holy.
  • Leviticus 20:7 (v16) “ ‘Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am Yahweh your God.
  • Matthew 5:48 (v15) Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
  • 2 Corinthians 7:1 (v15) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear…
Show all 44 cross-references
  • Hebrews 12:14 (v15) Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man will see the Lord,
  • Romans 12:2 (v14) Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing,…
  • James 3:13 (v15) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
  • Ephesians 5:1-2 (v15) Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and…
  • 1 John 3:3 (v15) Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7 (v15) For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own…
  • Philippians 2:15-16 (v15) that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom…
  • Titus 3:3-5 (v14) For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating…
  • 1 Peter 2:12 (v15) having good behavior among the nations, so in that of which they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they…
  • 1 Peter 2:9 (v15) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of…
  • 1 Peter 4:2-3 (v14) that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough…
  • Philippians 1:27 (v15) Only let your way of life be worthy of the Good News of Christ, that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your state,…
  • Luke 1:74-75 (v15) to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before…
  • Ephesians 2:2 (v14) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works…
  • Romans 8:28-30 (v15) We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. For whom he…
  • Hebrews 13:5 (v15) Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any…
  • 2 Peter 3:11-14 (v15) Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, looking for…
  • Isaiah 6:3 (v15) One called to another, and said, “Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!”
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:5 (v14) not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God,
  • Titus 3:14 (v15) Let our people also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they may not be unfruitful.
  • Revelation 3:7 (v15) “To the angel of the assembly in Philadelphia write: “He who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one…
  • Colossians 3:5-7 (v14) Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth: sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and…
  • Ephesians 4:18-22 (v14) being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of…
  • Philippians 3:14 (v15) I press on toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
  • Philippians 3:20 (v15) For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
  • 2 Timothy 1:9 (v15) who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to…
  • Titus 2:11-14 (v15) For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,…
  • 2 Peter 1:3-10 (v15) seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by…
  • 1 Timothy 4:12 (v15) Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in…
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:12 (v15) to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory.
  • Titus 3:8 (v15) This saying is faithful, and concerning these things I desire that you affirm confidently, so that those who have believed God may be…
  • 1 Peter 3:16 (v15) having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in…
  • 1 Peter 5:10 (v15) But may the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, perfect,…
  • Revelation 6:10 (v15) They cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the…
  • Acts 17:30 (v14) The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,
  • Romans 6:4 (v14) We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father,…
  • Revelation 4:8 (v15) The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within. They have no rest day and night, saying,…
  • Romans 9:24 (v15) us, whom he also called, not from the Jews only, but also from the Gentiles?
  • Ephesians 5:6 (v14) Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (20 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv14–15 14 As obedient children He first intimates that we…

14 As obedient children He first intimates that we are called by the Lord to the privilege and honor of adoption through the Gospel; and, secondly, that we are adopted for this end, that he might have us as his obedient children. For though obedience does not make us children, as the gift of adoption is gratuitous, yet it distinguishes children from aliens. How far, indeed, this obedience extends, Peter shews, when he forbids God’s children to conform to or to comply with the desires of this world, and when he exhorts them, on the contrary, to conform to the will of God. The sum of the whole law, and of all that God requires of us, is this, that his image should shine forth in us, so that we should not be degenerate children. But this cannot be except we be renewed and put off the image of old Adam.

Hence we learn what Christians ought to propose to themselves as an object throughout life, that is, to resemble God in holiness and purity. But as all the thoughts and feelings of our flesh are in opposition to God, and the whole bent of our mind is enmity to him, hence Peter begins with the renunciation of the world; and certainly, whenever the Scripture speaks of the renewal of God’s image in us, it begins here, that the old man with his lusts is to be destroyed.

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In your ignorance The time of ignorance he calls that before they were called into the faith of Christ. We hence learn that unbelief is the fountain of all evils. For he does not use the word ignorance, as we commonly do; for that Platonic dogma is false, that ignorance alone is the cause of sin. But yet, how much soever conscience may reprove the unbelieving, nevertheless they go astray as the blind in darkness, because they know not the right way, and they are without the true light. According to this meaning, Paul says,

“Ye henceforth walk not as the Gentiles, in the vanity of their mind, who have the mind darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them.” (Ephesians 4:17.)

Where the knowledge of God is not, there darkness, error, vanity, destitution of light and life, prevail. These things, however, do not render it impossible that the ungodly should be conscious of doing wrong when they sin, and know that their judge is in heaven, and feel an executioner within them. In short, as the kingdom of God is a kingdom of light, all who are alienated from him must necessarily be blind and go astray in a labyrinth.

We are in the meantime reminded, that we are for this end illuminated as to the knowledge of God, that we may no longer be carried away by roving lusts. Hence, as much progress any one has made in newness of life, so much progress has he made in the knowledge of God.

Here a question arises, — Since he addressed the Jews, who were acquainted with the law, and were brought up in the worship of the only true God, why did he charge them with ignorance and blindness, as though they were heathens? To this I answer, that it hence appears how profitless is all knowledge without Christ. When Paul exposed the vain boasting of those who wished to be wise apart from Christ, he justly said in one short sentence, that they did not hold the head. (Colossians 2:19.) Such were the Jews; being otherwise imbued with numberless corruptions, they had a veil over the eyes, so that they did not see Christ in the Law. The doctrine in which they had been taught was indeed a true light; but they were blind in the midst of light, as long as the Sun of Righteousness was hid to them. But if Peter declares that the literal disciples even of the Law were in darkness like the heathens, as long as they were ignorant of Christ, the only true wisdom of God, with how much greater care it behoves us to strive for the knowledge of him!

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv14, 16 He passeth from faith and hope, to the fruits…
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv14–16 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv14–16 As obedient children; Greek, children of obedience, by a…
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On v14 The next duty he exhorts them to, is to…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv14–16 As obedient children,.... Or "children of obedience". This may…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv14, 16 Your desires - Which ye had while ye were…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv14–15 Verse 14. Not fashioning yourselves] As the offices of…
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv14–16 As obedient children - That is, conduct yourselves as…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On v14 As children of obedience; i.e. as obedient children. (Witham)
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv14–16 From sobriety of spirit and endurance of hope Peter…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv14–15 b. Exhortation to obedience after the pattern of Christ,…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv14–16 14. as obedient children] Literally, children of obedience. The…
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv14–16 (14) As obedient children.—Literally, as children of obedience—children, i.e.,…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv14–16 As obedient children; rather, children of obedience. (comp. Eph_2:2,…
B. W. Johnson 1891 · Public Domain On vv14–16 14. As obedient children. An invariable characteristic of all…
William B. Godbey 1900 · Public Domain On v14 14. “As children of obedience.” This phrase is a…
Alexander MacLaren 1905 · Public Domain On v15 1 Peter
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v15 For it is written
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v15 1:15-16 “You must be holy because I am holy”:…
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