1 Peter 1:4-7

1:4 that is, ¹  into ²  an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, 1:5 who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1:6 This brings you great joy, ³  although you may have to suffer ⁴  for a short time in various trials. 1:7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, ⁵  which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away ⁶  – and will bring praise ⁷  and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ 

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¹ tn The phrase “that is” is supplied in the translation to indicate that the imperishable inheritance is in apposition to the living hope of v. 3.

² tn Grk “into,” continuing the description of v. 3 without an “and.”

³ tn Grk “in which you exult.”

⁴ tc ‡ The oldest and best witnesses lack the verb (א* B, along with 1505 pc), but most mss (Ì⁷² א² A C P Ψ 048 33 1739 Ï) have ἐστίν here (estin, “[if] it is [necessary]”). The verb looks to be an explanatory gloss. But if no verb is present, this opens up the time frame in the author’s mind even more, since the conditional particle for both the first class condition and the fourth class condition is εἰ (ei). That may well be what was on the author’s mind, as evidenced by some of his other allusions to suffering in this little letter (3:14, 17). NA²⁷ has the verb in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.

tn Grk “Though now, for a little while if necessary, you may have to suffer.”

⁵ tn Or “genuineness,” the result of testing. On the other hand it may denote the process of testing: “that the proving of your faith…may bring praise.”

sn The author is not asserting that the quality of the readers’ faith is in doubt and will be proven by future trials. He declares their faith to be a present reality in v. 5 and 9, so in context v. 8 affirms that their faith is indeed genuine.

⁶ tn Grk “which is passing away but is tested by fire,” describing gold in a lesser-to-greater comparison with faith’s proven character.

⁷ tn Grk “that the testing of your faith…may be found unto praise,” showing the result of the trials mentioned in v. 6.

⁸ tn Grk “at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (cf. v. 13).