1 Peter 1:7

1:7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith, ¹  which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away ²  – and will bring praise ³  and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁴ 

1 Peter 1:11

1:11 They probed ⁵  into what person or time ⁶  the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ ⁷  and his subsequent glory. ⁸ 

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¹ 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.

² tn Grk “which is passing away but is tested by fire,” describing gold in a lesser-to-greater comparison with faith’s proven character.

³ tn Grk “that the testing of your faith…may be found unto praise,” showing the result of the trials mentioned in v. 6.

⁴ tn Grk “at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (cf. v. 13).

⁵ tn Grk “probing.” The participle continues the sentence from v. 10 but has been translated as an indicative for English style.

⁶ tn Or “time or circumstances,” focusing not on the person but on the timing and circumstances of the fulfillment.

sn The OT prophets wondered about the person and the surrounding circumstances (time) through which God would fulfill his promised salvation.

⁷ tn Grk “the sufferings unto Christ,” i.e., sufferings directed toward him, what he was destined to suffer.

⁸ tn Grk “the glories after these things.”