1 Peter 1:7

Contextual Overview

⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁶ In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁶I know you're excited about the great things to come, even though you know the brush and hell you'll have to ride through to get there. But in the end, it'll all be worth it. ⁶ You have cause for great joy in this, though it may have been necessary for you to be troubled for a little time, being tested in all sorts of ways, ⁶ Wherein ye exult, for a little while at present, if needed, put to grief by various trials, ⁶ Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been put to grief in various trials, ⁶ Wherein ye greatly rejoice, tho' now for a little while (if need be) ye are in heaviness thro' manifold temptations. ⁶ Rejoice triumphantly in the prospect of this, even if now, for a short time, you are compelled to sorrow amid various trials. ⁶ Wherin ye greatly reioyce, though now for a season (if neede bee) yee are in heauinesse through manifolde temptations:

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the trial: 1 Peter 4:12, Job 23:10, Psalms 66:10-12, Proverbs 17:3, Isaiah 48:10, Jeremiah 9:7, Zechariah 13:9, Malachi 3:3, Romans 5:3, Romans 5:4, James 1:3, James 1:4, James 1:12, Revelation 2:10, Revelation 3:10

precious: 1 Peter 2:4, 1 Peter 2:7, Proverbs 3:13-15, Proverbs 8:19, Proverbs 16:16, 2 Peter 1:1, 2 Peter 1:4

that: Ecclesiastes 5:14, Jeremiah 48:36, Luke 12:20, Luke 12:21, Luke 12:33, Acts 8:20, James 5:2, James 5:3, 2 Peter 3:10-12, Revelation 18:16, Revelation 18:17

tried: 1 Peter 4:12, Job 23:10, Psalms 66:10, Proverbs 17:3, Isaiah 48:10, Zechariah 13:9, 1 Corinthians 3:13, Revelation 3:18

might: 1 Samuel 2:30, Matthew 19:28, Matthew 25:21, Matthew 25:23, John 5:44, John 12:26, Romans 2:7, Romans 2:29, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-12, Jude 1:24

at: 1 Peter 1:5, Revelation 1:7

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:1 - God Exodus 15:25 - proved Exodus 37:4 - with gold Numbers 5:28 - And if Numbers 31:23 - abide Deuteronomy 8:2 - prove thee Deuteronomy 8:16 - to do thee Judges 3:1 - prove 1 Samuel 30:3 - burned 1 Kings 17:13 - make me thereof 1 Kings 17:17 - the son of the woman 2 Chronicles 32:31 - to try him Job 1:22 - In all this Job 2:3 - holdeth Job 7:18 - try Job 28:1 - where they fine it Psalms 11:5 - trieth Psalms 17:3 - proved Psalms 37:34 - exalt Psalms 94:19 - General Psalms 111:10 - his praise Psalms 139:23 - know Proverbs 21:21 - findeth Proverbs 25:3 - is unsearchable Proverbs 25:4 - General Proverbs 27:21 - the fining Proverbs 31:30 - she Isaiah 11:10 - his rest Isaiah 24:15 - glorify Isaiah 43:4 - thou hast been Jeremiah 6:29 - the founder Jeremiah 30:19 - I will Ezekiel 39:13 - a renown Daniel 11:35 - to try Daniel 12:10 - shall be Matthew 6:18 - shall Matthew 7:25 - the rain Luke 19:17 - Well John 12:43 - the praise of God Romans 2:10 - glory Romans 8:18 - I reckon Romans 8:23 - even we Romans 8:28 - we know Romans 16:10 - approved 1 Corinthians 3:12 - gold 1 Corinthians 10:13 - hath 2 Corinthians 4:8 - yet 2 Corinthians 4:17 - far 2 Corinthians 5:2 - we 2 Corinthians 10:18 - but 2 Corinthians 12:10 - I take Philippians 1:19 - I know 2 Thessalonians 1:12 - and ye 1 Timothy 6:14 - until 2 Timothy 2:21 - a vessel 2 Timothy 4:1 - at Titus 2:13 - the glorious Hebrews 11:1 - faith Hebrews 11:17 - when Hebrews 11:25 - Choosing James 5:11 - and have 1 Peter 1:6 - if 1 Peter 1:18 - corruptible 1 Peter 5:10 - after 1 John 2:28 - when Revelation 15:2 - mingled

Cross-References

Genesis 1:8
God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning-the second day.

Genesis 1:8
God called the vault "sky." And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

Genesis 1:8
And God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

Genesis 1:8
God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

Genesis 1:8
And God called the firmament the heauen: and the euenyng and the mornyng were the seconde day.

Genesis 1:8
God named that space "sky." There was evening, and then there was morning. This was the second day.

Genesis 1:8
And God called the firmament Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

Genesis 1:8
And God clepide the firmament, heuene. And the euentid and morwetid was maad, the secounde dai.

Genesis 1:8
And God called the firmament, Heauen: and the euening and the morning were the second day.

Genesis 1:8
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That the trial of your faith,.... This is the principal end which God has in afflictive providences, to try the faith of his people; so the faith of Abraham, Job, Habakkuk, and others, have been tried:

being much more precious than of gold that perisheth: the grace of faith is much more precious than gold; since that perisheth by using, but faith does not; and since it is so valuable as not to be obtained by it; and since those that have it, though poor in this world, are rich, and heirs of a kingdom: but the trying of it is abundantly more precious than gold; for not only as gold being tried in the fire is purged from its dross, and is proved to be genuine and shines the brighter, so faith, being tried in the fire of afflictions, is purged from unbelief; and the believer is purged from his dross and tin, and his iniquity is purged, and the fruit of all is to take away sin; and he is tried and proved to be a true believer, and his faith shines the more illustriously, as in the above instances; yea, the very trying of it has an influence on other graces, for great usefulness; for the trying of faith works patience, and that, experience, and that, hope:

though it be tried with fire: either though gold be tried with fire, and so is greatly refined, yet it is more precious than that; or though faith be tried with the fire of afflictions, yet it is precious, and more precious than gold: and it is tried for this purpose,

that it might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ; who is now in the highest heavens, and out of sight, but will appear a second time without sin unto salvation, and every eye shall see him; and when the believer will be found in him, and his faith be found unto praise by him, he will have praise of him himself; it will be said unto him, "Well done, good and faithful servant"; his faith will be praised for its steadiness and constancy, notwithstanding all persecutions and tribulations; and his good works, the fruits of faith, will be taken notice of by him with commendation; he will be honoured, by being placed on the right hand of Christ, and by being set down with him in his throne, and having a crown of righteousness given to him; and he will be glorified both in soul and body; his body will be made like to Christ's glorious body, and his soul will have a glory revealed in it; and in his whole person he shall appear, when Christ does, with him in glory.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That the trial of your faith - The putting of your religion to the test, and showing what is its real nature. Compare James 1:3, James 1:12.

Being much more precious than of gold - This does not mean that their faith was much more precious than gold, but that the testing of it, (δοκίμιον dokimion,) the process of showing whether it was or was not genuine, was a much more important and valuable process than that of testing gold in the fire. More important results were to be arrived at by it, and it was more desirable that it should be done.

That perisheth - Not that gold perishes by the process of being tried in the fire, for this is not the fact, and the connection does not demand this interpretation. The idea is, that gold, however valuable it is, is a perishable thing. It is not an enduring, imperishable, indestructible thing, like religion. It may not perish in the fire, but it will in some way, for it will not endure forever.

Though it be tried with fire - This refers to the gold. See the Greek. The meaning is, that gold, though it will bear the action of fire, is yet a destructible thing, and will not endure forever. It is more desirable to test religion than it is gold, because it is more valuable. It pertains to that which is eternal and indestructible, and it is therefore of more importance to show its true quality, and to free it from every improper mixture.

Might be found unto praise - That is, might be found to be genuine, and such as to meet the praise or commendation of the final judge.

And honor - That honor might be done to it before assembled worlds.

And glory - That it might be rewarded with that glory which will be then conferred on all who have shown, in the various trials of life, that they had true religion.

At the appearing of Jesus Christ - To judge the world. Compare Matthew 25:31; Act 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 2Th 2:8; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2Ti 4:1, 2 Timothy 4:8; Titus 2:13. From these two verses 1 Peter 1:6-7 we may learn:

I. That it is desirable that the faith of Christians should be tried:

(a) It is desirable to know whether that which appears to be religion is genuine, as it is desirable to know whether that which appears to be gold is genuine. To gold we apply the action of intense heat, that we may know whether it is what it appears to be; and as religion is of more value than gold, so it is more desirable that it should be subjected to the proper tests, that its nature may be ascertained. There is much which appears to be gold, which is of no value, as there is much which appears to be religion, which is of no value. The one is worth no more than the other, unless it is genuine.

(b) It is desirable in order to show its true value. It is of great importance to know what that which is claimed to be gold is worth for the purposes to which gold is usually applied; and so it is in regard to religion. Religion claims to be of more value to man than anything else. It asserts its power to do that for the intellect and the heart which nothing else can do; to impart consolation in the various trials of life which nothing else can impart; and to give a support which nothing else can on the bed of death. It is very desirable, therefore, that in these various situations it should show its power; that is, that its friends should be in these various conditions, in order that they may illustrate the true value of religion.

(c) It is desirable that true religion should be separated from all alloy. There is often much alloy in gold, and it is desirable that it should be separated from it, in order that it may be pure. So it is in religion. It is often combined with much that is unholy and impure; much that dims its lustre and mars its beauty; much that prevents its producing the effect which it would otherwise produce. Gold is, indeed, often better, for some purposes, for having some alloy mixed with it; but not so with religion. It is never better for having a little pride, or vanity, or selfishness, or meanness, or worldliness, or sensuality mingled with it; and that which will remove these things from our religion will be a favor to us.

II. God takes various methods of trying his people, with a design to test the value of their piety, and to separate it from all impure mixtures:

(1) He tries his people by prosperity - often as decisive a test of piety as can be applied to it. There is much pretended piety, which will bear adversity, but which will not bear prosperity. The piety of a man is decisively tested by popularity; by the flatteries of the world; by a sudden increase of property; and in such circumstances it is often conclusively shown that there is no true religion in the soul.

(2) He tries his people in adversity. He lays his hand on them heavily, to show:

(a)Whether they will bear up under their trials, and persevere in his service;

(b)To show whether their religion will keep them from murmuring or complaining;

(c)To show whether it is adapted to comfort and sustain the soul.

(3) He tries his people by sudden transition from one to the other. We get accustomed to a uniform course of life, whether it be joy or sorrow; and the religion which is adapted to a uniform course may be little suited to transitions from one condition of life to another. In prosperity we may have shown that we were grateful, and benevolent, and disposed to serve God; but our religion will be subjected to a new test, if we are suddenly reduced to poverty. In sickness and poverty, we learn to be patient and resigned, and perhaps even happy. But the religion which we then cultivated may be little adapted to a sudden transition to prosperity; and in such a transition, there would be a new trial of our faith. That piety which shone so much on a bed of sickness, might be little suited to shine in circumstances of sudden prosperity. The human frame may become accustomed either to the intense cold of the polar regions, or to the burning heats of the equator; but in neither case might it bear a transition from one to the other. It is such a transition that is a more decisive test of its powers of endurance than either intense heat or cold, if steadily prolonged.

III. Religion will bear any trial which may be applied to it, just as gold will bear the action of fire.

IV. Religion is imperishable in its nature. Even the most pure gold will perish. Time will corrode it, or it will be worn away by use, or it will be destroyed at the universal conflagration; but time and use will not wear out religion, and it will live on through the fires that will consume everything else.

V. Christians should be willing to pass through trials:

1. They will purify their religion, just as the fire will remove dross from gold.
1. They will make it shine more brightly, just as gold does when it comes out of the furnace.
2. They will disclose more fully its value.
3. They will furnish an evidence that we shall be saved; for that religion which will bear the tests that God applies to it in the present life, will bear the test of the final trial.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 7. That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold — As by the action of fire gold is separated from all alloy and heterogeneous mixtures, and is proved to be gold by its enduring the action of the fire without losing any thing of its nature, weight, colour, or any other property, so genuine faith is proved by adversities, especially such as the primitive Christians were obliged to pass through. For the word was then, "Renounce Jesus and live," "Cleave to him and die;" for every Christian was in continual danger of losing his life. He then who preferred Christianity to his life gave full proof, not only of his own sincerity, but also of the excellency of the principle by which he was influenced; as his religion put him in possession of greater blessings, and more solid comforts, than any thing the earth could afford.

Though it be tried with fire — That is: Though gold will bear the action of the fire for any given time, even millions of years, were they possible, without losing the smallest particle of weight or value, yet even gold, in process of time, will wear away by continual use; and the earth, and all its works, will be burnt up by that supernatural fire whose action nothing can resist. But on that day the faith of Christ's followers will be found brighter, and more glorious. The earth, and universal nature, shall be dissolved; but he who doeth the will of God shall abide for ever, and his faith shall then be found to the praise of God's grace, the honour of Christ, and the glory or glorification of his own soul throughout eternity. God himself will praise such faith, angels and men will hold it in honour, and Christ will crown it with glory. For some remarks on the nature and properties of gold see at the end of the chapter.