1 Peter 1:20

20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.

1 Peter 1:20 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
English Standard Version (ESV)
20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you
New Living Translation (NLT)
20 God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days he has been revealed for your sake.
The Message Bible (MSG)
20 And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately - at the end of the ages - become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you.
American Standard Version (ASV)
20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake,
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
20 He is the lamb who was known long ago before the world existed, but for your good he became publicly known in the last period of time.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
20 He was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the times for you
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
20 He was chosen before God created the world. But he came into the world in these last days for you.

1 Peter 1:20 Meaning and Commentary

1 Peter 1:20

Who verily was foreordained
Or "foreknown"; that is, by God; and which intends, not barely his prescience of Christ, of what he should be, do, and suffer; but such a previous knowledge of him, which is joined with love and affection to him; not merely as his own Son, and the express image of his person, but as Mediator; and whom he loved before the world was, and with a love of complacency and delight, and which will last for ever. It includes the choice of him as the head of the election, and the pre-ordination of his human nature, to the grace of union to his divine Person, and the pre-appointment of him to various things. The Syriac version adds, "to this"; that is, to be the lamb for a sacrifice, to be a propitiation for the sins of his people, to be the Saviour and Redeemer of them by his precious blood. The allusion is to the taking of the passover lamb from the sheep, or from the goats, and keeping it separate, from the tenth to the fourteenth day of the month, before it was slain; so Christ, as man, was chosen out from among the people; and as Joseph's antitype was separated from his brethren, and that

before the foundation of the world;
for all God's decrees and appointments, relating either to Christ, or his people, are eternal; no new thoughts, counsels, and resolutions, are taken up by him in time. The affair of redemption by Christ is no new thing; the scheme of it was drawn in eternity; the persons to be redeemed were fixed on; the Redeemer was appointed in the council and covenant of peace; and even the very Gospel which proclaims it was ordained before the world, for our glory. A Saviour was provided before sin was committed, and the method of man's recovery was settled before his ruin took place; and which was done without any regard to the works and merits of men, but is wholly owing to the free and sovereign grace of God, and to his everlasting love, both to the Redeemer and the redeemed. The Jews F8 reckon the name of the Messiah among the seven things that were created before the world was; in proof of which they mention, ( Psalms 72:17 ) but was manifest in these last times for you; he was before, he existed from everlasting; he lay in the bosom of his Father from all eternity: and was veiled and hid under the shadows of the ceremonial law, during the legal dispensation; but in the fulness of time was manifest in the flesh, and more clearly revealed in the Gospel, and to the souls of men; his manifestation in human nature is principally intended, and which was in the last times of the legal dispensation, at the end of the Jewish world or state, when a new world, or the world to come, took place. It is a rule with the Jews F9, that whenever the last days or times are mentioned, the times of the Messiah are designed: and this manifestation of Christ was for the sake of some particular persons, even for all God's elect, whether among Jews or Gentiles, and who are described in the following verse. The Alexandrian copy reads, "for us"; and the Ethiopic version, "for him".


FOOTNOTES:

F8 T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 59. 1. & Nedarim, fol. 89. 2.
F9 Kimchi in Isa. ii. 2.

1 Peter 1:20 In-Context

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

Cross References 2

  • 1. Ephesians 1:4; S Matthew 25:34
  • 2. Hebrews 9:26
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