1 Peter 1:15
in 1 Peter 1But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living;
KJV
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
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This verse in 1 Peter 1
Commentary
13 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Literally, "But (rather) after the pattern of Him who hath called you (whose characteristic is that He is) holy, be (Greek, 'become') ye yourselves also holy." God is our grand model.
This site's exposition
As obedient children, do not conform
on 1 Peter 1:14-16
Obedient children no longer shape life by the passions of your former ignorance. Holiness reaches everything, so be holy in all you do, because God is holy, and verse 16 quotes Leviticus 11:44 to ground the command.
This site's exposition
so be holy in all you do
The God who called them is holy, so the called must be holy in all they do. Albert Barnes takes the character of God as the pattern for the whole of life. Didymus the Blind adds that God supplies the holiness He asks.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, in your ignorance: but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written: "Be holy, for I am holy." [Lev. 19:2] Conforming [Συσχηματιζειν], however, means …
For elsewhere, again, (we read): "Be ye holy, just as He withal was holy " -in the flesh, namely.
Since God, who called us to salvation by the gospel, is holy, those who obey his calling must also become holy in all their thoughts and behavior, especially since he who calls us to this also provides the necessary sanctification himself.
The Medieval Church2 voices
The Apostle calls "conformity" the being carried along by present circumstances. For even now some foolish people say that one must adapt to circumstances. But since surrendering oneself to the will of circumstances is frivolous, the Apostle commands that whether they had held to this …
Those who seek to imitate the Holy God must be holy themselves.
5 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
But as he who has called you is holy, etc. This is similar to that in the Gospel: Be ye therefore perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. 5).
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And yet it is required in strong terms, and enforced by three reasons, taken from the grace of God in calling us,--from his command, it is written, --and from his example. Be you holy, for I am holy. Learn, (1.) The grace of God in calling a sinner is a powerful engagement to holiness.
But as he which hath called you is holy,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
But as he which hath called you - Heathenism scarcely produced a god whose example was not the most abominable; their greatest gods, especially, were paragons of impurity; none of their philosophers could propose the objects of their adoration as objects of imitation. Here Christianity has an infinite advantage over heathenism. God is holy, and he calls upon all who believe in him to imitate his holiness; and the reason why they should be holy is, that God who has called them is holy, 1Pe 1:15.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
But as he which hath called you is holy - On the word called, see the notes at Eph 4:1. The meaning here is, that the model or example in accordance with which they were to frame their lives, should be the character of that God who had called them into his kingdom. They were to be like him. Compare the notes at Mat 5:48. So be ye holy in all manner of conversation - In all your conduct. On the word “conversation,” see the notes at Php 1:
The words behind it
13 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἀλλὰ | alla | But | G235 → | 635 times |
| κατὰ | kata | as | G2596 → | 468 times |
| τὸν | ton | the [One] | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| καλέσαντα | kalesanta | having called | G2564 → | 147 times |
| ὑμᾶς | humas | you | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἅγιον | hagion | [is] holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| καὶ | kai | also | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| αὐτοὶ | autoi | yourselves | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἅγιοι | hagioi | holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| πάσῃ | pase | all | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| ἀναστροφῇ | anastrophea | [your] conduct | G391 → | 13 times |
| γενήθητε, | genethete | do be, | G1096 → | 667 times |
ἀλλὰBut
allaG235 →635 times
κατὰas
kataG2596 →468 times
τὸνthe [One]
tonG3588 →19766 times
καλέσανταhaving called
kalesantaG2564 →147 times
ὑμᾶςyou
humasG4771 →2973 times
ἅγιον[is] holy
hagionG40 →220 times
καὶalso
kaiG2532 →9120 times
αὐτοὶyourselves
autoiG846 →5565 times
ἅγιοιholy
hagioiG40 →220 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
πάσῃall
paseG3956 →1235 times
ἀναστροφῇ[your] conduct
anastropheaG391 →13 times
γενήθητε,do be,
genetheteG1096 →667 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Matthew 5:48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 1:15–16
But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- James 1:4
Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
- 1 Peter 1:15–16
Through
2 Corinthians 7:1Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
it leads to
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:7
Through
James 3:13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
it leads to
- Galatians 5:23
gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
- James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.
- Matthew 5:5
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
- Galatians 5:23
Through
Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
- Matthew 5:8–9
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
- 2 Corinthians 7:1
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies13
On this verse
About 1 Peter
This page draws on 13 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the New Testament; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Andreas of Caesarea, CATENA; Bede, Commentary on the Catholic Epistles; Didymus the Blind, Commentary on 1 Peter; Didymus the Blind, COMMENTARY ON 1 PETER; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Oecumenius, Commentary on 1 Peter; Tertullian, On Monogamy and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on 1 Peter.