1 Peter 1:6-7a

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith”

-1 Peter 1:6-7a NIV-

Let’s look at the context of the verse first and answer a few key questions.

Who wrote it?

Peter, also known as Simon Peter, was a fisherman, brother of Andrew, and one of the three main apostles. Jesus personally (face-to-face) asked him to follow Him. He was also the one who denied Jesus three times and walked on water. 

When was it written? 64 A.D. during the time that Nero was persecuting Jews.

To whom was it written? It was written to the Jews in modern-day Turkey.

For what purpose?   It is a letter written to encourage Christians who were suffering persecution for their faith to stand firm in the grace of God. It is a book about how to live victoriously, with hope, and without bitterness while being persecuted and still living a life of evangelism.

These verses are considered key verses of the book of 1 Peter. Jesus had given Peter his name, which means “rock”, and had encouraged him to care for the church as a shepherd tends his flock. His name could also be symbolic of the church being made up of “living stones” built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

When Paul wrote this letter, he was most likely in Rome during the great persecution by Emperor Nero. During this time, Christians were being tortured and killed for their faith. Peter was later executed during this persecution period. 

Peter wanted us to understand that persecution makes us stronger because it refines our faith. We do not have to be afraid of persecution. It is brought to sanctify us and help us work on our salvation. There is no persecution that we will face that is outside of God’s control. He will use every ounce of it to make us more like his son, Jesus. 

1 Peter 1:6-7a says, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith”.

Let’s break it down a bit. “In all this” refers to our living hope of eternal life, provided by God through Jesus’ perfect life, death, and resurrection. It provides us with an inheritance in Heaven that cannot perish, spoil, or fade. 

“Though for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials” refers to the times of suffering and trials believers will face. God uses these situations to refine us in the same manner that gold is refined. As it is heated, the impurities rise to the top and can be skimmed away. As we face trials and grow, our faith becomes purer and stronger, and we are more useful to God.1

“These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith” refers to proof for us, the believer, to have more confidence in the hope we are given. By coming through the trials and growing more holy and sanctified, our faith strengthens, and we are more confident in our eternal hope and in the God we have put our faith in. This is a gracious gift given to us by our Heavenly Father, because of His great love for us.

Next time you face a trial and are tempted to complain or ask, “Why me?” I would challenge you instead to thank God for this trial and ask Him, “What are you trying to teach me?” Reframing your thoughts may just help you learn the lesson He is trying to teach you quicker!

1 Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.