Bible Study on 1 Peter 1:6-7 (Rejoice in Suffering)
1 Peter 1:6-7
“You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials so that the proven character of your faith — more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire — may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (CSB)
Welcome to the Bible Study Guide for 1 Peter 1:6-7, which leverages questions from the CHARA Bible Study Guide when studying this verse. Below are the questions the Chara team chose to ask, in the order they chose to ask them, but feel free to use other questions or change up the order as you dive into this passage. For ANSWERS from the Chara team on these questions, check out the video below.
RESEARCH
Observations & Questions: What observations or questions do you have when you read 1 Peter 1:6-7?
There is much to explore in these two verses! Don’t worry, we’ll get to the surrounding context in 1 Peter chapter one. But first, let’s familiarize ourselves with some historical background surrounding this letter.
HISTORY
Who was it written to? How does the Bible describe them? There are a couple ways to figure this out: 1) from the text itself and 2) from biblical resources.
1. The Text - Read 1 Peter 1:1-2, 14, 18; 4:3-4
2. Resources - What insights do you learn from Biblical scholars provided in Study Bibles, commentaries, and credible online resources?
The Greek word used in 1 Peter 1:1, diaspora, is translated “scattered.” In the Old Testament, the diaspora referred to Jews who were living outside of their homeland, Israel, and scattered throughout Gentile nations. In the New Testament, the diaspora is adapted to refer to Jewish Christians (in James) and both Jewish and Gentile Christians (in 1 Peter) that scattered due to persecution and living in a hostile world. (Hint: if you’d like to learn more about the diaspora, we found this Got Question’s article helpful.)
How would the original audience have heard this message? In the opening of this letter, these early Christ-followers are called “chosen,” not once but twice (1 Pet 1:1). Read Genesis 18:19 and Isaiah 41:8-9. In the Old Testament who was considered God’s chosen people? (Hint: the Jews were descendants of Abraham, also known as Israel). How might Peter’s non-Jewish (Gentile) audience have responded to being called chosen?
APPLY
Reflect: How does the author, Peter, further convey that in Christ we are all part of the same faith family in 1 Peter 1:3,23; 2:9-10? (Hint: for additional Bible context see also John 3:3).
AUTHOR
Structure: What is emphasized by the amount of space devoted to a subject (person, theme, or circumstance)? If you were to read the book of 1 Peter all the way through (as we recommend with any letter), you would likely notice a theme repeated in nearly every chapter. In addition to 1 Peter 1:6-7, read also 1 Peter 3:13-17, 4:12-19, 5:8-9. What clue does this give as to why Peter may have written this letter?
HISTORY
When did the events take place and when was it written? What was going on in history at that time? (Hint: Discover what you can from a Study Bible. Other helpful resources include: the BibleProject’s brief video summary on 1 Peter, and Bible commentaries such as the ones we’ve pulled from below:
The IVP Bible Background Commentary: “A fire devastated Rome in A.D. 64 but suspiciously left unscathed the estates of Nero and his older boyfriend Tigellinus. Like any good politician, Nero needed a scapegoat for his ills, and what appeared to be a new religion, understood as a fanatical form of Judaism begun by an executed teacher three and a half decades before, filled the need perfectly.”
The Moody Bible Commentary adds more historical insight: “It was becoming clearer that the followers of Jesus Christ, “Christians'' as they were called (Ac 11:26), were developing beliefs that distinguished them from Judaism. Romans tolerated the practice of Judaism, but if Christianity was unique, it was no longer an approved state “religion.” Consequently, followers of Jesus were coming under official persecution that prompted Peter to write this letter.”
CONTEXT
Immediate: What is the theme or main idea found in the surrounding paragraph(s) and how does that help determine what 1 Peter 1:6-7 mean? Now let’s return to the immediate context leading up to our verses, and read 1 Peter 1:3-5. Fill in the blanks below (NIV translation)
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has ______________________ us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is ______________________ in heaven for you, who through faith are ______________________ by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
APPLY
Reflect: Why can Christ-followers, then and today, have a living hope for a future inheritance? How is this inheritance described (see also 1 Peter 1:23) and why might that be encouraging to those who pay a high cost for following Christ?
AUTHOR
Speech: What is the point being made through figurative language or symbolism in 1 Peter 1:6? The IVP Bible Commentary explains that “Ores of precious metals (the most precious of which was gold) would be melted in a furnace to separate out the impurities and produce purer metal.” How does suffering refine your faith?
APPLY
Reflect: Read 1 Peter 1:8-9,13: In the midst of suffering, how can focusing not on the things that you can physically see, but instead trusting in Christ, whom you cannot see, fill you with inexpressible and glorious joy?
Express: What fears or concerns do you have about applying what you’ve learned?
Ask: What do you learn about God - His character, attributes, or desires?
Pray: “Lord, what do you want me to learn and how should I apply this to my life?”
Join the Chara Project team as they study 1 Peter 1:6-7 and see their ANSWERS to the questions asked from the CHARA Bible Study Guide.