1 Peter 1:20

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

Complete Jewish Bible:

God knew him before the founding of the universe, but revealed him in the acharit-hayamim for your sakes.

Berean Standard Bible:

He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.

American Standard Version:

who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake,

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Who verily{G3303} was foreordained{G4267} before{G4253} the foundation{G2602} of the world{G2889}, but{G1161} was manifest{G5319} in{G1909} these last{G2078} times{G5550} for{G1223} you{G5209},

Cross-References (KJV):

Ephesians 1:4

  • According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

2 Timothy 1:9

  • Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2 Timothy 1:10

  • But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Hebrews 9:26

  • For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Revelation 13:8

  • And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Titus 1:2

  • In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

Titus 1:3

  • But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour;

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Commentary for 1 Peter 1:20

1 Peter 1:20 is a verse that speaks to the profound Christian belief in the pre-existence and predestination of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. The verse reads, "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you." This passage highlights two key theological points:

1. **Predestination**: The verse emphasizes that Jesus Christ was chosen, or "foreordained," by God before the creation of the world to fulfill a specific role in salvation history. This concept reflects the Christian understanding of God's omniscience and sovereignty, where events are not random but part of a divine plan established from the very beginning.

2. **Incarnation**: The phrase "but was manifest in these last times" refers to the actual historical appearance of Jesus Christ in the flesh, during the period commonly referred to by early Christians as the "last times" or the "end of the ages." This indicates that Jesus' life, death, and resurrection occurred in the timeline of human history as a fulfillment of prophecies and divine promises made long before.

The historical context of this verse is rooted in the early Christian community's need to understand Jesus' role within the broader narrative of Jewish messianic expectations and the emerging Christian theology. The audience of 1 Peter, likely Gentile Christians facing various trials and hardships, would have found comfort and assurance in the affirmation that Christ's coming was not an accident but a long-standing part of God's redemptive plan for humanity.

In summary, 1 Peter 1:20 succinctly encapsulates the Christian doctrines of the predestination of Christ and the fulfillment of God's plan through the incarnation, offering believers a profound sense of purpose and hope in the providential care of God over human history and their personal lives.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: G3303
    There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μέν
    Transliteration: mén
    Pronunciation: men
    Description: a primary particle; properly, indicative of affirmation or concession (in fact); usually followed by a contrasted clause with δέ (this one, the former, etc.):--even, indeed, so, some, truly, verily. Often compounded with other particles in an intensive or asseverative sense.
  2. Strong's Number: G4267
    There are 5 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: προγινώσκω
    Transliteration: proginṓskō
    Pronunciation: prog-in-oce'-ko
    Description: from πρό and γινώσκω; to know beforehand, i.e. foresee:--foreknow (ordain), know (before).
  3. Strong's Number: G4253
    There are 48 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πρό
    Transliteration: pró
    Pronunciation: pro
    Description: a primary preposition; "fore", i.e. in front of, prior (figuratively, superior) to:--above, ago, before, or ever. In the comparative, it retains the same significations.
  4. Strong's Number: G2602
    There are 11 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: καταβολή
    Transliteration: katabolḗ
    Pronunciation: kat-ab-ol-ay'
    Description: from καταβάλλω; a deposition, i.e. founding; figuratively, conception:--conceive, foundation.
  5. Strong's Number: G2889
    There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: κόσμος
    Transliteration: kósmos
    Pronunciation: kos'-mos
    Description: probably from the base of κομίζω; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively (morally)):--adorning, world.
  6. Strong's Number: G1161
    There are 2556 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: δέ
    Transliteration:
    Pronunciation: deh
    Description: a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).
  7. Strong's Number: G5319
    There are 43 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: φανερόω
    Transliteration: phaneróō
    Pronunciation: fan-er-o'-o
    Description: from φανερός; to render apparent (literally or figuratively):--appear, manifestly declare, (make) manifest (forth), shew (self).
  8. Strong's Number: G1909
    There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐπί
    Transliteration: epí
    Pronunciation: ep-ee'
    Description: a primary preposition; properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e. over, upon, etc.; of rest (with the dative case) at, on, etc.; of direction (with the accusative case) towards, upon, etc.:--about (the times), above, after, against, among, as long as (touching), at, beside, X have charge of, (be-, (where-))fore, in (a place, as much as, the time of, -to), (because) of, (up-)on (behalf of), over, (by, for) the space of, through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), with. In compounds it retains essentially the same import, at, upon, etc. (literally or figuratively).
  9. Strong's Number: G2078
    There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἔσχατος
    Transliteration: éschatos
    Pronunciation: es'-khat-os
    Description: a superlative probably from ἔχω (in the sense of contiguity); farthest, final (of place or time):--ends of, last, latter end, lowest, uttermost.
  10. Strong's Number: G5550
    There are 53 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: χρόνος
    Transliteration: chrónos
    Pronunciation: khron'-os
    Description: of uncertain derivation; a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from καιρός, which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from αἰών, which denotes a particular period) or interval; by extension, an individual opportunity; by implication, delay:--+ years old, season, space, (X often-)time(-s), (a) while.
  11. Strong's Number: G1223
    There are 580 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: διά
    Transliteration: diá
    Pronunciation: dee-ah'
    Description: a primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional):--after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) … fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through(-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general importance.
  12. Strong's Number: G5209
    There are 388 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὑμᾶς
    Transliteration: hymâs
    Pronunciation: hoo-mas'
    Description: accusative case of ὑμεῖς; you (as the objective of a verb or preposition):--ye, you (+ -ward), your (+ own).