1Pe 1:3-4 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Pet 1:3-9: 1:3-9 In most New Testament letters, the greeting is followed by a section of thanksgiving or praise. Peter praises God that his mercy brings new spiritual life, which produces confident expectation about the future despite sufferings in the meantime. 1:3 born again: New birth is a way of describing Christian conversion (cp. John 3:1-13 ; Jas 1:18 ; 1 Jn 2:29 ; 3:9 ; 4:7 ; 5:1 , 4 , 18 ). This Greek word, which occurs again in 1 Pet 1:23 , brackets the message of 1:1-25 .

Summary for 1Pet 1:3-9: 1:3-9 ^a In most New Testament letters, the greeting is followed by a section of thanksgiving or praise. Peter praises God that his mercy brings new spiritual life, which produces confident expectation about the future despite sufferings in the meantime. 1:3 ^b born again: New birth is a way of describing Christian conversion (cp. John 3:1-13 ^c; Jas 1:18 ^d; 1 Jn 2:29 ^e; 3:9 ^f; 4:7 ^g; 5:1 ^h, 4 ⁱ, 18 ^j). This Greek word, which occurs again in 1 Pet 1:23 ^k, brackets the message of 1:1-25 ^l.
1:4 ^m The language of inheritance frequently refers to what God has promised his people. Originally applied to the land of Israel (see Deut 3:28 ⁿ), the inheritance came to mean the people of God and God’s presence with them (see Ps 33:12 ^o; Ezek 44:28 ^p). In the New Testament, the inheritance is the spiritual benefit and eternal salvation that God promises to his people (see Eph 1:11 ^q; Heb 9:15 ^r).