1 Peter 1 · Verse 15

1 Peter 1:15

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
1 Peter 1:15, King James Version

1 Peter 1:15 in other translations

BSBBut just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
WEBbut just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior,
ASVbut like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living;
YLTbut according as He who did call you is holy, ye also, become holy in all behaviour,
DARBYbut as he who has called you is holy, be ye also holy in all your conversation;
BBEBut be holy in every detail of your lives, as he, whose servants you are, is holy;
WebsterBut as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of deportment.

What does 1 Peter 1:15 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
15. 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. God's calling is a frequently urged motive in Peter's Epistles. Every one that begets, begets an offspring resembling himself [Epiphanius]. "Let the acts of the offspring indicate similarity to the Father" [Augustine]. conversation--deportment, course of life: one's way of going about, as distinguished from one's internal nature, to which it must outwardly correspond. Christians are already holy unto God by consecration; they must be so also in their outward walk and behavior in all respects. The outward must correspond to the inward man.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 15. But as he which hath called you is holy. On the word called, 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. Comp. Mt 5:48.

So be ye holy in all manner of conversation. In all your conduct. On the word conversation, Php 1:27. The meaning is, that since God is holy, and we profess to be his followers, we ought also to be holy.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 15 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, 1Pet 1:15.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Peter 1:13-16

As the traveller, the racer, the warrior, and the labourer, gathered in their long and loose garments, that they might be ready in their business, so let Christians do by their minds and affections. Be sober, be watchful against all spiritual dangers and enemies, and be temperate in all behaviour. Be sober-minded in opinion, as well as in practice, and humble in your judgment of yourselves. A strong and perfect…

Read the full comment on 1 Peter 1:13-16 →

1 Peter 1:15 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀλλὰallaButG235
κατὰkataasG2596
τὸνtonthe [One]G3588
καλέσανταkalesantahaving calledG2564
ὑμᾶςhumasyouG4771
ἅγιονhagion[is] holyG40
καὶkaialsoG2532
αὐτοὶautoiyourselvesG846
ἅγιοιhagioiholyG40
ἐνeninG1722
πάσῃpasēallG3956
ἀναστροφῇanastrophēa[your] conductG391
γενήθητε,genēthētedo be,G1096

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Peter 1:15

  • Matthew 5:48

    Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

  • 2 Corinthians 7:1

    Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

  • Hebrews 12:14

    Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

  • James 3:13

    Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

  • Ephesians 5:1-2

    Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

  • Philippians 2:15-16

    That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

  • 1 John 3:3

    And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7

    For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. …

  • 1 Peter 2:12

    Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

  • 1 Peter 2:9

    But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

  • Philippians 1:27

    Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

  • Luke 1:74-75

    That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
as.
2:9; 5:10; Ro 8:28-30; 9:24; Php 3:14; 1Th 2:12; 4:7; 2Ti 1:9
2Pe 1:3,10
is.
Isa 6:3; Re 3:7; 4:8; 6:10
so.
Mt 5:48; Lu 1:74,75; 2Co 7:1; Eph 5:1,2; Php 1:27; 2:15,16
1Th 4:3-7; Tit 2:11-14; 3:8,14; Heb 12:14; 2Pe 1:4-10
in.
2:12; 3:16; Php 3:20; 1Ti 4:12; Heb 13:5; Jas 3:13; 2Pe 3:11-14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Peter 1:14

    As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

  • 1 Peter 1:15

    But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

  • 1 Peter 1:16

    Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Read all of 1 Peter 1

1 Peter 1:15 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Sino como aquel que os ha llamado es santo, sed también vosotros santos en toda conversación:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		mais, comme celui qui vous a appelés est saint, vous aussi soyez saints dans toute votre conduite;
German
Elberfelder 1871		sondern wie der, welcher euch berufen hat, heilig ist, seid auch ihr heilig in allem Wandel;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		sed secundum eum qui vocavit vos, Sanctum: et ipsi in omni conversatione sancti sitis: