1 Peter 1 · Verse 17

1 Peter 1:17

And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
1 Peter 1:17, King James Version

1 Peter 1:17 in other translations

BSBSince you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.
WEBIf you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear,
ASVAnd if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:
YLTand if on the Father ye do call, who without acceptance of persons is judging according to the work of each, in fear the time of your sojourn pass ye,
DARBYAnd if ye invoke as Father him who, without regard of persons, judges according to the work of each, pass your time of sojourn in fear,
BBEAnd if you give the name of Father to him who, judging every man by his acts, has no respect for a man's position, then go in fear while you are on this earth:
WebsterAnd if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

What does 1 Peter 1:17 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
17. if ye call on--that is, "seeing that ye call on," for all the regenerate pray as children of God, "Our Father who art in heaven" (Mt 6:9; Lu 11:2). the Father--rather, "Call upon as Father Him who without acceptance of persons (Ac 10:34; Ro 2:11; Jas 2:1, not accepting the Jew above the Gentile, 2Ch 19:7; Lu 20:21; properly said of a judge not biassed in judgment by respect of persons) judgeth," &c. The Father judgeth by His Son, His Representative, exercising His delegated authority (Joh 5:22). This marks the harmonious and complete unity of the Trinity. work--Each man's work is one complete whole, whether good or bad. The particular works of each are manifestations of the general character of his lifework, whether it was of faith and love whereby alone we can please God and escape condemnation. pass--Greek, "conduct yourselves during." sojourning--The outward state of the Jews in their dispersion is an emblem of the sojourner-like state of all believers in this world, away from our true Fatherland. fear--reverential, not slavish. He who is your Father, is also your Judge--a thought which may well inspire reverential fear. Theophylact observes, A double fear is mentioned in Scripture: (1) elementary, causing one to become serious; (2) perfective: the latter is here the motive by which Peter urges them as sons of God to be obedient. Fear is not here opposed to assurance, but to carnal security: fear producing vigilant caution lest we offend God and backslide. "Fear and hope flow from the same fountain: fear prevents us from falling away from hope" [Bengel]. Though love has no fear IN it, yet in our present state of imperfect love, it needs to have fear going ALONG WITH It as a subordinate principle. This fear drowns all other fears. The believer fears God, and so has none else to fear. Not to fear God is the greatest baseness and folly. The martyrs' more than mere human courage flowed from this.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. And if ye call on the Father. That is, if you are true Christians, or truly pious--piety being represented in the Scriptures as calling on God, or as the worship of God. Acts 9:11; Gen 4:26, 1Kgs 18:24, Ps 116:17, 2Kgs 5:11, 1Chr 16:8, Joel 2:32, Rom 10:13; Zeph 3:9, 1Cor 1:2, Acts 2:21. The word "Father" here is used evidently not to denote the Father in contradistinction to the Son, but as referring to God as the rather of the universe. 1Pet 1:14 "As obedient children." God is often spoken of as the Father of the intelligent beings whom he has made. Christians worship him as a Father--as one having all the feelings of a kind and tender parent towards them. Ps 103:13, seq.

Who without respect of persons. Impartiality. Who is not influenced in his treatment of men by a regard to rank, wealth, beauty, or any external distinction. Acts 10:34, Rom 2:11.

Judgeth according to every man's work. He judges each one according to his character; or to what he has done, Rev 22:12. 2Cor 5:10. The meaning is, "You worship a God who will judge every man according to his real character, and you should therefore lead such lives as he can approve."

Pass the time of your sojourning. "Of your temporary residence on earth. This is not your permanent home, but you are strangers and sojourners." Heb 11:13.

In fear. Php 2:12 Heb 12:28. With true reverence or veneration for God and his law. Religion is often represented as the reverent fear of God, De 6:2,13,24, Prov 1:7, 3:13, 14:26,27, et saepe al.

(f) "fear" Php 2:12

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 And if ye call on the Father - Seeing ye invoke the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and your Father through Christ, and profess to be obedient children, and sojourners here below for a short time only, see that ye maintain a godly reverence for this Father, walking in all his testimonies blameless. Who without respect of persons - God is said to be no respecter of persons for this reason among many others, that, being infinitely righteous, he must be infinitely impartial. He cannot prefer one to another, because he has nothing to hope or fear from any of his creatures. All partialities among men spring from one or other of these two principles, hope or fear; God can feel neither of them, and therefore God can be no respecter of persons. He approves or disapproves of men according to their moral character. He pities all, and provides salvation for all, but he loves those who resemble him in his holiness; and he loves them in proportion to that resemblance, i.e. the more of his image he sees in any, the more he loves him; and e contra. And every man's work will be the evidence of his conformity or nonconformity to God, and according to this evidence will God judge him. Here, then, is no respect of persons; God's judgment will be according to a man's work, and a man's work or conduct will be according to the moral state of his mind. No favouritism can prevail in the day of judgment; nothing will pass there but holiness of heart and life. A righteousness imputed, and not possessed and practiced, will not avail where God judgeth according to every man's work. It would be well if those sinners and spurious believers who fancy themselves safe and complete in the righteousness of Christ, while impure and unholy in themselves, would think of this testimony of the apostle.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Peter 1:17-25
Holy confidence in God as a Father, and awful fear of him as a Judge, agree together; and to regard God always as a Judge, makes him dear to us as a Father. If believers do evil, God will visit them with corrections. Then, let Christians not doubt God's faithfulness to his promises, nor give way to enslaving dread of his wrath, but let them reverence his holiness. The fearless professor is defenceless, and Satan takes him captive at his will; the desponding professor has no heart to avail himself of his advantages, and is easily brought to surrender. The price paid for man's redemption was the precious blood of Christ. Not only openly wicked, but unprofitable conversation is highly dangerous, though it may plead custom. It is folly to resolve, I will live and die in such a way, because my forefathers did so. God had purposes of special favour toward his people, long before he made manifest such grace unto them. But the clearness of light, the supports of faith, the power of ordinances, are all much greater since Christ came upon earth, than they were before. The comfort is, that being by faith made one with Christ, his present glory is an assurance that where he is we shall be also, Joh 14:3. The soul must be purified, before it can give up its own desires and indulgences. And the word of God planted in the heart by the Holy Ghost, is a means of spiritual life, stirring up to our duty, working a total change in the dispositions and affections of the soul, till it brings to eternal life. In contrast with the excellence of the renewed spiritual man, as born again, observe the vanity of the natural man. In his life, and in his fall, he is like grass, the flower of grass, which soon withers and dies away. We should hear, and thus receive and love, the holy, living word, and rather hazard all than lose it; and we must banish all other things from the place due to it. We should lodge it in our hearts as our only treasures here, and the certain pledge of the treasure of glory laid up for believers in heaven.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Peter 1:17 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
εἰeiifG1487
πατέραpatera[as] FatherG3962
ἐπικαλεῖσθεepikaleistheyou call onG1941
τὸνtonthe [One]G3588
ἀπροσωπολήμπτωςaprosōpolēmptōsimpartiallyG678
κρίνονταkrinontajudgingG2919
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
τὸtotheG3588
ἑκάστουhekastouof eachG1538
ἔργον,ergonwork,G2041
ἐνeninG1722
φόβῳphobōfearG5401
τὸνtonduring theG3588
τῆςtēsof theG3588
παροικίαςparoikiassojournG3940
ὑμῶνhumōnof youG4771
χρόνονchronontimeG5550
ἀναστράφητε·anastraphētedo conduct yourselves;G390

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

Cross references for 1 Peter 1:17

  • Acts 10:34-35

    Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

  • 2 Chronicles 19:7

    Wherefore now let the fear of the Lord be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

  • Philippians 2:12

    Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

  • 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.

  • Matthew 6:9

    After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

  • Hebrews 12:28

    Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

  • Proverbs 28:14

    Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

  • Jeremiah 3:19

    But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.

  • Ephesians 1:17

    That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

  • Job 34:19

    How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

  • Matthew 22:16

    And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

  • Matthew 7:7-11

    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
call.
Zep 3:9; Mt 6:9; 7:7-11; 2Co 1:2; Eph 1:17; 3:14
who.
De 10:17; 2Ch 19:7; Job 34:19; Mt 22:16; Ac 10:34,35; Ro 2:10,11
Ga 2:6; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25
pass.
Ge 47:9; 1Ch 29:15; Ps 39:12; Heb 11:13-16
in fear.
2:11; Pr 14:16; 28:14; Ro 11:20; 2Co 5:6; 7:1,11; Php 2:12; Heb 4:1
Heb 12:28

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

Context

  • 1 Peter 1:16

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

  • 1 Peter 1:17

    And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

  • 1 Peter 1:18

    Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

Read all of 1 Peter 1

1 Peter 1:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y si invocáis por Padre á aquel que sin acepción de personas juzga según la obra de cada uno, conversad en temor todo el tiempo de vuestra peregrinación:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et si vous invoquez comme père celui qui, sans acception de personnes, juge selon l’œuvre de chacun, conduisez-vous avec crainte pendant le temps de votre séjour ici-bas,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und wenn ihr den als Vater anrufet, der ohne Ansehen der Person richtet nach eines jeden Werk, so wandelt die Zeit eurer Fremdlingschaft in Furcht,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et si patrem invocatis eum, qui sine acceptione personarum judicat secundum uniuscujusque opus, in timore incolatus vestri tempore conversamini.