"The main thread of Peter's rhetoric [in this pericope] can . . . be expressed in one sentence: Then you will rejoice with inexpressible and glorious delight, when you each receive the outcome of your faith, your final salvation' . . ."32
1:6 We can rejoice greatly in this hope.33God will preserve both us and our inheritance until we receive our inheritance. "Trials"(Gr. peirasmois, the same kind of trials James wrote about in James 1:2, et al.) are all kinds of tests that challenge our fidelity to God's will.
"Peirasmoshere means not the inner wrestling with evil inclination, but undeserved sufferings from outside the person who is distressed by them."34
Peter was not denying that we face temptation from within, but he was addressing temptations from external sources particularly.35
In comparison with the eternal bliss ahead, our present distresses are only temporary and brief (cf. Matt. 5:4-5; 2 Cor. 4:17-18). Trials are necessary for the Christian. God uses them to perfect us (James 1). However they tend to rob us of joy if we do not remember what Peter urged his readers to bear in mind here.
1:7 Trials do to faith what fire does to gold. They purify it and show it to be what it really is (cf. James 1:3). Peter assumed his readers would respond to their trials properly. God purifies our faith with trials by helping us realize the inadequacy of anything but trust in Him in these situations. He shows that our faith is genuine by demonstrating that our joy in trials rests solely on confidence in Him and His promises. Both results bring praise, glory, and honor to God ultimately, though they also benefit us.
"Glory is never said to be the possession of humans except as we share God's glory in the parousia (e.g., Rom. 8:17; Col. 3:4), although we contribute to this glory by our actions now (1 Cor. 10:31; Eph. 1:12)."36
The "revelation"(uncovering, appearing, Gr. apokalypsis) of Jesus Christ to Christians will take place at the Rapture, and His revelation to the world will take place at the Second Coming. Both events seem to be in view here (cf. v. 13). Peter's emphasis was not on when this would happen relative to other events yet future but on the fact that it would happen in the future rather than now.
1:8 Even though we will experience joy when we see the Lord we can experience joy now too because we have hope (v. 3), faith (v. 7), and love (v. 8). These characteristics are inseparable. Our joy is "full of glory"in that the glory people will see when God reveals Jesus Christ infuses our present joy (cf. John 20:29). Our joy will be no different on that day, only greater.
1:9 Ultimately we will obtain the full salvation of our souls (i.e., glorification, not necessarily exemption from physical suffering and death). The Greek word translated "souls"(psychon) refers to our persons, namely, the whole beings God has saved (cf. Mark 3:4; 8:34-37; Rom. 13:1; 1 Thess. 1:8; James 1:21; 5:20; et al.). A better translation would be "selves"or "lives."Peter probably did not intend a contrast with our bodies.37This is part of the reason we experience joy in present trials as well. Since our salvation comes by faith it is only consistent that we should continue to trust God now. Our salvation is still in process.38
To summarize this first major section so far (vv. 3-9), Peter called on his readers to rejoice in their present sufferings because of their hope, faith, and love. They had certain hope in the future appearing of Jesus Christ and in their final glorification. They had faith in God's dealings with them presently, namely, allowing them to undergo trials, and they had love for Jesus Christ for what He had already done for them in the past. It does not matter if we look forward, around us, or backward. We find grounds for rejoicing wherever we look even as we suffer.
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