1 Peter 1:17

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:

a. NLT: And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.”

b. NIV: Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.

c. YLT: And 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,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And if you call upon Him as [your] Father Who judges each one impartially according to what he does, [then] you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence [on the earth, whether long or short].

e. Worrell Translation: And, if ye call on Him as Father, Who, without respect of persons, judgeth according to each one’s work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear.

f. Wuest Translation: And in view of the fact that you call on as Father Him who judges, not with a partiality based upon mere out-ward appearance, but with a wholesome, serious caution order your behavior during the time of your residence as a foreigner [a citizen of heaven living for the time being amongst the unsaved on this earth, which is foreign territory governed by the good of this world].

1. “And if ye call on the Father…”

a. And [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. if [Strong: 1487 ei i a primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.:--forasmuch as, if, that, (al-)though, whether. Often used in connection or composition with other particles, especially as in 1489, 1490, 1499, 1508, 1509, 1512, 1513, 1536, 1537. See also 1437.]

c. ye call on [Strong: 1941 epikaleomai ep-ee-kal-eh'-om-ahee middle voice from 1909 and 2564; to entitle; by implication, to invoke (for aid, worship, testimony, decision, etc.):--appeal (unto), call (on, upon), surname.]

d. the Father [Strong: 3962 pater pat-ayr' apparently a primary word; a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote):--father, parent.]

2. “…who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work…”

a. who [Strong: 3588 ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

b. without respect of persons [Strong: 678 aprosopoleptos ap-ros-o-pol-ape'-tos adverb from a compound of 1 (as a negative particle) and a presumed derivative of a presumed compound of 4383 and 2983 (compare 4381); in a way not accepting the person, i.e. impartially:--without respect of persons.] [Thayer: respect of persons, partiality, the fault of one who when called on to give judgment has respect of the outward circumstances of man and not to their intrinsic merits, and so prefers, as the more worthy, one who is rich, high born, or powerful, to another who does not have these qualities.]

1). There is no respect of persons with God, no partially, no favoritism.

a). Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

b). Ephesians 6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

c). Colossians 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.

c. judgeth [Strong: 2919 krino kree'-no properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:--avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think.]

d. according to [Strong: 2596 kata kat-ah' a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.]

e. every man’s [Strong: 1538 hekastos hek'-as-tos as if a superlative of hekas (afar); each or every:--any, both, each (one), every (man, one, woman), particularly.]

f. work [Strong: 2041 ergon er'-gon from a primary (but obsolete) ergo (to work); toil (as an effort or occupation); by implication, an act:--deed, doing, labour, work.]

1). Peter of course is writing to Christians, he is writing to us and he says that God is going to judge every man’s work or our lives without favoritism. I think many Christians have the mistaken idea that because they are Christians, they are not going to be judged by God, but nothing could be farther from the truth. As believers, we are going to be judged for lives we have lived as Christians, not to determine whether we go to heaven but whether we receive rewards for faithfulness. This type of mindset will help us to live lives that are pleasing to God, and a life with less regret.

a). 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.

5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

b). Romans 14:10-12 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

3.  “…pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.”

a. pass [Strong: 390 anastrepho an-as-tref'-o from 303 and 4762; to overturn; also to return; by implication, to busy oneself, i.e. remain, live:--abide, behave self, have conversation, live, overthrow, pass, return, be used.]

b. the time [Strong: 5550 chronos khron'-os of uncertain derivation; a space of time (in general, and thus properly distinguished from 2540, which designates a fixed or special occasion; and from 165, 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.]

c. of your [Strong: 5216 humon hoo-mone' genitive case of 5210; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).]

d. sojourning [here] [Strong: 3940 paroikia par-oy-kee'-ah from 3941; foreign residence:--sojourning, X as strangers.]

e. in [Strong: 1722 en en a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

f. fear [Strong: 5401 phobos fob'-os from a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright:--be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.]

1). Amplified BibleClassic: “…you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence [on the earth, whether long or short].”

2). This is not the only example of Peter exhorting believers to live holy lives. In his second epistle he writes similar words.

a). 2 Peter 3:10-12  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

3). Peter writes that in light of the fact that we all will be judged according to our works by a holy God with no partially, we need to live a life with that judgment in view. As the Amplified says, “conduct yourselves with true reverence”. We are to live our lives in the reverential fear of the Lord. I want to give a Biblical definition of the fear of the Lord using Scripture as the dictionary.

a). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

(1) Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

b). The fear of the Lord will produce in us not only a hatred of evil, but especially a hatred of pride, arrogancy and a perverse mouth.

(1) Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

c). The fear of the Lord will produce a strong confidence in us toward the things of God.

(1) Proverbs 14:26 In the fear of the LORD [is] strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

d). The fear of the Lord will cause us to depart from evil.

(1) Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.   

4). This type of mindset will help us to live lives that are pleasing to God, and a life with less regret. If we have a relationship with the God of the universe and we call Him Father, and we call on Him, then we need to incorporate some things into our lives and remove things that are displeasing to Him. This language is clearly reserved those in Covenant with God.