1 Peter 2:21

1 Peter 2:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
• English Standard Version (ESV)For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
• New Living Translation (NLT)For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

Context of 1 Peter 2:21

19For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

1 Peter 2:21 word by word

εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ἐκλήθητε, ὅτι καὶ Χριστὸς ἔπαθεν ὑπὲρ ὑμῶν, ὑμῖν ὑπολιμπάνων ὑπογραμμὸν ἵνα ἐπακολουθήσητε τοῖς ἴχνεσιν αὐτοῦ·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• evenεἰςeis · towardG1519
• hereuntoοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• were ye calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• alsoκαίkai · andG2532
• sufferedπάσχωpaschō pathō penthō · to sufferG3958
• forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• leavingὑπολιμπάνωhupolimpanō · to leave behindG5277
• an exampleὑπογραμμόςhupogrammos · exampleG5261
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• ye should followἐπακολουθέωepakoloutheō · to follow afterG1872
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• stepsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• stepsἴχνοςichnos · trackG2487

Cross-references for 1 Peter 2:21

• Matthew 10:38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
• Matthew 16:24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
• Mark 8:34Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
• Luke 9:23Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
• Luke 14:26“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple.
• John 16:33“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
• Acts 9:16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
• Acts 14:22strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:3so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
• 2 Timothy 3:12In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
• 1 Peter 2:24“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
• 1 Peter 3:18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
• 1 Peter 4:1Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
• Luke 24:26Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
• Acts 17:3explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said.

Commentaries on 1 Peter 2:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Hereunto were ye called - Ye were called to a state of suffering when ye were called to be Christians; for the world cannot endure the yoke of Christ, and they that will live godly in Christ must suffer persecution; they will meet with it in one form or other. Christ also suffered for us - And left us the example of his meekness and gentleness; for when he was reviled, he reviled not again. Ye cannot expect to fare better than your master; imitate his…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21For even hereunto were ye called - Such a spirit is required by the very nature of your Christian vocation; you were called into the church in order that you might evince it. See the notes at 1 Thessalonians 3:3. Because Christ also suffered for us - Margin, “some read, for you.” The latest editions of the Greek Testament adopt the reading “for you.” The sense, however, is not essentially varied. The object is, to hold up the example of Christ to those…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-25Verses 18-25 Servants in those days generally were slaves, and had heathen masters, who often used them cruelly; yet the apostle directs them to be subject to the masters placed over them by Providence, with a fear to dishonour or offend God. And not only to those pleased with reasonable service, but to the severe, and those angry without cause. The sinful misconduct of one relation, does not justify sinful behaviour in the other; the servant is bound to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-25There is no clear change in who Peter is addressing in this passage. However, the general tone of these verses shows that they apply to all Christians. These verses might include an early Christian hymn or confession about Christ (2:22–25). They focus on the sufferings of Christ for human salvation or redemption, using language mainly from Isaiah 52:13–53:12.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Christ's example a proof that patient endurance under undeserved sufferings is acceptable with God. hereunto--to the patient endurance of unmerited suffering (1Pe 3:9). Christ is an example to servants, even as He was once in "the form of a servant." called--with a heavenly calling, though slaves. for us--His dying for us is the highest exemplification of "doing well" (1Pe 2:20). Ye must patiently suffer, being innocent, as Christ also innocently…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Peter 2:21

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Commandments
• Example
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Meekness
• Patience
• Suffering

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Bishop
• Cheek
• Chosen
• Cloke
• Disallow
• Example
• Fleshly
• Offer

Commentaries on 1 Peter 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings