1:15a

But: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But is a conjunction that indicates contrast. In this case, the contrast is between what Peter told his readers not to do in 1:14 and what he told them to do here in this verse. Indicate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

Instead (Good News Translation)

just as He who called you is holy: There are two ways of interpreting the role or function of the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as holy :

(1) It is an adjective describing God. The quality of holiness is attributed to him. For example:

as he who called you is holy (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, Good News Translation, God’s Word, New International Version, King James Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible, Revised Standard Version, Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) It is a title for God and functions as a noun: the Holy One. For example:

like the Holy One who called you (New American Standard Bible)

(NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1) and the majority of English versions.

just as:
The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as just as here means “in the same way that.” Here is another way to translate this:

like (NET Bible)

He who called you: The phrase He who called you refers to God. In some languages it may be necessary to make that explicit. For example:

just as ⌊God⌋ who called you is holy (Good News Translation)

called: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as called refers to God’s invitation to Peter’s readers to be in a relationship with him. In some languages it may be necessary to say what God called these people to do. For example:

called you ⌊to be his people⌋
-or-
chose you ⌊to be his children⌋

“To be his children” is a good choice in this context, since in 1:14 Peter spoke of his readers as obedient children of God.

holy: In this context, the word holy refers to fully serving God. It also refers to living a good, morally pure life. (It also means “to be pure” and “free from sin.”) Some other examples for translating are:

dedicated to God
-or-
fully serving God
-or-

⌊morally⌋ pure
-or-

⌊morally⌋ upright

1:15b

so: This verse part starts with the common Greek conjunction that normally means “and.” The Berean Standard Bible has translated it as “so.” Some English versions do not translate this conjunction in this context. Translate this conjunction in a way that is natural in your language to link 1:15b with 1:15a. Another way to translate it is:

also (New American Standard Bible)

be holy in all you do: The Greek text here contains a word that the Berean Standard Bible has left implicit. This word could be literally translated as “yourselves,” as in “be holy yourselves in all….” Its purpose is to emphasize the subject “you.” Consider if you have a natural way to show this emphasis.

Some other ways you may be able to translate this are:

so you yourselves must/should always do what is right
-or-
now you must be holy in everything you do (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
you must be holy in every aspect of your life. (God’s Word)

holy: It is important to use the same word here that you used in the previous verse part. In both verse parts translate with a word or phrase that can apply both to God and to people.

in all you do: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as all you do is a noun phrase that literally means “whole way of life” or “all conduct/behavior.” Several English versions have translated it as a noun or noun phrase. For example:

in all your activity (New Jerusalem Bible)

You may translate it with a verb, as the Berean Standard Bible does, or as a noun phrase, whichever is more natural in your language. Some other ways it has been translated include:

in every aspect of your life (God’s Word)
-or-
in all your conduct (Revised Standard Version)

General Comment on 1:15

In some languages it may be natural to reverse the order of verse parts 15a and 15b. For example:

Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. (Good News Translation)
-or-
Instead, 15b you should always do what is right, 15a because God called you ⌊to be his children⌋ and he always does what is right.

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