SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 2018

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 1:6

Paragraph 1:6–9

1:6

The two parts of this verse contrast with each other. The believers greatly rejoiced in what God had done for them, even while they were enduring various kinds of troubles. The Berean Standard Bible and many other English versions supply a word like “though” to connect these ideas (1:6a and 1:6b). Consider the best way to connect them in your language, while also keeping the connection between verses 5 and 6.

In some languages it may be necessary to use two sentences. For example:

In this you greatly rejoice. It is true that now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.

1:6a

In this you greatly rejoice: There are two ways to interpret the Greek expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as In this you greatly rejoice :

(1) Peter’s readers rejoiced because of what God had done for them (1:3–5). For example:

This is a great joy to you (New Jerusalem Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Century Version, NET Bible, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, God’s Word, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible)

(2) Peter was encouraging his readers to rejoice because of what God had done for them (1:3–5). For example:

Be glad about this (Good News Translation)

(New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), along with most English versions.

In this: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this refers to all the blessings Peter mentioned in verses 3–5. It may be more natural in your language to use a plural form. For example:

You are extremely happy about these things (God’s Word)

greatly rejoice: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as greatly rejoice means “be very happy.” Some other ways to translate this word are:

extremely happy (God’s Word)
-or-
truly glad (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
are very glad

1:6b

though: The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word though here to indicate contrast. See the note on 1:6 above. The believers had to suffer, but even so, they rejoiced. Some other ways to introduce this contrast is:

even though
-or-
although
-or-
in spite of

Use a natural way in your language to introduce such a contrast.

now: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as now is a time word. It refers to the time when Peter was writing. It contrasts with the future time of salvation in 1:5. Some other ways this may be translated are:

presently
-or-
at this time

for a little while: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for a little while refers here to a brief time. In this context it means that Peter’s readers would only have to suffer for a short time. The Lord would soon deliver them. Another way to translate this is:

for a short time (NET Bible)

you may have had to suffer grief: There are two ways to interpret Peter’s statement concerning to suffer grief in this context:

(1) Peter spoke of his readers’ suffering as a fact. He implied that his readers were already suffering. For example:

even though for a short time yet you must bear all sorts of trials (New Jerusalem Bible)

(New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, New Jerusalem Bible, New Revised Standard Version, King James Version; probably New International Version, Revised English Bible)

(2) Peter spoke of his readers’ suffering as a possibility. He implied that it was possible that his readers might have to suffer or might have suffered. For example:

even if you have to go through many hard trials (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New Century Version, NET Bible, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version; possibly New American Standard Bible)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), which agrees with most commentators.

The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you may have had to suffer grief is more literally “if necessary, you having been grieved.” This grieving from suffering had begun in the past, had continued in the present (“now”), and would continue for a little while in the future. So you should use an expression that would be as general as possible with regard to time.

suffer grief: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as suffer grief is literally “be grieved.” It refers to the grief, sadness or emotional pain that people feel when they have trouble. This is a passive verb, and it may be natural for some languages to translate it that way. For example, the English Standard Version says:

you have been grieved (English Standard Version)

1:6c

in various trials: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible literally translates as various trials refers to the difficulties the people have been experiencing. Languages have different ways to express the experience of bearing such trials. Some ways to say this in English are:

to be sad…because of the many kinds of trials you suffer (Good News Translation)
-or-
to endure many trials (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
must bear all sorts of trials (New Jerusalem Bible)

trials: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as trials refers to the various problems and difficulties Peter’s readers were experiencing. These trials included troubles that came from other people who were persecuting them because they believed in Jesus Christ. Another way to say this is:

different kinds of trouble (God’s Word)

© 2018 by SIL International®
Made available under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License (CC BY-SA) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0.
All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible.
BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 2:13

Section 2:13–25

God’s people should respect the rulers/chiefs of this world

In this section Peter explained in what way his readers should live good lives among their pagan neighbors. They should respect and obey their rulers, including those who ruled locally in the village or town and those who ruled the country. They should also respect and obey the chief ruler of all, the emperor of Rome. God had given these people authority to punish people who do evil and praise those who do good.

Some other headings for this section are:

Respect the Authority of Others (God’s Word)
-or-
Submission to Rulers and Masters (New International Version)

Paragraph 2:13–17

2:13a

Submit yourselves…to: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Submit yourselves…to means to recognize someone else’s authority. It is to accept their legal position and to act respectfully, as a subordinate. This would normally imply obeying their orders. Other translation suggestions include:

accept the authority of (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
place yourself under the authority of (God’s Word)

for the Lord’s sake: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for the Lord’s sake means “because of the Lord (Jesus Christ).” Peter wanted his readers to act in a way that would both please and honor the Lord. In your translation, you may need to focus on one of these aspects. For example:

the Lord wants you to… (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
to please the Lord (God’s Word)
-or-
to honor the Lord

every human institution: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as every human institution probably means “human authority.” This is the only time this Greek word that literally means “creation” is used in this way in the New Testament. The phrase has also been translated as:

human institution (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
human authority (Good News Translation)

Peter was referring to all people who have authority over others, whether in a single household, locally in a village or town, or in the whole country.

2:13b

the king: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as king here refers to the emperor, the head of the Roman Empire, who had power over all other government officials. Here is another way to translate this noun:

emperor (Revised English Bible)

as the supreme authority: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as as the supreme authority indicates both that the king was the supreme authority and that this was the reason why people should be subject to him.

the supreme authority: The word supreme means “highest in authority or rank.” The emperor had power over all other rulers in the Roman Empire. There was no one with the legal right to oppose him. Some other ways to translate this include:

who rules over everyone (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
who is the highest authority (New Century Version)

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 3:20

3:20a

who disobeyed long ago: In some languages it may be necessary to supply the implied information that these spirits disobeyed God :

they disobeyed ⌊God⌋ long ago

long ago: In this context the phrase long ago refers to ancient times (the time of Noah), a few thousand years before Peter wrote. Here is another way to translate this phrase:

in the past (Revised English Bible)

3:20b

when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built: Peter was referring to the story in Genesis 6–8. God told Noah to build an ark to escape the flood he was going to send on the earth. While Noah and his family were building the ark, God waited patiently for other people to repent from their sins. But none of them repented.

God waited patiently: God waited patiently for other people to repent from their sins. But none of them repented.

ark: An ark is large boat. Some versions such as the New Living Translation (2004) have:

boat (New Living Translation (2004))

3:20c

In the ark: The phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as In the ark is literally “in which.” The Greek sentence continues into this verse part. It may be helpful in your language to start a new sentence here, as the Berean Standard Bible does.

a few people, only eight souls: In your translation use an expression that indicates that eight is a small number of people compared to the number of people who died in the flood. For example:

not very many people, a total of only eight

were saved through water: There are several ways of understanding the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saved through water :

(1) Noah and his family reached safety by passing through the water. In other words, they experienced the flood and survived. For example:

were brought safely through the water (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, Revised English Bible, NET Bible, Contemporary English Version, Revised Standard Version)

(2) Noah and his family were saved by means of the water. It was the water that lifted and carried the ark. For example:

were saved by the water (Good News Translation)

(King James Version, God’s Word, Good News Translation, New Century Version)

(3) Noah and his family were saved from the water. For example:

saved from drowning in that terrible flood (New Living Translation (2004))

(New Living Translation (2004))

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Noah and his family were saved through water in the sense that God preserved their lives as they lived through the flood.

were saved: This is a passive verb. It was God who saved Noah and his family. If it is more natural in your language to use an active verb here, you could say:

they escaped
-or-

⌊God⌋ saved them

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 5:11

5:11

To Him be the power forever and ever: The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word be. In the Greek text there is no verb in this sentence. So there are two ways of understanding this verse:

(1) It is a statement of what is already true. For example:

To him belongs the power forever. (NET Bible)

(Contemporary English Version, New Living Translation (2004), New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version, God’s Word, NET Bible)

(2) It is a prayer or the expression of a desire that something would happen. For example:

To him be the dominion for ever and ever. (Revised Standard Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). This is the view of the majority of commentators.

forever and ever: There is a textual problem here:

(1) It says for ever. For example:

forever (NET Bible)

(God’s Word, Good News Translation, NET Bible)

(2) It says forever and ever. For example:

for ever and ever (Revised English Bible)

(Berean Standard Bible, King James Version, Revised English Bible, New International Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, New Century Version)

It is recommended that you follow option (1), which is has the strongest support among scholars.

The expression forever and ever means “eternally, for all time.” It is similar in meaning to “eternal” in 5:10b. Another way to translate this expression is:

for all time

Amen: In this context, the word Amen means “This is true!” or “Truly, this is so!” See how you translated this word in 4:11d.

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 1:17

Paragraph 1:17–21

Some English versions do not begin a new paragraph here. Instead, 1:13–21 forms a paragraph (God’s Word, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised Standard Version).

1:17a

Since you call on a Father: There are two ways of interpreting the meaning of the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Since :

(1) It means since and implies that the statement that follows is an accepted fact. For example:

You say that God is your Father (Contemporary English Version)

(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Century Version, New Living Translation (2004), Good News Translation)

(2) It means if and introduces a statement that may or may not be true. For example:

If you address as Father (New American Standard Bible)

(God’s Word, King James Version, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible)

Peter definitely thought of his readers as being God’s children who prayed to him as their Father (see 1:14a). Therefore, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).

you call on a Father: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you call on a Father refers to calling God “Father” when speaking to him.

For example:

You call him Father, when you pray to God (Good News Translation)

Notice also that the Good News Translation has included the phrase “when you pray to God” to make it clear that Peter was talking about praying to God.

a Father: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as a Father refers to God. In some languages it may be necessary to make this explicit. For example:

You pray to God and call him Father (New Century Version)

1:17b

who judges each one’s work impartially: This phrase describes God the Father. In some languages it may be natural to translate it as a separate sentence:

He judges each one’s work impartially.

If you have not yet made it explicit that Peter is talking about God, it may be natural to do so here:

⌊the God⌋ who judges each one’s work impartially

judges: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as judges here means to decide or declare whether something is right or wrong. In this context it does not specifically mean “condemn.” Some work God declares to be right and good, and some work he judges to be wrong and evil.

The Greek verb judges refers to God’s judging activity in general. It does not specifically refer to any particular act of judging, past or future. The New Living Translation (2004) translates judges here as:

judge or reward (New Living Translation (2004))

each one’s: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as each one’s includes all human beings. Other ways to translate each one’s include:

each person’s (New Century Version)
-or-
everybody’s
-or-
each individual’s (New Jerusalem Bible)

work: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as work refers to someone’s conduct or lifestyle as a whole. There are several ways to translate it:

• Use a singular noun:

work (New International Version (2011))

• Use a verb phrase:

what they have done

• Use a plural noun:

their actions

Use the word or phrase that is natural in your language.

impartially: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as impartially literally means “without receiving faces” or “without receiving persons.” In other words, it means that God judges all people the same way, regardless of who they are. God is fair; he judges people justly, without bias or prejudice. Other ways to say that God judges “impartially” include:

who judges everyone fairly
-or-
who judges all people according to their actions without favoritism (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
who judges all people by the same standard (Good News Translation)

Your language may have a suitable idiom that means “without favoring one person over another.” This idiom may use the idea of “face,” as the Greek expression does.

General Comment on 1:17a–b

In some languages it may be natural to translate 1:17a–b as a separate sentence:

You call on ⌊God as⌋ your Father, and he judges each person without partiality.

1:17c

1:17c gives the conclusion Peter drew from his statement in 1:17a–b. If you have translated 1:17a–b as a separate sentence, it may be natural to make it clear that 1:17c is a conclusion by using a word meaning “so” or “therefore.” For example:

⌊So⌋ you should live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners may be translated literally as “conduct the time of your exile in fear.” The Greek text refers explicitly to the time when Peter’s readers were living in this world, away from heaven, their true home. Other ways to translate this include:

live out the time of your temporary residence here (NET Bible)
-or-
while you are living in exile here on earth, behave

reverent fear: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as reverent fear is literally “fear.” In this context it refers to awe and wonder at the greatness and holiness of God. Other ways to translate it include:

reverence (Good News Translation)
-or-
awe (Revised English Bible)
-or-
respect (New Century Version)

stay as foreigners: The phrase stay as foreigners means that Peter’s readers were only temporary residents of this world. His words imply that a Christian’s eternal home is with God in heaven (see 1:1c).

Many English versions make the location of this temporary residence explicit. For example:

during the time of your stay on earth (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
during your time on earth (Revised English Bible)

General Comment on 1:17a–c

Verse parts 17a–b give the reason for what Peter told his readers to do in 1:17c. In some languages it may be more natural to translate the command first, before the reason for it. For example:

17c During your stay here as temporary residents ⌊of this earth⌋, behave with a respectful fear ⌊of God⌋, 17b because he judges everyone’s conduct fairly, 17a and you call him “Father.”
-or-

17c Live in reverence for God during your stay here on earth. 17a For you call him “Father,” 17b and he is the impartial Judge of what everyone does.

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 2:24

2:24a

He Himself bore our sins: The phrase He himself refers to Jesus Christ.

bore our sins: The phrase bore our sins pictures our sins as a heavy weight that Christ voluntarily took upon himself. The illustration indicates that Christ took the blame/punishment for the evil things that we have done. Another way to translate bore is:

carried (Good News Translation)

in His body: This phrase indicates that it was as a human being that Christ bore our sins. If it is more natural, you could say:

on his head/back
-or-
in his human flesh

on the tree: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as tree is literally “wood” and refers to the cross. Some English versions translate tree as:

cross (New International Version, God’s Word)

2:24b–c

so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness: In the Greek text this is literally “so that dying to sins, we might live for righteousness.” For reasons of English style, the Berean Standard Bible has translated this as two separate purpose clauses. Translate it in whichever way is natural, but the idea of living for righteousness should be the main idea.

2:24b

die to sin: The phrase die to sin is a metaphor. It means that as far as sin is concerned, we should be like dead people, that is, not respond to the temptation to sin in any way. Some other ways to translate this phrase are:

so that we would stop sinning (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
so we would stop living for sin (New Century Version)

2:24c

and live to righteousness: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as live to righteousness means “live in order to do what is right.” Here are some other ways to translate this:

and live for what is right (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
we could live a life that has God’s approval (God’s Word)

2:24d

“By His stripes you are healed”: This is a more direct reference to Isaiah 53:5, and many versions, including the Berean Standard Bible, put it int quotation marks. The verb are healed is in the passive. If you need to use an active verb, you could say:

his wounds have healed you
-or-
because people wounded ⌊Christ⌋, you have become well/whole

stripes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as stripes is literally “bruise.” It refers to the marks made on someone’s body by a beating or whipping. Here is another way to translate this:

cuts and bruises (Contemporary English Version)

you are healed: The phrase you are healed means that Peter’s readers had been made well from the harm or damage that sin had done to them. They had been made whole in a spiritual sense. Another way to translate this phrase is:

made well

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 4:9

4:9a

Show hospitality to one another: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Show hospitality to one another refers to receiving other believers as guests in one’s home. This would involve giving them food and a place to sleep. Other ways to say this include:

Welcome each other into your houses (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Open your homes to each other (New Century Version)

4:9b

without complaining: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as without complaining means that Christians should not grumble about having to give meals and lodging to other believers. In some languages it may be natural to translate this positively. For example:

cheerfully (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
be happy to have other believers as visitors in your homes (Easy English Bible)

SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 2:3

2:3

Here in 2:3, Peter gave his readers a reason why they should continue to desire the spiritual milk of God’s word. They had already experienced that the Lord is kind.

Peter used words from Psalm 34:8. His readers would recognize these words, even though Peter modified the words in order to apply them directly to these believers. Because Peter modified these words, most English versions do not introduce this verse as an Old Testament quotation.

Some ways to show that 2:3 is a quote from the Psalms are:

• Say in a footnote that Peter was referring to Psalm 34:8.

• Introduce it in the text as a quotation. For example:

As the scripture says, “You have found out for yourselves how kind the Lord is.” (Good News Translation)

now that: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as now that is literally “if.” In this context this word introduces a condition that had been fulfilled. Peter believed that his readers had already experienced that the Lord is kind. He was assuming that this was true. Different ways to translate this include:

for (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
because (New Century Version)
-or-
since

you have tasted: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you have tasted continues the metaphor of babies drinking milk. Peter is using the word tasted as a figure of speech here to mean “experienced.” It is possible to translate this figure of speech in two ways:

• Continuing with the “milk” metaphor of 2:2. For example:

you have already tasted (New American Standard Bible)
-or-
you have had a taste (New Living Translation (2004))

• Translating the meaning of the metaphor. For example:

You have found out for yourselves (Good News Translation)
-or-
you have experienced (NET Bible)

Whether or not you choose a verb that continues the “milk” metaphor will depend on which way communicates best in your language.

that the Lord is good: Peter has already explained in chapter 1 how kind the Lord had been to these Christians. Peter’s readers were able to know this because they knew what Christ had done to save them from sin and death.

the Lord: In the verse in the Psalms from which Peter was quoting, the Lord refers to God. Most scholars agree, however, that here in 1 Peter the Lord refers to Christ. The English versions do not make this explicit. It is recommended that you use a word for Lord that can refer to both God and Christ.

good: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as good is an adjective that describes the Lord. It is also possible to translate it as:

kind (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 2:3

In order to show the connection with 2:2, you may need to repeat Peter’s exhortation to his readers to desire God’s word. Also, you may need to make it explicit that they knew the Lord was good/kind because he had been good/kind to them. For example:

⌊Do this⌋ because you know that the Lord ⌊Jesus Christ⌋ is good. You know this ⌊because he has been kind to you⌋.

Step into the multitudes of languages of the Bible and join the worldwide conversation!

Source: SIL Translator’s Notes on 1 Peter 2018