1 Peter 1:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

By His grace He will bring the Christian to that lofty goal, the salvation of souls (1 Pet 1:9), for which they have been regenerated. According to the Apostle's instruction, this hope must be perfect, without wavering or faintheartedness. It must be full, undivided, and constant. The object of this perfect hope is described here as the grace given to Christians at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Of what revelation, ἀποκάλυψις, is he speaking, and what does grace mean here? From the use of this word in the present chapter (1 Pet 1:5, 7), it must be held that here also the Apostle means by it the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. This word, with the definite article, as here, and without further qualifications, is everywhere used precisely in this sense. Nowhere in Scripture does it mean the first appearing of Christ in the flesh (cf. 1 Pet 1:1, 7; 1 Pet 4:13; 1 Pet 5:1; 2 Thess 1:7; Rom 8:18-19; 1 Cor 1:7). Corresponding to this meaning of the word revelation, the grace given by Christ at this revelation of His must be understood as God's mercy in its highest manifestation toward those being saved. It is the grace of the salvation of the righteous. This is not contradicted by the fact that the Second Coming of the Lord is the manifestation of His judgment and righteousness, not of grace. For if to the ungodly it is a day of judgment and terror, to the righteous it is a day of mercy and grace. Since the Apostle contemplates this coming of Christ as near in a certain sense, he also speaks of grace as already being given, not in the future tense. With this perfect hope, according to the apostolic instruction, one must have the loins of the mind girded and must be sober. The speech is plainly figurative. The first image, the girding of the loins, is drawn from the custom of belting oneself, especially when wearing a wide garment. This was done so that the garment would not hinder freedom of movement for the hands, nor obstruct work, carrying, struggle, and the like (cf. Lk 12:35). In the Christian who hopes perfectly in the grace of Christ, the loins of the mind must be girded. There must be no slackness or dissipation in him. His thoughts and powers must be gathered and ready, whether for labor, struggle, or suffering. The image is especially fitting because the Christian here on earth is a sojourner (1 Pet 1:17), going to receive the heavenly inheritance (1 Pet 1:4). The other image, sobriety, signifies moral watchfulness and guarding, as opposed to moral drowsiness and carelessness. Christ Himself also commanded that these spiritual qualities be possessed in expectation of His Second Coming (cf. Lk 21:34, 36 and parallels).

On the way to it, one must often enter into battle with many enemies of salvation. For this, too, collectedness of mind is necessary, just as soldiers need their garments gathered for freedom of movement in battle. Still more necessary was the reminder to Christians that, in expectation of the coming Bridegroom, Christ (see Lk 21:34), they should not fall into carelessness, despondency, and sleep. Rather, they must be watchful, circumspect, cautious (cf. 1 Thess 5:6-8), and not fainthearted. The vain joys of earthly life and its passing sorrows are nothing compared with the fullness of blessedness that will be given to believers by the grace of Christ in the life to come.

Among the ancients, especially the inhabitants of the East, this was customary for freedom of movement during work, walking, and combat. When the Apostle reminds Christians to "gird up the loins of the mind," by this figurative expression he makes known to them that they are sojourners going toward the heavenly homeland. They must not give themselves over to carelessness, but zealously exercise themselves in the struggles of pleasing God. They must direct all their thoughts toward the work of the soul's salvation and concentrate them on the one thing needful. They must not allow them to be drawn aside. The meaning of the word "being sober" is akin to this. He speaks of spiritual sobriety, or spiritual watchfulness, necessary for Christians as spiritual warriors. They are called to wage continual warfare against the enemies of salvation: the flesh, the world, and especially the devil. He is ready to take advantage of our carelessness, attack us, and make us his prey. "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour," says the Apostle in the same epistle (1 Pet 5:8). The danger of falling into the devil's snares especially threatens those who, hoping in God's mercy, think they may surrender themselves without punishment to spiritual carelessness in the work of salvation. No, the Apostle warns such people. Hope completely in the grace of God, or in His mercy on the day of the dread judgment. Yet at the same time do not grow weak in zeal for the struggles of Christian life. Watch carefully lest the enemy of salvation creep up to you with his devices, and repel them with the courage of a warrior always ready to meet the enemy and resist him.