1 Peter 1:3-4 - In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

1 Peter 1:3-4

Commentary

Our salvation is grounded in God's mercy, His act of compassion toward us despite our condition of sinfulness. God has given believers a new, spiritual life that enables us to live in an entirely different dimension than the one our physical birth allowed. Hopehere (in this verse) does not imply a wishfulness but rather a dynamic confidence that does not end with this life but continues throughout eternity.

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (1 Pe 1:3). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

"Living Hope"

Men's hopes are dead hopes. Like cut flowers, they bloom awhile and then fade and die (1 Pet. 1:24-25). The Christian's hope is fresh and fruitful because it is a "living hope" (v. 3), purchased by the living Christ (v. 3) and promised in the living Word (v. 23).

Wiersbe, W. W. (1997, c1991). With the word Bible commentary (1 Pe 1:1). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

John 20:27-29 - Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Then He said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."

John 20:27-29

Commentary

Thomas rises from the lowest depths of doubt to the pinnacle of faith and declares, "My Lord [Jesus' familiar title] and my God [the title of His deity]." In essence he proclaims, "Yes, it is Jesus; and yes, He is God." For one who is steeped in a monotheistic tradition, the confession is remarkable. John's purpose, to demonstrate the deity of Christ, climaxes in this confession of Thomas. John affirms that, if unconvinced by His birth, life, works, and death, even a doubter like Thomas could find irrefutable proof of Christ's deity in His resurrection.

Believer's Study Bible. 1997, c1995. C1991 Criswell Center for Biblical Studies. (electronic ed.) (Jn 20:28). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?

"Doubting Thomas," the synonym for a skeptic, comes from the disciple Thomas, who didn't believe that the other disciples had seen Jesus alive after the Crucifixion (20:25).

Miller, S. M., & Gross, P. (1998). How to get into the Bible. Includes index. (312). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.