End of 1 Peter 1:8:
ἀγαλλιᾶσθε χαρᾷ ἀνεκλαλήτῳ καὶ δεδοξασμένῃ
1 Peter 1:9:
κομιζόμενοι τὸ τέλος τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν σωτηρίαν ψυχῶν.
Translation:
You will be rejoicing greatly with inexpressible and glorified joy
when you will be receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your beings.
Some Theological Notes:
1. τὸ τέλος τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν. In the preceding verses, faith is something that they have now (1:8) and its genuineness will be revealed when Jesus comes (1:7). Now, Peter talks about the “goal of your faith,” that is, the goal or end that their faith anticipates, or that they believe will come (see Davids, 1 Peter, 59-60). The goal that they look forward to with faith is then indicated, namely, salvation.
2. σωτηρίαν ψυχῶν. The term ψυχή refers to the self as a whole (probably a case of metonymy or synecdoche [part for whole or whole for part]) (Michaels, 1 Peter, 35). That is why I have translated it as “beings.”
3. First Peter 1:9, in combination with the end of 1:8, anticipates a rejoicing that will be taking place in the future. In that time, believers will finally receive that which they have looked forward to with faith, namely, their salvation.
This post is part of a series of posts on 1 Peter. To read the other posts in the series, click here.
For a helpful commentary on 1 Peter, see Ramsey Michaels, 1 Peter.
