1 Peter 1:13,14

III. CALL TO HOLINESS
1:132:12

1. Sobriety and Spiritual Readiness 1:13, 14

1 Peter 1:13 Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Expanded Translation

Wherefore (on this account) girding up the loins of your mind (and thus preparing it for whatever difficulties you may encounter), be perfectly self-controlled and fix your hope unswervingly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the time Jesus Christ comes again.

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Wherefore

i.e., Because of what I have just stated.

girding up the loins of your mind

This phrase is a metaphor signifying preparedness. It is derived from a practice of the Orientals. In order to be unimpeded in their movements, they were accustomed, when about to start on a journey or engage in any work, to bind their long and flowing garments closely around their bodies and fasten them with a leathern girdle. The thought is that of mental and spiritual preparedness for the assignments and work of a Christian, being similar in meaning to our expression, Roll up your sleeves.

Notice here that we are to gird up the loins of our minds. It is as if the Apostle pictured the minds of some as though they were a loose, hanging, flowing garment. His advice is, pull it together. Thus Souter, in commenting on this phrase, says the opposite of mental slackness is referred to. The word rendered girding up is here in the middle voicethe action being done to or for one's self.) Our minds must be braced and prepared for the vicissitudes of life and the trials that come our way.

be sober

nepho, literally meaning to be sober in the sense of being unintoxicated, We must be free from every form of mental and spiritual drunkenness, from passion, rashness, etc. The word refers to one who is calm and collected in spirit, temperate, well-balanced and self-controlled. Living in this manner, we are better equipped to ward off Satan, as is shown also in 1 Peter 4:7 and 1 Peter 5:8.

and set your hope perfectly

That is, altogether or completely. Most critics connect the perfectly, with the hope. However, some connect it with the be sober, translating the phrase with perfect soberness set your hope. or with the strictest self-control fix your hope. etc.

on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

Obviously referring to our ultimate salvation which will be granted to us when Christ returns to earth. Compare the use of grace in 1 Peter 1:10.

On this whole passage, compare Luke 12:35-36.

1 Peter 1:14 As children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of your ignorance:

Expanded Translation

In the manner of children who practice obedience, not conforming yourself in mind, character, speech or action to the strong desires which formerly ruled you in the days in which you lacked knowledge:

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As children of obedience

A Hebrew idiom referring to those whose obedience is their outstanding quality or characteristic; i.e., as obedient ones. Compare Ephesians 2:2 and the term sons of disobedience.

not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts

The word suschematidzo (fashioning yourselves) is derived from sun, with, and schema, figure, fashion, form. When used of people, sun indicated everything in a person which strikes the senses: the figure, bearing, discourse, actions, manner of life, etc. Fashioning yourselves, then, is to fashion in accordance with, conform or assimilate One's self to, etc., and would include the whole pattern or shape of one's life. Please carefully notice the only other passage in the New Testament where this word occurs, Romans 12:1-2. We must fashion ourselves after Christ, not after our former desires of the flesh.

in the time of your Ignorance

Agnoia simply indicating lack of knowledge. See Acts 17:30, Ephesians 4:18. We must not go back to those days before we were enlightened by the Gospel Message.