1 Peter 1:14-15
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't just about avoiding bad habits; it's a profound call to actively reject the very mindset of your old, un-Christlike life. Peter uses "conformed" – think molded into a shape – to show that these "passions" weren't just random urges, but deeply ingrained patterns of thinking and living that defined you before you knew God.
Peter is writing to scattered believers, reminding them they are chosen by God and set apart for a holy life. He's urging them to live differently from the world around them, a world steeped in sin and ignorance, by actively choosing obedience to God's truth as their new identity. This call to reorient their desires directly follows his reminder of their redemption and the precious blood of Christ that purchased them, emphasizing a radical break from their past way of living.
Ever feel like you're swimming against the current? This verse talks about a radical shift in identity and behavior.
Peter calls believers "obedient children." This isn't about earning God's love, but a response to the love already shown. Our obedience stems from being born into God's family.
This new identity means we're no longer defined by our past. We're called out of the "former ignorance" – the life lived without understanding or acknowledging God's truth.
Think of it like changing teams. You can't play for Team God while still wearing the uniform and following the playbook of your old life.
Those old habits and desires can be sticky. How do we truly break free from what used to control us?
The verse warns against being 'conformed to the passions of your former ignorance.' These passions were the strong desires and cravings that characterized life before knowing Christ.
This isn't just about big sins; it includes the mindset and the everyday inclinations that were shaped by a lack of godly understanding. They are the default settings of an unregenerated life.
Peter is urging believers to actively resist these old patterns. It's a call to conscious effort, not passive drifting. Our new obedience means we redirect our desires toward what honors God, rather than what once pleased our old selves.
Understand the original words
hypakoe · Greek Adjective
Those who respond to God with submission and compliance to His revealed will. It characterizes a lifestyle of faith, acknowledging God's authority over one's life.
epithymia · Greek Noun
Strong, often sinful, desires or lusts that dominate the life of one who does not know God. They represent the internal impulses that drive a person toward rebellion and away from divine truth.
hagios · Greek Adjective
The state of being separated, distinct, or set apart for God's use and character. It denotes moral purity and moral perfection, reflecting the very nature of God Himself.
Peter's call to shed former ways of ignorance is especially powerful when considering the intense pressure and suffering believers faced under Roman persecution, urging them to live a distinct, holy life.
c. 4 BC
Birth of Jesus
The birth of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection are central to the Christian faith and the message preached by the apostles.
c. AD 30-33
Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus
The pivotal events of Jesus' death and resurrection, offering salvation and a new way of life for believers.
c. AD 30s-40s
Spread of the Gospel
The early Christian message begins to spread rapidly throughout the Roman Empire, drawing converts from various backgrounds, including paganism.
c. AD 48-50
Council of Jerusalem
A significant council addressed issues of gentile inclusion and adherence to Mosaic Law, solidifying the broad reach of the Christian faith.
c. AD 64— this verse
This passage directly echoes Peter's call to not be 'conformed to this world,' highlighting the theme of actively resisting the patterns of our former, ungodly lives.
Ephesians 4:22-24It explains the process of 'putting off' the old self, which is characterized by deceitful desires and ignorance, and 'putting on' the new self, created in righteousness and true holiness, mirroring Peter's contrast between past passions and present obedience.
1 John 2:15-16This passage warns against loving the world and its desires, which are rooted in the 'passions of the flesh,' directly aligning with Peter's exhortation to turn away from the temptations of former ignorance.
Colossians 3:5-7It lists specific 'earthly things' and passions like lust and greed that should be put to death, further illustrating the kinds of 'passions of your former ignorance' that believers are called to abandon.
This verse isn't just about avoiding bad habits; it's a profound call to actively reject the very mindset of your old, un-Christlike life. Peter uses "conformed" – think molded into a shape – to show that these "passions" weren't just random urges, but deeply ingrained patterns of thinking and living that defined you before you knew God.
Peter is writing to scattered believers, reminding them they are chosen by God and set apart for a holy life. He's urging them to live differently from the world around them, a world steeped in sin and ignorance, by actively choosing obedience to God's truth as their new identity. This call to reorient their desires directly follows his reminder of their redemption and the precious blood of Christ that purchased them, emphasizing a radical break from their past way of living.
Peter is writing to scattered believers, reminding them they are chosen by God and set apart for a holy life. He's urging them to live differently from the world around them, a world steeped in sin and ignorance, by actively choosing obedience to God's truth as their new identity. This call to reorient their desires directly follows his reminder of their redemption and the precious blood of Christ that purchased them, emphasizing a radical break from their past way of living.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about 1 Peter 1:14-15 is available in the Sola app.
Great Fire of Rome
This devastating fire led to intense persecution of Christians, scapegoated by Emperor Nero. This period of suffering would have been keenly felt by believers Peter was writing to.
c. AD 65-67
Writing of 1 Peter
Peter likely wrote his first epistle from Rome (symbolically called 'Babylon') to encourage believers facing suffering and persecution in Asia Minor.
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct," — This verse isn't just about avoiding bad habits; it's a profound call to actively reject the very mindset of your old, un-Christlike life. Peter uses "conformed" – think molded into a shape – to sh…
