Charles Ellicott Commentary 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;" — 1 Peter 1:13 (ASV)

Gird up the loins of your mind.—This is a metaphor from people gathering up their flowing Oriental dress (which had been let down for repose), so as to be ready for energetic action (for example, 1 Kings 18:46, for running; Job 38:3, for arguing). We need not inquire what exact kind of action St. Peter meant them here to prepare for. A “mind,” rather than “soul” or “heart,” seems to indicate practical intelligence. Thus, when the Galatians also began to fall from evangelical to Judaic religion, St. Paul calls them “senseless” (Galatians 3:1).

Be sober.—This is not in the literal sense, but with the same notion of alertness as in “gird up”; sobriety and wakefulness are often combined (for example, 1 Peter 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:6).

Hope to the end.—Literally, hope perfectly, or, thoroughly, or, with completeness. “Indeed this hope,” says Leighton, “is perfect in continuance; it is a hope to the end, because it is perfect in its nature.” The chief thought, however, is that the hope should not be half-hearted or dispirited. St. Peter brings us back to what he began with: that ours is a living hope.

The exhortation is exactly of the same nature as that which pervades the Epistle to the Hebrews (see, for instance, Hebrews 3:6; Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 6:11), and for the same reason—that is, that spiritual sloth, combined with fear of man, was beginning to turn these Jewish Christians back to dead works. “Hope on,” in these passages, is tantamount to “remain Christians.”

For the grace.—This is not exactly “hope for the grace,” that is, to expect confidently that it will come. Rather, it is “hope upon the grace,” as in 1 Timothy 5:5, the only other place where the same construction is used, and where it is rendered “trusteth in God.” Here, therefore, it is, “confidently hope (for salvation, glory, etc.) on the strength of the grace.” The grace is the same as in 1 Peter 1:10.

That is to be brought.—“If we render it strictly, it is, That is a-bringing to you. That blessedness, that consummation of grace, the saints are hastening forward to, walking on in their way, wherever it lies, whether through honor and dishonor, through evil report and good report. And as they are hastening to it, it is hastening to them in the course of time; every day brings it nearer to them than before. Notwithstanding all difficulties and dangers in the way, those who have their eye and their hopes upon it will arrive at it, and it will be brought safe to their hand. All the malice of men and devils will not be able to cut them short of this grace that is a-bringing to them at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Leighton). On the tense, see also the Note on 1 Thessalonians 1:10. Notice also that it is now the personal Name, not the official title. St. Peter is enforcing the gospel as we know it; we no longer “search to whom” the title of the Messiah belongs.

On verses 13-14

It is the only safeguard against persecution. It is Christ-like to suffer with a good conscience; and He had His reward for it, in bringing us, and even the spirits of men who had died impenitent, to God by that means. It is the very meaning of the baptism by which He saves us. To feel its beauty and safety, we need only consider the ugliness and danger of our former life.