1 Peter 1:22 Commentary, Love Each Other Deeply With All Your Heart
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
1 Peter 1:22, KJV
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
1 Peter 1:22, NIV
22 You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.
1 Peter 1:22, NLT
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
1 Peter 1:22, ESV
22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
1 Peter 1:22 tells us that now that we have a new life through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is not enough to merely be complacent in our faith. We must show sincere brotherly love to one another with all our hearts.
Through God’s grace we have been united by our belief in Lord Jesus and his sacrificial love for us. This shared faith should inspire us to show the same type of love to others, and when we live out these truths, we will be displaying the love of Christ to a watching world.
Any Keywords?
Sincere Love
Sincere love is sometimes called “unconditional love.” It is often contrasted with “conditional love,” which is based on the expectation of something in return. For example, we may only continue to love someone if they meet our needs or expectations. If they don’t, we may withdraw our affection.
With a Pure Heart “Fervently”
When something is done fervently, it is done with great passion and conviction. Fervent belief often leads to strong action, as people strive to make their convictions a reality. In this way, fervor is a powerful force that can motivate people to achieve great things.
This is why we must fervently love one another.
Interpretation
We are instructed to “love one another with a pure heart.” We are all created in God’s image and therefore we all have the capacity to love unconditionally.
We are also told that this love must be complete and sincere, which means that it must be free of motives and that it must extend to all people, not just those who are easy to love. This can be a difficult commandment to follow, but it is essential if we want to create a world that is based on love and compassion. We must simply desire the best for others, regardless of what we may gain or lose in the process.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Romans 12:9-10, NIV
Context
In the first book of Peter, Peter is writing to displaced Christians throughout Asia Minor. We are told that we have a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, that while we may be grieved by trials, genuine faith is more precious than gold.
By God’s grace, our salvation came at the cost of Jesus’ life and we must act as such; including treating others as He did, by showing obedience and genuine love for our brethren in (and out of) Christ.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 13:34-35, NIV
Correlation
1 Peter 1:22 is often used to emphasize the importance of purifying oneself through obedience to the truth, and of showing love to others.
In the context of the New Testament, and the Bible as a whole, this verse fits in with the theme of sanctification, or becoming more like Christ. As Christians grow in their faith, they should strive to obediently follow God’s word and exemplify Jesus Christ through love for those around them.
This verse is a reminder that our primary purpose as Christians is not just to be obedient children, but also to fervently love others. When we do both of these things, we are living out our faith in a way that is pleasing to God and His word.
Application
God has commanded us to strive for holiness, and to “Be holy, for I am holy.” This means casting aside our past lives and evil temptations. We need to purify our lives by obeying the truth and loving each other deeply.
We can apply this to our lives by making sure that we are living according to God’s Word and by showing Christ-like love to those around us. When we obey the truth, we are living in a way that is pleasing to God and we are also setting an example for others. And when we love others deeply, we are showing them the same love and forgiveness that God has shown us.
We all need to exemplify Christ in the love we show to those around us.
