<p>1:7- see on 1 Pet. 3:15.</p><p><i>So that the proof of your faith</i>- To whom is our faith proven through trials? God knows the end from the beginning. Recall how He commented that He knew that Abraham would be faithful: &quot;For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD&quot; (Gen. 18:19). The proof is surely to ourselves. The purpose of testing is that we may know ourselves. The initial application of Peter's words here are surely to the &quot;fiery trial&quot; of Nero's persecution, from which he hoped the believers would emerge spiritually intact and then be immediately glorified by the Lord's return; see on 4:12 <i>The fiery trial</i>.</p><p><i>(More precious than gold that perishes though it is proved by fire)</i><i>-</i> Another parallel with James, who writes of gold that rusts. The idea is that gold doesn't rust and doesn't perish; but it does at infinity. And we are to live as if we are there, at infinity. The Jewish refugees in Turkey needed that assurance, with money a daily worry, especially since they had no land, no property, and no assurance they could work towards getting it. The supreme value of their faith is therefore emphasized.</p><p><i>May be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ</i><i>- </i>But in this life, choosing the life of faith as opposed to the legalism of neo-Judaism will also result in &quot;the praise of God&quot; (Jn. 12:43). Likewise Rom. 2:29 speaks of receiving praise of God for choosing to circumcise our heart rather than resting content with being a Jew outwardly. Being praised at the last day recalls the parable about the faithful being praised for using their talents, or for feeding the hungry, clothing the naked etc. Such praise is because of the righteousness imputed to us. But it is also because our faith in this life is so deeply significant to Him; it is indeed more precious than gold.</p>