1 Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Study Note
Study Note
'Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory' — the verse celebrates a faith that operates through absence, making it a defining description of Christian experience in the time between Resurrection and Return. John 20:29 — 'blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed' — establishes the same category; 1 Peter addresses recipients who, unlike the first disciples, never walked with Jesus. The 'joy unspeakable' (aneklalētos) is a hapax legomenon in the New Testament, signaling an experience that exceeds verbal description — what mystics would later call joy beyond articulation.
Other Translations
whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
whom, not having seen, ye love, in whom, now not seeing and believing, ye are glad with joy unspeakable and glorified,
To whom your love is given, though you have not seen him; and the faith which you have in him, though you do not see him now, gives you joy greater than words and full of glory:
Cross References
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, …
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not …
We love him, because he first loved us.
His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O …
What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thou fairest among women? what is thy beloved more than another …
Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon: …
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it …
For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was …