ESV Reformation Study Bible – 1 Pet 1:18
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1 Pet 1:18

1:18 ransomed. Freed from the bondage of sin by the payment of a price (Rom. 8:2; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7). The price of redemption is the blood of Christ (v. 19).

futile ways inherited. The emptiness and worthlessness of pagan worship is a frequent theme of scriptural writers (Jer. 2:5; Acts 14:15). Although the New Testament condemns certain Jewish traditions that added to the demands of the Old Testament law (Mark 7:8–13), Peter here seems to have Gentile paganism in view (1:14; 4:3).