1. 1 Peter 1:18 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

Why does Peter tell his readers that they “were ransomed” from their hopeless traditions?

1 Peter 1:18 (ESV)

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

The fact of their being ransomed is meant to provide an incentive to his readers to be OK with obeying the instruction of 1 Peter 1:17 to conduct yourselves as sojourners, resident aliens, social misfits. After all, living as misfits is not appealing! But being ransomed makes it worth it.