1 Peter 1:1-2:12

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Greeting

1 Peter,^(A) an apostle of Jesus Christ:

To the temporary residents^(B) dispersed^[a](C) in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,^(D) chosen^{(E) 2} according to the foreknowledge^(F) of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit^(G) for obedience^(H) and for sprinkling with the blood^(I) of Jesus Christ.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

A Living Hope

³ Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(J) According to His great mercy,^(K) He has given us a new birth^(L) into a living hope^(M) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead^{(N) 4} and into an inheritance that is imperishable,^(O) uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven^(P) for you. ⁵ You are being protected by God’s power^(Q) through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.^{(R) 6} You rejoice in this,^[b] though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials^{(S) 7} so that the genuineness of your faith^(T)—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire^(U)—may result^(V) in^[c] praise, glory, and honor^(W) at the revelation of Jesus Christ.^{(X) 8} You love Him,^(Y) though you have not seen^(Z) Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice^(AA) with inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ because you are receiving the goal of your^[d] faith, the salvation of your souls.^[e]

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets^(AB) who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. ¹¹ They inquired into what time or what circumstances^[f] the Spirit of Christ^(AC) within them was indicating when He testified in advance^(AD) to the messianic sufferings^[g](AE) and the glories^(AF) that would follow.^{[h] 12} It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you^(AG) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.^(AH) Angels desire to look into these things.

A Call to Holy Living

¹³ Therefore, with your minds ready for action,^[i](AI) be serious^(AJ) and set your hope^(AK) completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation^(AL) of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children,^(AM) do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. ¹⁵ But as the One who called you^(AN) is holy,^(AO) you also are to be holy in all your conduct; ¹⁶ for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.^(AP)[j]

¹⁷ And if you address as Father the One who judges impartially^(AQ) based on each one’s work,^(AR) you are to conduct yourselves in fear^(AS) during the time of your temporary residence. ¹⁸ For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life^(AT) inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold,^{(AU) 19} but with the precious blood of Christ,^(AV) like that of a lamb^(AW) without defect or blemish. ²⁰ He was chosen^[k](AX) before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times^(AY) for you ²¹ who through Him are believers in God,^(AZ) who raised Him from the dead^(BA) and gave Him glory,^(BB) so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² By obedience to the truth,^[l] having purified yourselves^[m] for sincere love of the brothers, love one another^(BC) earnestly^[n] from a pure^[o] heart,^{(BD) 23} since you have been born again^(BE)—not of perishable seed^(BF) but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.^{(BG) 24} For

And this is the word that was preached as the gospel to you.

The Living Stone and a Holy People

2 So rid yourselves of^(BJ) all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.^{(BK) 2} Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk,^(BL) so that you may grow by it for your salvation,^{[q] 3} since you have tasted^(BM) that the Lord is good.^{(BN)[r] 4} Coming to Him, a living stone—rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God— ⁵ you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God^(BO) through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it is contained in Scripture:

⁷ So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving,

⁸ and

They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined^(BU) for this.

A Call to Good Works

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents^(CC) to abstain^(CD) from fleshly^(CE) desires that war against you.^{[ah](CF) 12} Conduct^(CG) yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,^[ai] so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.^[aj](CH)