1 Peter 1-5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

1 Peter 1

Greeting

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

    To the temporary residents ^(B) of the Dispersion ^(C) in the provinces of 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 the] sprinkling with the blood ^(I) of Jesus Christ.

    May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

   

A Living Hope

 ³ Blessed be 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 who 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, ^[a] though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by 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 ^[b] 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 ^[c] faith, the salvation of your souls. ^[d]

    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 ^[e] the Spirit of Christ ^(AC) within them was indicating when He testified in advance ^(AD) to the messianic sufferings ^{(AE) [f]} and the glories ^(AF) that would follow. ^{[g] 12} It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you concerning things that 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, get your minds ready for action, ^{(AI) [h]} being self-disciplined, ^(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) (AQ)}

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

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

    All flesh is like grass,

    and all its glory ^(BI) like a flower of the grass.

    The grass withers, and the flower drops off,

    ²⁵ but the word of the Lord endures forever. ^{(BJ) (BK)}

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

1 Peter 2

The Living Stone and a Holy People

 ¹ So rid yourselves of ^(BL) all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. ^{(BM) 2} Like newborn infants, desire the unadulterated spiritual milk, ^(BN) so that you may grow by it in [your] salvation, ^{[m] 3} since you have tasted ^(BO) that the Lord is good. ^{(BP) (BQ) 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 ^(BR) through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in Scripture:

    Look! I lay a stone in Zion, ^(BS)

    a chosen and valuable cornerstone, ^(BT)

    and the one who believes in Him

    will never be put to shame! ^{(BU) [n] (BV)}

    ⁷ So the honor is for you who believe; but for the unbelieving,

    The stone that the builders rejected—

    this One has become the cornerstone, ^{(BW) (BX)}

    and

    ⁸ A stone that causes men to stumble, ^[o]

    and a rock that trips them up. ^{(BY) [p] (BZ)}

    They stumble by disobeying the message; they were destined ^(CA) for this.

    ⁹ But you are a chosen race, ^{(CB) [q] (CC)} a royal priesthood, ^{(CD) (CE)}

    a holy nation, ^{(CF) (CG)} a people for His possession, ^{(CH) (CI)}

    so that you may proclaim the praises ^{(CJ) [r] (CK)}

    of the One who called you out of darkness

    into His marvelous light. ^(CL)

    ¹⁰ Once you were not a people,

    but now you are God's people;

    you had not received mercy, ^(CM)

    but now you have received mercy.

   

A Call to Good Works

 ¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents ^(CN) to abstain ^(CO) from fleshly ^(CP) desires that war against you. ^{(CQ) [s] 12} Conduct ^(CR) yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, ^[t] so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do evil, they may, by observing your good works, glorify God in a day of visitation. ^{(CS) [u]}

    ¹³ Submit ^(CT) to every human institution because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor ^[v] as the supreme authority, ^{(CU) 14} or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For it is God's will ^(CV) that you, by doing good, silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ As God's slaves, ^(CW) [live] as free people, but don't use your freedom as a way to conceal evil. ^{(CX) 17} Honor everyone. Love ^(CY) the brotherhood. ^(CZ) Fear God. ^(DA) Honor the Emperor. ^[w]

   

Submission of Slaves to Masters

 ¹⁸ Household slaves, submit yourselves to your masters ^(DB) with all respect, ^(DC) not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel. ^{(DD) [x] 19} For it [brings] favor ^[y] if, because of conscience toward God, ^[z] someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if you endure when you sin and are beaten? But when you do good and suffer, ^(DE) if you endure, it brings favor with God.

    ²¹ For you were called to this,

    because Christ also suffered ^(DF) for you,

    leaving you an example, ^(DG)

    so that you should follow ^(DH) in His steps.

    ²² He did not commit sin, ^(DI)

    and no deceit ^(DJ) was found in His mouth; ^{(DK) (DL)}

   

    ²³ when reviled, He did not revile in return;

    when suffering, He did not threaten,

    but committed Himself to the One who judges ^(DM) justly.

    ²⁴ He Himself bore our sins ^(DN)

    in His body ^(DO) on the tree, ^(DP)

    so that, having died to sins, ^(DQ)

    we might live for righteousness; ^(DR)

    by His wounding ^(DS) you have been healed. ^{(DT) (DU)}

    ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, ^{(DV) (DW)}

    but you have now returned

    to the shepherd ^(DX) and guardian ^[aa] of your souls.

1 Peter 3

Wives and Husbands

 ¹ Wives, ^(DY) in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the [Christian] message, ^(DZ) they may be won over ^{(EA) [ab]} without a message by the way their wives live, ^{(EB) 2} when they observe your pure, reverent lives. ^{(EC) 3} Your beauty should not consist of outward things [like] elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments ^[ac] or fine clothes; ^{(ED) 4} instead, [it should consist of] the hidden person of the heart ^(EE) with the imperishable quality of a gentle ^(EF) and quiet ^(EG) spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes. ⁵ For in the past, the holy ^(EH) women who hoped ^(EI) in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ just as Sarah ^(EJ) obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do good and aren't frightened by anything alarming. ^(EK)

    ⁷ Husbands, ^(EL) in the same way, live with your wives with understanding of their weaker nature ^{(EM) [ad]} yet showing them honor as co-heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

   

Do No Evil

 ⁸ Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, ^{(EN) [ae]} and be compassionate ^(EO) and humble, ^{[af] 9} not paying back evil for evil ^(EP) or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, ^(EQ) since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.

    ¹⁰ For the ^(ER) one who wants to love life

    and to see good days

    must keep his tongue from evil ^(ES)

    and his lips from speaking deceit, ^(ET)

    ¹¹ and he must turn away ^(EU) from evil and do good.

    He must seek peace ^(EV) and pursue it,

    ¹² because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous

    and His ears are open to their request.

    But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. ^(EW)

   

Undeserved Suffering

 ¹³ And who will harm ^[ag] you if you are passionate for what is good? ^{[ah] 14} But even if you should suffer for righteousness, ^(EX) you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear ^(EY) or be disturbed, ^{(EZ) (FA) 15} but set apart the Messiah ^[ai] as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason ^[aj] for the hope that is in you. ^{(FB) 16} However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear, ^{(FC) [ak]} so that when you are accused, ^[al] those who denounce your Christian life will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer ^(FD) for doing good, if that should be God's will, ^[am] than for doing evil.

    ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered ^(FE) for sins once for all, ^{(FF) [an]}

    the righteous for the unrighteous, ^[ao]

    that He might bring you ^[ap] to God, ^(FG)

    after being put to death in the fleshly realm ^{(FH) [aq]}

    but made alive in the spiritual realm. ^[ar]

    ¹⁹ In that state ^[as] He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits ^(FI) in prison ^{[at] 20} who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah ^(FJ) while an ark was being prepared; in it, a few—that is, eight people ^{(FK) [au]} —were saved through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, ^(FL) but the pledge ^[av] of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. ^{(FM) 22} Now that He has gone into heaven, ^(FN) He is at God's right hand, ^(FO) with angels, authorities, and powers subjected to Him. ^(FP)

1 Peter 4

Following Christ

 ¹ Therefore, since Christ suffered ^[aw] in the flesh, ^[ax] arm yourselves also with the same resolve ^[ay] —because the One who suffered in the flesh ^[az] has finished ^(FQ) with sin ^[ba] — ² in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, ^[bb] no longer for human desires, ^[bc] but for God's will. ^{(FR) 3} For there has already been enough time spent in doing the will of the pagans: ^[bd] carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, ^(FS) drunkenness, orgies, ^(FT) carousing, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ In regard to this, they are surprised that you don't plunge with them into the same flood ^[be] of dissipation—and they slander you. ⁵ They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. ^{(FU) 6} For this reason the gospel was also preached to [those who are now] dead, ^(FV) so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly ^(FW) realm, ^[bf] they might live ^(FX) by God in the spiritual realm. ^[bg]

   

End-Time Ethics

 ⁷ Now the end of all things is near; ^(FY) therefore, be clear-headed and disciplined ^(FZ) for prayer. ⁸ Above all, keep your love ^(GA) for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins. ^{(GB) (GC) 9} Be hospitable ^(GD) to one another without complaining. ¹⁰ Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, ^(GE) as good managers of the varied grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, [his speech should be] like the oracles of God; if anyone serves, [his service should be] from the strength God provides, ^(GF) so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

   

Christian Suffering

 ¹² Dear friends, when the fiery ordeal ^[bh] arises among you to test you, don't be surprised by it, as if something unusual were happening to you. ^{(GG) 13} Instead, as you share in the sufferings ^(GH) of the Messiah rejoice, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation ^(GI) of His glory. ¹⁴ If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, ^(GJ) you are blessed, because the Spirit ^(GK) of glory and of God rests on you. ^{[bi] 15} None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a meddler. ^{[bj] 16} But if [anyone suffers] as a Christian, he should not be ashamed, but should glorify God with that name. ¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment ^(GL) to begin with God's household; ^(GM) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

    ¹⁸ And if the righteous is saved with difficulty,

    what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? ^{(GN) (GO)}

    ¹⁹ So those who suffer according to God's will should, in doing good, entrust themselves ^(GP) to a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 5

About the Elders

 ¹ Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness ^(GQ) to the sufferings of the Messiah, and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed, ^(GR) I exhort the elders among you: ² shepherd God's flock among you, ^(GS) not overseeing ^[bk] out of compulsion but freely, according to God's [will]; ^[bl] not for the money but eagerly; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd ^(GT) appears, you will receive the unfading crown ^(GU) of glory.

    ⁵ Likewise, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with ^[bm] humility toward one another, because

    God resists the proud,

    but gives grace to the humble. ^{(GV) (GW)}

    ⁶ Humble ^(GX) yourselves therefore under the mighty hand ^(GY) of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, ^{[bn] 7} casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you. ^(GZ)

   

Conclusion

 ⁸ Be sober! ^(HA) Be on the alert! ^(HB) Your adversary the Devil ^(HC) is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. ⁹ Resist him, ^(HD) firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world.

    ¹⁰ Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory ^(HE) in Christ Jesus, will personally ^[bo] restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. ^{[bp] 11} To Him be the dominion ^[bq] forever. ^[br] Amen.

    ¹² Through Silvanus, ^{(HF) [bs]} whom I consider a faithful brother, I have written briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Take your stand in it! ¹³ She who is in Babylon, ^(HG) also chosen, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love. ^(HH) Peace ^(HI) to all of you who are in Christ. ^[bt]