Greeting

Peter,(A) an apostle of Jesus Christ:

To those chosen, living as exiles(B) dispersed(C) abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,(D) chosen(E) according to the foreknowledge(F) of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,(G) to be obedient(H) and to be sprinkled with the blood(I) of Jesus Christ.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

A Living Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.(J) Because of his great mercy(K) he has given us new birth(L) into a living hope(M) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead(N) and into an inheritance that is imperishable,(O) undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven(P) for you. You are being guarded by God’s power(Q) through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.(R) You rejoice in this,[a] even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials(S) so that the proven character of your faith(T)—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire(U)—may result(V) in praise, glory, and honor(W) at the revelation of Jesus Christ.(X) Though you have not seen(Y) him, you love him;(Z) though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice(AA) with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

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 the Spirit of Christ(AC) within them was indicating when he testified in advance(AD) to the sufferings of Christ(AE) and the glories(AF) that would follow.[b] 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 long to catch a glimpse of these things.

A Call to Holy Living

13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action,(AI) be sober-minded(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.[c](AP) 17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially(AQ) according to each one’s work,(AR) you are to conduct yourselves in reverence(AS) during your time living as strangers. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life(AT) inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold,(AU) 19 but with the precious blood of Christ,(AV) like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.(AW) 20 He was foreknown(AX) before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times(AY) for you. 21 Through him you believe 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 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,[d] so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other,(BC) from a pure[e] heart love one another constantly,[f](BD) 23 because 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

All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory(BH) like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.[g](BI)

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

Footnotes

  1. 1:6 Or In this fact rejoice
  2. 1:11 Or the glories after that
  3. 1:16 Lv 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:7
  4. 1:22 Other mss add through the Spirit
  5. 1:22 Other mss omit pure
  6. 1:22 Or fervently
  7. 1:24–25 Is 40:6–8

Salutation

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To the exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood:

May grace and peace be yours in abundance.(A)

A Living Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead(B) and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.(C) In this you rejoice,[a] even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials,(D) so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.(E) Although you have not seen[b] him, you love him, and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy,(F) for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.[c]

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace intended for you made careful search and inquiry,(G) 11 inquiring about the time and circumstances[d] that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings intended for Christ and the subsequent glory.(H) 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look!(I)

A Call to Holy Living

13 Therefore prepare your minds for action;[e] discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.(J) 14 Like obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires that you formerly had in ignorance. 15 Instead, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct,(K) 16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”(L)

17 If you invoke as Father the one who judges impartially according to each person’s work, live in fear during the time of your exile.(M) 18 You know that you were ransomed from the futile conduct inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.(N) 20 He was destined before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the ages for your sake.(O) 21 Through him you have come to trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your trust and hope are in God.

22 Now that you have purified your souls[f] by your obedience to the truth[g] so that you have genuine mutual affection, love one another deeply from the heart.[h](P) 23 You have been born anew, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.[i](Q) 24 For

“All flesh is like grass
    and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
    and the flower falls,(R)
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

That word is the good news that was announced to you.(S)

Footnotes

  1. 1.6 Or Rejoice in this
  2. 1.8 Other ancient authorities read known
  3. 1.9 Or lives
  4. 1.11 Or the person and time
  5. 1.13 Gk gird up the loins of your mind
  6. 1.22 Or lives
  7. 1.22 Other ancient authorities add through the Spirit
  8. 1.22 Other ancient authorities read a pure heart
  9. 1.23 Or through the word of the living and enduring God