Add parallel Print Page Options

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various trials, that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ— whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently. They prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ, which was in them, pointed to, when he predicted the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that would follow them. 12 To them it was revealed, that they served not themselves, but you, in these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

13 Therefore prepare your minds for action.[a] Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ— 14 as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance, 15 but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.”Leviticus 11:44-45 17 If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear, 18 knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ, 20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake, 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

22 Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever. 24 For,

“All flesh is like grass,
    and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls;
25     but the Lord’s word endures forever.”Isaiah 40:6-8

This is the word of Good News which was preached to you.

Footnotes

  1. 1:13 literally, “gird up the waist of your mind” or “put on the belt of the waist of your mind”

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