Book of Common Prayer

He writes that through the abundant mercy of God, we are begotten again to a living hope, and how faith must be tried. How the salvation in Christ is nothing new, but a thing prophesied of old. He exhorts them to lead godly lives, since they are now born anew by the word of God.

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that dwell here and there as strangers throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, and Asia, and Bithynia, ² elect by the foreknowledge of God the Father through the sanctifying of the Spirit, for obedience and for sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.

Grace be with you, and peace be multiplied.

³ Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who through his abundant mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death, ⁴ to enjoy an inheritance immortal and undefiled, and that does not perish, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. Which salvation is prepared all ready to be shown in the last time – ⁶ in which time you will rejoice, though now for a season (if need require) you are in heaviness ⁷ through manifold trials, so that your faith, once tried, being much more precious than gold that perishes (though it be tried with fire), may be found to laud, glory, and honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ – ⁸ whom you have not seen, and yet love him; in whom even now, though you see him not, yet you do believe, and rejoice with joy inexpressible and glorious, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰ Of this salvation have the prophets enquired and searched, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching when or at what time the Spirit of Christ that was in them was signifying – which Spirit foretold the sufferings that would come to Christ and the glory that would follow after. ¹² To these prophets it was revealed that not to themselves, but to us, they would minister the things that are now shown to you by those who, by the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven, have preached to you the things which the angels desire to behold.

He arms his disciples with consolation against trouble, and promises them the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Comfort.

14 And he said to his disciples, Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. ⁴ And where I go, you know; and the way, you know.

⁵ Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going. How then is it possible for us to know the way?

⁶ Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. And no one comes to the Father except by me. ⁷ If you have known me, you have known my Father also. And now you know him, and have seen him.

⁸ Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.

⁹ Jesus said to him, Have I been so long a time with you, and yet you have not known me? Philip, he who has seen me has seen the Father. And how do you say then, Show us the Father? ¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I do not speak of myself, but the Father who dwells in me is he who does the works. ¹¹ Believe me, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me. At the least, believe me for the very works’ sake.

¹² Truly truly I say to you, He who believes on me, the works that I do, he also will do; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father. ¹³ And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified by the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.

¹⁵ If you love me, keep my commandments. ¹⁶ And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, so that he may be with you forever, ¹⁷ which is the Spirit of Truth – whom the world cannot receive, because the world neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him. For he dwells with you and shall be in you.