Beginning

A Living Hope

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

To those who reside as ^(B)exiles, ^(C)scattered throughout ^(D)Pontus, ^(E)Galatia, ^(F)Cappadocia, ^(G)Asia, and ^(H)Bithynia, ^(I)who are chosen ² according to the ^(J)foreknowledge of God the Father, ^(K)by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to the ^(L)obedience of Jesus Christ and the ^(M)sprinkling of His blood: ^(N)May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

^3 (O)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ^(P)according to His great mercy ^(Q)has caused us to be born again to ^(R)a living hope through the ^(S)resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to obtain an ^(T)inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and ^(U)unfading, having been ^(V)kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who are ^(W)protected by the power of God ^(X)through faith for ^(Y)a salvation ready ^(Z)to be revealed in the last time. ^6 (AA)In this you greatly rejoice, even though now ^(AB)for a little while, ^(AC)if necessary, you have been grieved by ^(AD)various ^[a]trials, ⁷ so that the ^[b](AE)proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which ^[c]is perishable, ^(AF)even though tested by fire, ^(AG)may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at ^(AH)the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ And ^(AI)though you have not seen Him, you ^(AJ)love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and ^[d]full of glory, ⁹ receiving as ^(AK)the outcome of your faith the salvation of ^[e]your souls.

^10 (AL)Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who ^(AM)prophesied of the ^(AN)grace that would come to you, made careful searches and inquiries, ^11 [f]inquiring to know what time or what kind of time ^(AO)the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He was ^(AP)predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories ^[g]to follow. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been declared to you through those who ^(AQ)proclaimed the gospel to you by ^(AR)the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which ^(AS)angels long to ^[h]look.

¹³ Therefore, having ^[i](AT)girded your minds for action, ^[j](AU)being sober in spirit, fix your ^(AV)hope completely on the ^(AW)grace ^[k]to be brought to you at ^(AX)the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As ^[l](AY)obedient children, not ^[m](AZ)being conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ^(BA)ignorance, ¹⁵ but ^[n](BB)like the Holy One who called you, ^[o](BC)be holy yourselves also ^(BD)in all your conduct; ¹⁶ because it is written, “^(BE)You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

¹⁷ And if you ^(BF)address as Father the One who ^(BG)impartially ^(BH)judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves ^[p](BI)in fear during the time of your ^(BJ)sojourn, ¹⁸ knowing that you were not ^[q](BK)redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from your ^(BL)futile conduct inherited from your forefathers, ¹⁹ but with precious ^(BM)blood, as of a ^(BN)lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. ²⁰ He was ^(BO)foreknown before ^(BP)the foundation of the world, but ^(BQ)appeared ^[r]in these last times ^(BR)for the sake of you ²¹ who through Him are ^(BS)believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and ^(BT)gave Him glory, so that your faith and ^(BU)hope are in God.

²² Since you have ^(BV)in obedience to the truth ^(BW)purified your souls for a love of the brothers ^(BX)without hypocrisy, fervently love one another from ^[s]the heart, ²³ for you have been ^(BY)born again ^(BZ)not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, that is, through the living and enduring ^(CA)word of God. ²⁴ For,

And this is ^(CD)the word which was ^[t]proclaimed to you as good news.

As Living Stones, God’s Chosen Family

2 Therefore, ^(CE)laying aside all ^[u]malice and all deceit and ^[v]hypocrisy and ^[w]envy and all ^[x](CF)slander, ^2 (CG)like newborn babies, long for the ^[y](CH)pure ^[z]milk of the word, so that by it you may ^(CI)grow ^[aa]in respect to salvation, ³ if you have ^(CJ)tasted ^[ab](CK)the kindness of the ^[ac]Lord.

⁴ And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been ^(CL)rejected by men, but is ^[ad]choice and precious in the sight of God, ^5 (CM)you also, as living stones, ^[ae]are being built up as a ^(CN)spiritual house for a holy ^(CO)priesthood, to ^(CP)offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For this is contained in ^[af]Scripture:

^7 (CS)This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

⁸ and,

^(CW)They stumble because they are disobedient to the word, ^(CX)and to this stumbling they were also appointed.

⁹ But you are ^(CY)a chosen family, a royal ^(CZ)priesthood, a ^(DA)holy nation, ^(DB)a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you ^(DC)out of darkness into His marvelous light; ^10 (DD)for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

^11 (DE)Beloved, ^(DF)I urge you as ^(DG)sojourners and exiles to abstain from ^(DH)fleshly lusts which wage ^(DI)war against the soul, ^12 (DJ)by keeping your conduct excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing which they ^(DK)slander you as evildoers, they may ^[ah]because of your good works, as they observe them, ^(DL)glorify God ^(DM)in the day of ^[ai]visitation.

Be Subject to Authority

^13 (DN)Be subject for the sake of the Lord to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent ^[aj]by him ^(DO)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(DP)praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For ^[ak](DQ)such is the will of God that by doing good you may ^(DR)silence the ignorance of foolish men. ¹⁶ Act as ^(DS)free people, and ^[al]do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as ^(DT)slaves of God. ^17 (DU)Honor all people, ^(DV)love the ^[am]brethren, ^(DW)fear God, ^(DX)honor the ^[an]king.

^18 (DY)Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to those who are good and ^(DZ)considerate, but also to those who are ^[ao]crooked. ¹⁹ For this finds ^[ap]favor, if for the sake of ^(EA)conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unrighteously. ²⁰ For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure? But if ^(EB)when you do good and suffer for it, you endure, this finds favor with God.

Christ, Our Example

²¹ For to this ^(EC)you have been called, ^(ED)since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^(EE)an example that you should follow in His steps, ²² who ^(EF)did no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; ²³ who being ^(EG)reviled, was not reviling in return; while suffering, He was uttering no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. ²⁴ Who Himself ^[aq](EH)bore our sins in His body on the ^(EI)tree, so that ^(EJ)having died to ^[ar]sin, we might live to righteousness; ^(EK)by His ^[as]wounds you were ^(EL)healed. ²⁵ For you were ^(EM)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^(EN)Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Wives and Husbands

3 ^(EO)In the same way, you wives, ^(EP)be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be ^(EQ)won without a word by the conduct of their wives, ² as they observe your pure conduct with fear. ^3 (ER)Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on garments; ⁴ but let it be ^(ES)the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible quality of a lowly and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. ⁵ For in this way in former times the holy women also, ^(ET)who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, ⁶ just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(EU)calling him lord. You have become her children if you do good, ^[at](EV)not fearing any intimidation.

^7 (EW)You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker ^(EX)vessel, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

^8 [au]Now to sum up, ^(EY)all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, ^(EZ)brotherly, ^(FA)tender-hearted, and ^(FB)humble in spirit; ^9 (FC)not returning evil for evil or ^(FD)reviling for reviling, but ^[av]giving a ^(FE)blessing instead, for ^(FF)you were called for the very purpose that you might ^(FG)inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For,

Suffering for Righteousness

^13 (FK)And who is ^[ay]there to ^[az]harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should ^(FL)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(FM)you ^[ba]are blessed. ^(FN)And do not fear their fear, and do not be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^[bb]sanctify ^(FO)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(FP)to make ^[bc]a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(FQ)hope that is in you, yet ^(FR)with gentleness and ^(FS)fear, ¹⁶ having a ^(FT)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(FU)you are slandered, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(FV)it is better, ^(FW)if ^[bd]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing good rather than for doing wrong. ¹⁸ For ^(FX)Christ also suffered for sins ^(FY)once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that He might ^(FZ)bring you to God, having been put to death ^(GA)in the flesh, but made alive ^(GB)in the ^[be]spirit; ¹⁹ in ^[bf]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, ²⁰ who once were disobedient, when the ^(GC)patience of God ^(GD)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ^(GE)the ark, in which a few, that is, ^(GF)eight ^(GG)persons, were brought safely through the ^[bg]water. ^21 (GH)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—^(GI)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal ^[bh]of a ^(GJ)good conscience to God—through ^(GK)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ^22 (GL)who is at the right hand of God, ^(GM)having gone into heaven, ^(GN)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Keep Fervent in Your Love

4 Therefore, since ^(GO)Christ has ^[bi]suffered in the flesh, ^(GP)arm yourselves also with the same purpose—because ^(GQ)he who has ^[bj]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin— ^2 (GR)so as to no longer live ^(GS)the rest of the time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the ^(GT)will of God. ³ For ^(GU)the time already past is sufficient for you to have worked out the desire of the Gentiles, ^[bk](GV)having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and ^[bl]abominable idolatries. ⁴ In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of ^(GW)dissipation, ^(GX)maligning you, ⁵ but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge ^(GY)the living and the dead. ⁶ For to this ^(GZ)the gospel has been ^[bm]proclaimed even to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh as men, they live in the spirit according to the will of God.

^7 (HA)The end of all things is at hand; therefore, ^(HB)be of sound thinking and sober spirit for the purpose of ^[bn]prayer. ⁸ Above all, ^(HC)keep fervent in your love for one another, because ^(HD)love covers a multitude of sins. ^9 (HE)Be hospitable to one another without ^(HF)grumbling. ^10 (HG)As each one has received a gift, employ it in serving one another as good ^(HH)stewards of the manifold grace of God— ^11 (HI)whoever speaks, ^[bo]as one speaking the ^(HJ)oracles of God; whoever serves, as one serving ^[bp](HK)by the strength which God supplies; so that ^(HL)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, ^(HM)to whom belongs the glory and might forever and ever. Amen.

Sharing the Suffering of Christ

^12 (HN)Beloved, do not be surprised at the ^(HO)fiery trial among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. ¹³ But to the degree you are ^(HP)sharing the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the ^(HQ)revelation of His glory ^(HR)you may rejoice with exultation. ¹⁴ If you are insulted ^[bq](HS)for the name of Christ, ^(HT)you are blessed, ^(HU)because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ Make sure that ^(HV)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a ^[br](HW)troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a ^(HX)Christian, he is not to be put to shame, but is to ^(HY)glorify God in this name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment ^(HZ)to begin ^[bs]with ^(IA)the house of God; and if it ^(IB)begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those ^(IC)who do not obey the ^(ID)gospel of God? ^18 (IE)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, ^[bt]what will become of the ^(IF)godless man and the sinner? ¹⁹ Therefore, those also who suffer according to ^(IG)the will of God must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good.

Shepherd the Flock of God

5 ^(IH)Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your ^(II)fellow elder and ^(IJ)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a ^(IK)partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, ² shepherd ^(IL)the flock of God among you, overseeing ^(IM)not under compulsion, but willingly, according to God; and ^(IN)not for dishonest gain, but with eagerness; ³ nor yet as ^(IO)lording it over ^[bu]those allotted to you, but being ^(IP)examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief ^(IQ)Shepherd appears, you will receive the ^(IR)unfading ^[bv](IS)crown of glory. ^5 (IT)You younger men, likewise, ^(IU)be subject to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with ^(IV)humility toward one another, for ^(IW)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

⁶ Therefore ^(IX)humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, ^7 (IY)casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. ^8 (IZ)Be of sober spirit, ^(JA)be watchful. Your adversary, ^(JB)the devil, prowls around like a roaring ^(JC)lion, seeking someone to devour. ^9 [bw](JD)But resist him, ^(JE)firm in the faith, knowing that ^(JF)the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished among your ^[bx]brethren who are in the world. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered ^(JG)for a little while, the ^(JH)God of all grace, who ^(JI)called you to His ^(JJ)eternal glory in Christ, will Himself ^(JK)restore, ^(JL)strengthen, confirm, and ground you. ^11 (JM)To Him be might forever and ever. Amen.

¹² Through ^(JN)Silvanus, our faithful brother as I regard him, ^(JO)I have written to you briefly, exhorting and bearing witness that this is ^(JP)the true grace of God. ^(JQ)Stand firm in it! ¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, ^(JR)Mark. ^14 (JS)Greet one another with a kiss of love.

^(JT)Peace be to you all who are in Christ.