1 Peter 1
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen
This letter comes from Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ, and is sent to God's chosen people: exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
You were chosen by God the Father in his wisdom, made holy by the Spirit, so that you might obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood. May you have grace and peace more and more!
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Through his great mercy we have been born again and given a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
4 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
This inheritance is eternal, it never spoils or fades, and it is kept safe in heaven for you.
5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Through your trust in him, God will protect you by his power until salvation arrives—the salvation that is ready to be revealed at the last day.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials
So be glad about this, even though you may be sad for a short while as you endure various trials.
7 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
These prove that your trust in God is genuine, just as fire is used to prove if gold is genuine—even though that too can be destroyed—and your faith is more valuable than gold! In this way your trust in God will be recognized and you will receive praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ appears.
8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you cannot see him now, you trust in him and you're filled with wonderful, indescribable happiness.
9 now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Your reward for trusting in him is that you will be saved!
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully,
It was this salvation that the prophets searched for and investigated when they spoke of the grace that was prepared for you.
11 trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.
They tried to find out when and how this would take place, for the Spirit of Christ inside them spoke clearly about Christ's sufferings and glory to come.
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
It was explained to them that they were not doing this for themselves, but for you—since what they spoke about you've now learned from those who shared the good news with you by the Holy Spirit that heaven sent. Even the angels are eager to find out about all this!
13 Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Make sure your minds are in gear. Be clear-headed. Fix your hope exclusively on the grace you'll be given when Jesus is revealed.
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance.
Live like children that do what they're told. Don't allow yourselves to be shaped by your former sinful desires when you didn't know any better.
15 But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,
Now you need to be holy in everything you do, just as the one who called you is holy.
16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
As Scripture says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.”
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.
Since you call him Father, and recognize he judges everyone impartially based on what they do, take your time here on earth seriously, respecting him.
18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
You already know that you were not set free from your pointless way of living that you inherited from your forefathers by things that don't have lasting value, like silver or gold.
19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot.
You were set free by the costly blood of Christ, who was like a lamb with no flaw or defect.
20 He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
He was chosen before the world was created, but he was revealed in these last days for your benefit.
21 Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God.
Through him you trust in God who raised him from the dead, and glorified him, so that you could have confidence and hope in God.
22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
Now that you've dedicated yourselves by following the truth, love each other sincerely like a true family.
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (aiōn g165)
You've been born again, not the product of a mortal “seed,” but immortal, through the living, eternal word of God. (aiōn g165)
24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
For: “All people are like grass, and all their glory like wildflowers. The grass withers and the flowers fall.
