1 Peter 1
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the choice sojourners of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
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 a foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied!
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 [is] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to the abundance of His kindness did beget us again to a living hope, through the rising again of Jesus Christ out of 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 to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in the heavens for you,
This inheritance is eternal, it never spoils or fades, and it is kept safe in heaven for you.
5 who, in the power of God are being guarded, through faith, unto salvation, 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 which ye are glad, a little now, if it be necessary, being made to sorrow in manifold trials,
So be glad about this, even though you may be sad for a short while as you endure various trials.
7 that the proof of your faith — much more precious than of gold that is perishing, and through fire being approved — may be found to praise, and honour, and glory, in 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 whom, not having seen, ye love, in whom, now not seeing and believing, ye are glad with joy unspeakable and glorified,
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 receiving the end of your faith — salvation of souls;
Your reward for trusting in him is that you will be saved!
10 concerning which salvation seek out and search out did prophets who concerning the grace toward you did prophecy,
It was this salvation that the prophets searched for and investigated when they spoke of the grace that was prepared for you.
11 searching in regard to what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ that was in them was manifesting, testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory after these,
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 to whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they were ministering these, which now were told to you (through those who did proclaim good news to you, ) in the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, to which things messengers do desire to bend looking.
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 Wherefore having girded up the loins of your mind, being sober, hope perfectly upon the grace that is being brought to you in 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, not fashioning yourselves to the former desires in your 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 according as He who did call you [is] holy, ye also, become holy in all behaviour,
Now you need to be holy in everything you do, just as the one who called you is holy.
16 because it hath been written, 'Become ye holy, because I am holy;'
As Scripture says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.”
17 and if on the Father ye do call, who without acceptance of persons is judging according to the work of each, in fear the time of your sojourn pass ye,
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 having known that, not with corruptible things — silver or gold — were ye redeemed from your foolish behaviour delivered by fathers,
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 precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and unspotted — Christ's —
You were set free by the costly blood of Christ, who was like a lamb with no flaw or defect.
20 foreknown, indeed, before the foundation of the world, and manifested in the last times because of you,
He was chosen before the world was created, but he was revealed in these last days for your benefit.
21 who through him do believe in God, who did raise out of the dead, and glory to him did give, so that your faith and hope may be 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 Your souls having purified in the obedience of the truth through the Spirit to brotherly love unfeigned, out of a pure heart one another love ye earnestly,
Now that you've dedicated yourselves by following the truth, love each other sincerely like a true family.
23 being begotten again, not out of seed corruptible, but incorruptible, through a word of God — living and remaining — to the age; (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 because all flesh [is] as grass, and all glory of man as flower of grass; wither did the grass, and the flower of it fell away,
For: “All people are like grass, and all their glory like wildflowers. The grass withers and the flowers fall.
