1 Petrus 1
1 Petrus, Apostel Jesus Christus' an die auserwählten Beisassen der Diaspora in Pontus, Galatia, Kappadokia, Asia und Bithynia,
I, Peter, who [have been appointed by] Jesus Christ {one whom Jesus Christ [has appointed]} to be an apostle, [am writing this letter] to you believers whom God has chosen to belong to him. [You are living] in [the Roman provinces of] Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. [Just like the Jews who lived in Israel long ago were] scattered [to other countries far from their homes] [MET], you now live [far from] heaven, which is [your true home].
2 nach der Voraussicht Gottes des Vaters, durch die Heiligung des Geistes zum Gehorsam und Besprengung mit Jesus Christus' Blut.
God our Father previously chose you, and his Spirit has set you apart in order that you would obey Jesus Christ. He did that in order that [just like Moses] sprinkled [the Israelites with blood when God established the old covenant] [MET], [Jesus would establish his new covenant with you] with the blood [that flowed from his body when he died]. May God act very kindly to you, and may he give you much [inner] peace.
3 Gnade werde euch und Friede in Fülle.
Praise God, who is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Because he has been very merciful to [us, he has given us new life] [MET]. Because he has caused Jesus Christ to become alive again after he died, he has enabled us to live very confidently; that is, to fully expect to receive the things [that God/he has promised to give us].
4 Gepriesen sei Gott der Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus', der uns nach seiner großen Barmherzigkeit wiedergezeugt hat zu lebendiger Hoffnung, durch die Auferstehung Jesus Christus' von den Toten,
He has enabled us to expect to receive an absolutely imperishable/indestructible [TRI] inheritance that has been {that [God] has} preserved in heaven for us.
5 zu einem unvergänglichen, unbefleckten und unverwelklichen Erbe, das aufgehoben ist im Himmel für euch,
God, by his mighty power, is guarding you as you trust in Jesus. [He is keeping you safe so] that he may, at the end of the time in which we now live (OR, when Jesus returns), completely deliver you [from Satan’s power].
6 die ihr durch Gottes Kraft bewahrt werdet mittelst des Glaubens zu dem Heile, das bereitet ist zur Offenbarung in der letzten Zeit.
You rejoice because of what will happen then, but now you are grieving for a short time while [God is allowing] you to be tested {[various things to] test you [MET]}, [as precious metals are tested] {[someone tests precious metals]} [to see if they are pure]. [These trials that you are experiencing are necessary]
7 Worüber ihr fröhlich seid, wenn ihr auch jetzt noch, wo es nötig, einige Trübsal leidet durch mancherlei Versuchungen,
to prove that you really do trust in Jesus. His proving that will be more valuable than gold, [which does not last forever even] though it is purified [by being put] {someone tries to make it pure by [putting it]} [in a hot] fire. As a result of your passing the test [and proving that you really do trust in Jesus], God will honor you very highly [TRI] when Jesus Christ comes again.
8 damit die Probe eures Glaubens kostbarer erfunden werde als das vergängliche Gold, das sich doch durch Feuer erprobt, zu Lob und Preis und Ehre bei der Offenbarung Jesus Christus',
You love [Jesus], although you have not seen him. Although you do not see him now, you rejoice very much [DOU]
9 den ihr liebt ohne ihn gesehen zu haben, an den ihr jetzt ohne ihn zu sehen glaubt, und seid darin fröhlich mit unaussprechlicher und verklärter Freude,
because you are experiencing the result of your believing in him; that is, [God] is saving you [SYN] [from the guilt of your sins].
10 weil ihr davontragt das Ziel eures Glaubens, das Heil der Seelen;
As for those who [long ago] spoke messages that God had revealed to them about how God would act kindly toward you in ways which you did not deserve, they (investigated very carefully/tried very hard to learn) [DOU] about how God would save you.
11 das Heil, über welches die Propheten suchten und forschten, die über die euch treffende Gnade geweissagt haben,
They wanted to know whom the Spirit of Christ that was in them was referring to, and what time he was talking about, when he told beforehand that the Messiah would suffer [and die], and that glorious/wonderful things would happen [to him and to us] afterwards.
12 forschend nämlich, auf welche oder was für eine Zeit der Geist Christus', der in ihnen war, vorauszeugend die auf Christus gehenden Leiden und die darauf folgenden Herrlichkeiten anzeigte -
It was revealed to {[God] told} them that it was not for their own sake that he was revealing these things to them, but that it was for your sake. It was these things that were proclaimed to you by those who told you the message [about Christ {that those who told you the message about Christ proclaimed to you]}. They proclaimed these things to you because the Holy Spirit whom [God] sent from heaven [enabled them to do that]. And even angels would like to know more about these [truths about how God saves us].
13 denen es geoffenbart ward, daß sie nicht für sich, sondern für euch in diesen Dingen dienten, die nunmehr verkündet wurden durch die, welche euch das Evangelium brachten, vermöge des vom Himmel gesandten heiligen Geistes, Dinge, in welche die Engel gerne möchten einen Blick thun.
Therefore, [prepare your minds] [MET] [as people] fasten their belts around their waists [to prepare to work]. [What I mean is that] you should (discipline your minds/control what you think about), and by doing that conduct your lives fully and confidently expecting to receive the good things that [God will] kindly [do for you] when Jesus Christ returns [from heaven].
14 Darum, gegürtet an den Lenden eures Sinnes, in völliger Nüchternheit, hoffet auf die Gnade die euch in der Offenbarung Jesus Christus' bevorsteht,
[And because you should obey your heavenly Father] [SIM], as children [ought to] obey their fathers [here on earth], do not do the evil things that you used to desire to do when you did not know [God’s truth].
15 als Kinder des Gehorsams, euer Leben nicht gestaltend nach den alten Lüsten aus der Zeit eurer Unwissenheit.
Instead, just like God, the one who chose you [to belong to him], is (holy/separate from evil), you also must be (holy/separate from evil) in everything that you do,
16 Vielmehr nach dem Heiligen, der euch berufen hat,
because it is {[someone/Moses] has} written [in the Scriptures that God said], “You must be (holy/separate from evil) because I am (holy/separate from evil).”
17 werdet auch ihr heilig in allem Wandel. Dieweil geschrieben steht: Ihr sollt heilig sein, denn ich bin heilig.
God is the one who (impartially/without favoritism) judges what each person does. Since you call him ‘Father’, live (reverently/with great respect for him) during the time that you are living here on earth. [While you are living here, you are] like exiles/foreigners [MET] [because you are away from heaven, which is your true home].
18 Und wenn ihr als Vater anrufet den, der ohne Ansehen der Person richtet nach eines jeden Werk,
[Live reverently] because you know that it was not with things that will not last forever, things like gold and silver, that [God] bought you to free you from your useless life-style that you learned from your ancestors.
19 so wandelt in Furcht über die Zeit eures Beisitzes, im Bewußtsein, daß ihr nicht mit vergänglichen Dingen, Silber und Gold losgekauft seid von eurem eitlen von den Vätern überlieferten Wandel,
Instead, [it was] with the precious blood of Christ [that flowed from his body when he died that God bought you. Christ’s death was a perfect sacrifice for us] [MET], [like] the lambs that [the Jewish priests sacrificed were] perfect, without any blemishes/defects/flaws or spots [DOU].
20 sondern mit kostbarem Blute als von einem tadellosen unbefleckten Lamme, Christus, der vorausersehen ist vor Grundlegung der Welt, geoffenbart aber am Ende der Zeiten um euretwillen,
Christ was chosen [by God] {[God] chose Christ} before the world was created {[he] created the world}. But it was not until now, when the time [in which we are living will soon] end, that he was revealed for your sake.
21 die ihr durch ihn glaubet an Gott, der ihn von den Toten erweckt, und ihm Herrlichkeit verliehen hat, so daß euer Glaube auch Hoffnung auf Gott ist.
Because of what Christ has done, you are trusting in God, who caused Christ to become alive again after he died, and greatly honored him. As a result, God is the one in whom you are trusting and confidently expecting [that he will do great things for you].
22 Die Seelen gereinigt durch Gehorsam gegen die Wahrheit zu unverstellter Bruderliebe, liebet einander von Herzen innig,
Because you have been made pure by obeying the truth, with the result that you sincerely love your fellow believers, continue to love each other earnestly and sincerely/wholeheartedly.
23 als wiedergeboren nicht aus vergänglicher sondern aus unvergänglicher Saat durch Gottes lebendiges und beständiges Wort, (aiōn g165)
[I ask you to do this, because you now have] a new life [MET]. It was not [by means of] something that will perish that you received this new life. Instead, it was [by means of] something that will last forever; that is, by believing the life-giving and enduring message of God. (aiōn g165)
24 darum daß Alles Fleisch ist wie Gras, und alle seine Herrlichkeit wie des Grases Blume;
[We know that this is true] because, [as the prophet Isaiah wrote], All people [will die] [SIM], like grass [dies]. And all the greatness/honor that people have [will not last forever], like the flowers [SIM] [that grow up] in the grass [do not last long]. The grass withers and the flowers die,
