Petri I 1
1 Petrus apostolus Iesu Christi electis advenis dispersionis Ponti Galatiae Cappadociae Asiae et Bithyniae
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 secundum praescientiam Dei Patris in sanctificatione Spiritus in oboedientiam et aspersionem sanguinis Iesu Christi gratia vobis et pax multiplicetur
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 benedictus Deus et Pater Domini nostri Iesu Christi qui secundum magnam misericordiam suam regeneravit nos in spem vivam per resurrectionem Iesu Christi ex mortuis
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 in hereditatem incorruptibilem et incontaminatam et inmarcescibilem conservatam in caelis in vobis
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 qui in virtute Dei custodimini per fidem in salutem paratam revelari in tempore novissimo
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 in quo exultatis modicum nunc si oportet contristati in variis temptationibus
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 ut probatum vestrae fidei multo pretiosius sit auro quod perit per ignem probato inveniatur in laudem et gloriam et honorem in revelatione Iesu Christi
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 quem cum non videritis diligitis in quem nunc quoque non videntes credentes autem exultatis laetitia inenarrabili et glorificata
You love [Jesus], although you have not seen him. Although you do not see him now, you rejoice very much [DOU]
9 reportantes finem fidei vestrae salutem animarum
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 de qua salute exquisierunt atque scrutati sunt prophetae qui de futura in vobis gratia prophetaverunt
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 scrutantes in quod vel quale tempus significaret in eis Spiritus Christi praenuntians eas quae in Christo sunt passiones et posteriores glorias
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 quibus revelatum est quia non sibi ipsis vobis autem ministrabant ea quae nunc nuntiata sunt vobis per eos qui evangelizaverunt vos Spiritu Sancto misso de caelo in quae desiderant angeli prospicere
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 propter quod succincti lumbos mentis vestrae sobrii perfecte sperate in eam quae offertur vobis gratiam in revelatione Iesu Christi
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 quasi filii oboedientiae non configurati prioribus ignorantiae vestrae desideriis
[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 sed secundum eum qui vocavit vos sanctum et ipsi sancti in omni conversatione sitis
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 quoniam scriptum est sancti eritis quia ego sanctus sum
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 et si Patrem invocatis eum qui sine acceptione personarum iudicat secundum uniuscuiusque opus in timore incolatus vestri tempore conversamini
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 scientes quod non corruptibilibus argento vel auro redempti estis de vana vestra conversatione paternae traditionis
[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 sed pretioso sanguine quasi agni incontaminati et inmaculati Christi
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 praecogniti quidem ante constitutionem mundi manifestati autem novissimis temporibus propter vos
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 qui per ipsum fideles estis in Deo qui suscitavit eum a mortuis et dedit ei gloriam ut fides vestra et spes esset in Deo
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 animas vestras castificantes in oboedientia caritatis in fraternitatis amore simplici ex corde invicem diligite adtentius
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 renati non ex semine corruptibili sed incorruptibili per verbum Dei vivi et permanentis (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 quia omnis caro ut faenum et omnis gloria eius tamquam flos faeni exaruit faenum et flos decidit
[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,
