1 Peter 1
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in 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 the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: 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 be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to 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 to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade away, 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 by the power of God are guarded through faith for a 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 this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various 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, which is more precious than gold that perishes, even though it is tested by fire, may be found to 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 whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory,
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 result 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 sought and searched diligently. They prophesied of the grace that would come to you,
It was this salvation that the prophets searched for and investigated when they spoke of the grace that was prepared for you.
11 searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them pointed to when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow them.
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 them it was revealed that they served not themselves, but you, in these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.
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, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to 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 children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as 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 just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior,
Now you need to be holy in everything you do, just as the one who called you is holy.
16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
As Scripture says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.”
17 If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear,
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 knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things like silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your 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 without blemish or spot, the blood of Christ,
You were set free by the costly blood of Christ, who was like a lamb with no flaw or defect.
20 who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in this last age for your sake,
He was chosen before the world was created, but he was revealed in these last days for your benefit.
21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might 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 Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently,
Now that you've dedicated yourselves by following the truth, love each other sincerely like a true family.
23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever. (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 of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls;
For: “All people are like grass, and all their glory like wildflowers. The grass withers and the flowers fall.
