1 Peter 1
1 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.
To the people of God who are living abroad, dispersed throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Roman Asia, and Bithynia,
2 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!
and who were chosen in accordance with the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the consecration of the Spirit, to learn obedience, and to be purified by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. May blessing and peace be yours in ever increasing measure.
3 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.
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has, in his great mercy, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 This inheritance is eternal, it never spoils or fades, and it is kept safe in heaven for you.
given us the new life of undying hope, that promises an inheritance, imperishable, stainless, unfading, which has been reserved for you in heaven –
5 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.
for you who, through faith, are being guarded by the power of God, awaiting a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last days.
6 So be glad about this, even though you may be sad for a short while as you endure various trials.
At the thought of this you are full of exultation, though (if it has been necessary) you have suffered for the moment somewhat from various trials;
7 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.
that the genuineness of your faith – a thing far more precious than gold, which is perishable, yet has to be tested by fire – may win praise and glory and honor at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
8 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.
Though you have never seen him, yet you love him; though you do not even now see him, yet you believe in him, and exalt with a triumphant happiness too great for words,
9 Your reward for trusting in him is that you will be saved!
as you receive the reward of your faith in the salvation of your souls!
10 It was this salvation that the prophets searched for and investigated when they spoke of the grace that was prepared for you.
It was this salvation that the prophets, who spoke long ago of the blessing intended for you, sought, and strove to comprehend;
11 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.
as they strove to discern what that time could be, to which the Spirit of Christ within them was pointing, when foretelling the sufferings that Christ would have to endure, and the glories that would follow.
12 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!
And it was revealed to them that it was not for themselves, but for you, that they were acting as Ministers of the truths which have now been told to you, by those who, with the help of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, have brought you the good news – truths into which even angels long to look.
13 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.
Therefore concentrate your minds, with the strictest self-control, and fix your hopes on the blessing that is coming for you at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
14 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.
Be like obedient children; do not let your lives be shaped by the passions which once swayed you in the days of your ignorance,
15 Now you need to be holy in everything you do, just as the one who called you is holy.
but in your whole life show yourselves to be holy, after the pattern of the Holy One from whom you received your call.
16 As Scripture says, “You are to be holy, for I am holy.”
For scripture says – ‘You will be holy, because I am holy.’
17 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.
And since you call on him as ‘Father,’ who judges everyone impartially by what he has done, let respectful awe be the spirit of your lives during the time of your stay on earth.
18 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.
For you know that it was not by perishable things, such as silver and gold, that you were ransomed from the aimless way of living which was handed down to you from your ancestors,
19 You were set free by the costly blood of Christ, who was like a lamb with no flaw or defect.
but by precious blood, as it were of a lamb, unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.
20 He was chosen before the world was created, but he was revealed in these last days for your benefit.
Destined for this before the beginning of the world, he has been revealed in these last days for your sakes,
21 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.
who, through him, are faithful to God who raised him from the dead and gave him honor, so that your faith and hope are now in God.
22 Now that you've dedicated yourselves by following the truth, love each other sincerely like a true family.
Now that, by your obedience to the truth, you have purified your lives, so that there is growing up among you a genuine affection, love one another earnestly with all your hearts;
23 You've been born again, not the product of a mortal “seed,” but immortal, through the living, eternal word of God. (aiōn g165)
since your new life has come, not from perishable, but imperishable, seed, through the message of the Everliving God. (aiōn g165)
24 For: “All people are like grass, and all their glory like wildflowers. The grass withers and the flowers fall.
For – ‘All earthly life is but as grass, and all its splendor as the flower of grass. The grass fades, its flower falls,
