1 Peter

Salutation

1:1 From Peter,1 an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those temporarily residing2 abroad3 (in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia,4 and Bithynia) who are chosen5 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by being set apart by the Spirit for obedience and for sprinkling6 with Jesus Christ's blood. May grace and peace be yours in full measure!7

Their New Birth to Joy and Holiness

1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1:4 that is,8 into9 an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, 1:5 who by God's power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1:6 This brings you great joy,10 although you may have to suffer11 for a short time in various trials. 1:7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith,12 which is much more valuable than gold--gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away13--and will bring praise14 and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.15 1:8 You16 have not seen him, but you love him. You17 do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice18 with an indescribable and glorious19 joy, 1:9 because you are attaining the goal of your faith--the salvation of your souls.

1:10 Concerning this salvation,20 the prophets21 who predicted the grace that would come to you22 searched and investigated carefully. 1:11 They probed23 into what person or time24 the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ25 and his subsequent glory.26 1:12 They were shown27 that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who evangelized you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things angels long to catch a glimpse of.

1:13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action,28 by being fully sober, and set your hope29 completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.30 1:14 Like obedient children, do not comply with31 the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,32 1:15 but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, 1:16 for it is written, "You shall be holy, because I am holy."33 1:17 And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one's work, live out the time of your temporary residence here34 in reverence. 1:18 You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, you were ransomed--not by perishable things like silver or gold, 1:19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. 1:20 He was foreknown35 before the foundation of the world but36 was manifested in these last times37 for your sake. 1:21 Through him you now trust38 in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

1:22 You have purified39 your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love.40 So41 love one another earnestly from a pure heart.42 1:23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. 1:24 For

And this is the word that was preached to you.

2:1 So get rid of1 all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2:2 And2 yearn3 like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk,4 so that by it you may grow up to5 salvation, 2:3 if you have experienced6 the Lord's kindness.7

The Living Stone, the Chosen People

2:4 So as you come to him,8 a living stone rejected by men but9 chosen and priceless10 in God's sight, 2:5 you yourselves as living stones are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood and to offer11 spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 2:6 For it says12 in scripture, "Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone,13 and whoever believes14 in him15 will never16 be put to shame."17 2:7 So you who believe see18 his value,19 but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the20 cornerstone,21 2:8 and a stumbling-stone22 and a rock to trip over.23 They stumble24 because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.25 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues26 of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 2:10 You27 once were not a people, but now you are God's people. You were shown no mercy28 but now you have received mercy.

2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul, 2:12 and maintain good conduct29 among the non-Christians,30 so that though31 they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.32

Submission to Authorities

2:13 Be subject to every human institution33 for the Lord's sake, whether to a king as supreme 2:14 or to governors as those he commissions34 to punish wrongdoers and praise35 those who do good. 2:15 For God wants you36 to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 2:16 Live37 as free people, not using your freedom as a pretext for evil, but as God's slaves.38 2:17 Honor all people, love your brothers and sisters,39 fear God, honor the king.

2:18 Slaves,40 be subject41 to your masters with all reverence, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the perverse. 2:19 For this finds God's favor,42 if because of conscience toward God43 someone endures hardships in suffering unjustly. 2:20 For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God.44 2:21 For to this you were called, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving an example for you to follow in his steps. 2:22 He45 committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.46 2:23 When he was maligned, he47 did not answer back; when he suffered, he threatened48 no retaliation,49 but committed himself to God50 who judges justly. 2:24 He51 himself bore our sins52 in his body on the tree, that we may leave sin behind and live for righteousness. By his53 wounds54 you were healed.55 2:25 For you were going astray like sheep56 but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Wives and Husbands

3:1 In the same way, wives, be subject to your own husbands. Then1 even if some are disobedient to the word, they will be won over without a word by the way you live,2 3:2 when they see your pure and reverent conduct.3 3:3 Let your4 beauty5 not be external--the braiding of hair and wearing of gold or fine clothes-- 3:4 but the inner person6 of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God's sight. 3:5 For in the same way the holy women who hoped in God long ago adorned themselves by being subject to their husbands, 3:6 like Sarah who obeyed7 Abraham, calling him lord. You become her children8 when you do what is good and have no fear in doing so.9 3:7 Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as the weaker partners10 and show them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life. In this way nothing will hinder your prayers.11

Suffering for Doing Good

3:8 Finally, all of you be harmonious,12 sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble. 3:9 Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless13 others14 because you were called to inherit a blessing. 3:10 For

3:13 For18 who is going to harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 3:14 But in fact, if you happen to suffer19 for doing what is right,20 blessed are you. But do not be terrified of them21 or be shaken.22 3:15 But set Christ apart23 as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.24 3:16 Yet do it with courtesy and respect,25 keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you.26 3:17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it,27 than for doing evil.

3:20 after they were disobedient long ago34 when God patiently waited35 in the days of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark36 a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. 3:21 And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you37--not the washing off of physical dirt38 but the pledge39 of a good conscience to God--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 3:22 who went into heaven and is at the right hand of God40 with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.41

4:1 So, since Christ suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same attitude, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has finished with sin,1 4:2 in that he spends the rest of his time2 on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires. 4:3 For the time that has passed was sufficient for you to do what the non-Christians3 desire.4 You lived then5 in debauchery, evil desires, drunkenness, carousing, boozing, and wanton idolatries.6 4:4 So7 they are astonished8 when you do not rush with them into the same flood of wickedness, and they vilify you.9 4:5 They will face a reckoning before10 Jesus Christ11 who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 4:6 Now it was for this very purpose12 that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead,13 so that though14 they were judged in the flesh15 by human standards16 they may live spiritually17 by God's standards.18

Service, Suffering, and Judgment

4:7 For the culmination of all things is near. So be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of prayer.19 4:8 Above all keep20 your love for one another fervent,21 because love covers a multitude of sins.22 4:9 Show hospitality23 to one another without complaining. 4:10 Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another24 as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 4:11 Whoever speaks, let it be with25 God's words.26 Whoever serves, do so with the strength27 that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong28 the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

4:12 Dear friends, do not be astonished29 that a trial by fire is occurring among you,30 as though something strange were happening to you. 4:13 But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed31 you may also rejoice and be glad.32 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, who is the Spirit of God,33 rests34 on you. 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.35 4:16 But if you suffer as a Christian,36 do not be ashamed, but glorify37 God that you bear such a name.38 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house39 of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate40 of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God? 4:18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of41 the ungodly and sinners?42 4:19 So then let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.43

Leading and Living in God's Flock

5:1 So as your fellow elder and a witness of Christ's sufferings and as one who shares in the glory that will be revealed, I urge the elders among you: 5:2 give a shepherd's care to1 God's flock among you, exercising oversight2 not merely as a duty3 but willingly under God's direction,4 not for shameful profit but eagerly. 5:3 And do not lord it over5 those entrusted to you6 but be examples to the flock. 5:4 Then7 when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that never fades away.

5:5 In the same way, you who are younger,8 be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.9 5:6 And God will exalt you in due time,10 if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand11 5:7 by casting12 all your cares13 on him because he cares for you. 5:8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion,14 is on the prowl looking for someone15 to devour. 5:9 Resist him,16 strong in your faith, because you know17 that your brothers and sisters18 throughout the world19 are enduring20 the same kinds of suffering.21 5:10 And, after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus22 will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.23 5:11 To him belongs24 the power forever. Amen.

Final Greetings

5:12 Through Silvanus,25 whom I know to be a faithful brother,26 I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you and testify27 that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.28 5:13 The church29 in Babylon,30 chosen together with you,31 greets you, and so does Mark, my son. 5:14 Greet one another with a loving kiss.32 Peace to all of you who are in Christ.