Peter's First Letter

1 Peter 1

Peter's Greeting to God's Chosen People

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's chosen people: who reside as strangers in a foreign land, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2 Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the purification of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Gracious favor and peace be multiplied to you.

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Reborn to a Sure Expectation

3 Praise and speak well of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great compassion has caused us to be born from above to a living and sure expectation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, which will not fade away, reserved for us in the heavens,

5 Who by God's power are being guarded through faith, unto a salvation ready to be unveiled in the last season of time.

6 In anticipation of this you jump for joy, even if now for a little while it's necessary to experience grief in various trials and testings:

7 That the proven genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold which is perishing when it's being tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:@

8 Whom you love, even though you haven't seen him. Though right now you do not see him, yet because you believe in him, you jump for joy with inexpressible joy that's full of glory:

9 Receiving as the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation the prophets, who prophesied of the gracious favor that would come to you, diligently inquired and  searched out:

11 Seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

12 †To whom it was revealed that they were not ministering to their own generation, but to our generation concerning these things, which have now been announced to you by those who proclaimed the Good News to you, through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Into these things the heavenly messengers long to look.

As Obedient Children Be Holy

13 Therefore having prepared your mind for action, be sober, and rest your expectation fully upon the gracious favor which is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  [Literally, gird up the loins of your mind.]

14 As children who listen obediently: don't be conformed to your former desires, which were yours in your ignorance.

15 But just as he who called you is holy, so too you are to be holy in all your conduct;

16 Because it's written, "Be holy; because I am holy."

Redeemed with the Precious Blood of Christ

17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, pass the time of your sojouning here in reverential fear:

18 Knowing that you were not ransoned with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your empty way of life, received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

20 Who was indeed foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has been revealed in these last times for you

21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and expectation might be in God.

The Eternal Word of God

22 Since through the Spirit you have purified your souls by listening obediently to the truth, unto genuine brotherly love, loving one another fervently from a pure heart:

23 Having been born from above, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through God's Word, which lives and remains throughout eternity.

24 For "All flesh is like grass, and all the glory of a human being like a flower of the field; the grass withers and its flower drops off:

25 But the Word of the Lord endures throughout eternity." Now this is the message—The Good News which was proclaimed to you.

1 Peter 2

Desire the Pure Milk of the Word

1 Therefore, having laid aside all malice, all deception, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

2 Like newborn babies, long for the logically pure milk of the Word, so that by it you may grow:

3 If indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

The Living Stone and a Kingly Priesthood

4 Coming to him as to a living stone, indeed rejected by people, but chosen by God and precious,

5 You also, as living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 Therefore it's also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion a cap-stone, chosen and precious; and whoever believes in him will by no means be put to shame."

7 Therefore, to you who believe, he is precious; but to those who disbelieve, "The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner"

8 And "A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense." They stumble in disbelief of the Word, to which they were also appointed.

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special people, that you might fully Proclaiming the Virtues of him who called us out of darkness into his marvelous light!

10 Who once were not a people, but are now God's people: who had not received compassion, but now have received compassion."

11 Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly desires, which wage war against the soul.

12 Keep your conduct among the nations honorable, so that in that which they speak against you as wrong-doers, after inspecting your good deeds, they may glorify God on the day of full inspection.  [Literally, beautiful.]

Submit to Authority

13 Therefore for the Lord's sake: submit yourselves to every human institution, whether to a king as a superior,

14 Or to governors, as to those who are sent by him, for the punishment of wrong-doers, and to praise those who do good.

15 Because this is God's will: that by doing good you should muzzel the ignorance of stupid people:

16 As free people, but don't use your freedom as a cloak to conceal evil. But rather as God's servants:

17 Honor everyone, love the brotherhood, reverently fear God, honor the king.

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the warped.

19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God, one endures sadness after suffering wrongfully.

20 For what renown is there, if when you are beaten for your faults, you bear up under it? But when you do good and suffer, if you bear up under it, this is gracious before God.

Christs Example of Suffering

21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps:

22 "Who committed no sin, nor was any deception found in his mouth"; [Or, didn't miss the mark.]

23 Who, when he was insulted, didn't insult in return; when he suffered, he didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously;

24 "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his stripes you have been healed."

25 For "You were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 3

Faithful Wives, Understanding Husbands

1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the Word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives;

2 When they see your respectful and pure behavior.

3 Don't let your adorning merely be external: braiding of the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on beautiful clothing;

4 Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

5 For in this way, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands:

6 Even as Sara listened obediently to Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, as long as you do good, and are not frightened by any fear.

7 Husbands, in a similar way, live with them according to understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to a delicate vessel, and as being co-heirs together of the gracious favor of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. [Literally, weaker.]

Live a Life of Love

8 Finally, all of you be like-minded, having compassion for one another, love as brothers and sisters, be tender hearted, be friendly:

9 Not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead blessing and speaking well of others, knowing that for this purpose you were called, so that you should inherit a blessing.

10 For "Whoever wants to love life and see good days, Let them restrain their tongue from speaking evil, and their lips from speaking deception:

11 Let them turn away from evil, and do good; let them seek peace, and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

13 And who is the one who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good?

Suffering for Righteousness Sake

14 But even if you should suffer on account of righteousness, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."

15 But set the Lord God apart in your hearts as holy: and always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for faith and the expectation that is in you, with gentleness and respect:

16 Having a good conscience, so that when they slander you as wrong-doers, those who slander your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed.

17 For it's better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

18 Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit:

19 In which state he also went and heralded a proclamation to the spirits in prison, (See verse 4:6.)

20 To those who in the past did not believe, when God once patiently waiting in the days of Noah: while an ark was being prepared (in which a few, that is eight souls were saved through water);  

21 There is also now an antitype which saves us: baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22 Who is at the right hand of God (having gone into heaven), all messengers and authorities and powers having been made subject to him.

1 Peter 4

Live a Changed Life

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mindset, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin;

2 So we are no longer to live our remaining time in the flesh for human desires, but for God's will.

3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime doing what the nations do: walking in indecent behavior, sensual desires, excesses of wine, wild parties, drinking-bouts, and unlawful worship of idols.

4 Where in they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same overflow of unsaved behavior, speaking evil of you—

5 They will give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead:

6 For this reason the Good News was also proclaimed to those who are dead, that they might indeed be judged in the flesh as human beings, but  live in the spirit according to God's will. (See verses 3:19-20 & Matthew 11:23-24.)

7 But the end of all things has drawn near; therefore be of a sound mind and watchful in your prayers.

8 But before everything else, have fervent love for one another, because "Love will cover a multitude of sins."

9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

10 As each one has received a gift, use it to serve each other, as good managers of the multifaceted gracious favor of God.

11 If anyone speaks, speak as the oracles of God. If anyone serves, serve from the ability which God supplies, that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the dominion throughout the ages of the ages. Amen! (Indeed!)

Suffering As A Christian

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is taking place, as though something strange is happening to you:

13 But since you share in Christ's sufferings, rejoice, that also when his glory is revealed, you may rejoice, jumping for joy!

14 If you are defamed for the name of Christ, you are exceedingly blessed; because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or a meddler in other people's affairs.

16 But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let them not be ashamed, rather let them glorify God in this matter.

17 Because the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; but if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not believe God's Good News?

18 And "If with difficulty the righteous are saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

19 Therefore let those who suffer in accordance with God's will, entrust the keeping of their souls to him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

1 Peter 5

Instructions to Elders

1  I appeal to the elders who are among you, who also am a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and who also am a sharer of the glory which is about to be revealed:

2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

3 Not as having lordship over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Live in Humility and Resist the Devil

5 Likewise, you who are younger, submit yourselves to the elders. And all of you be submissive to one another; clothe yourselves with a humble mind, because "God resists the proud, but gives gracious favor to the humble."

6 Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7 Casting all your care upon him; because he cares about you.

8 Be sober, stay awake; because your adversary the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Benediction and Greetings

10 But the God of all gracious favor, who called us into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after suffering a little while, will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

11 To him is the glory and mighty power throughout the ages of the ages. Amen! (Indeed!)

12 By Silvanus, the faithful brother to you, for so I consider him, I have written to you briefly, instructing and testifying that this is God's true gracious favor in which you stand.

13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, embraces you; and so does my son Mark.

14 Embrace one another with a loving kiss. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ Jesus.

Amen! (Indeed!)