THE FIRST LETTER OF
PETER Salutation
1 * Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To the exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappado′cia, Asia, and Bithyn′ia, 2chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. A Living Hope
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy we have been born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and to an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5who by God’s power are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you rejoice, a though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials, 7so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold which though perishable is tested by fire, may redound to praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8Without having seen b him you c love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. 9As the outcome of your faith you obtain the salvation of your souls. 10 The prophets who prophesied of the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired about this salvation; 11they inquired what person or time was indicated by the Spirit of Christ † within them when predicting the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glory. 12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your fathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blem-ish or spot. 20He was destined before the founda-tion of the world but was made manifest at the end of the times for your sake. 21Through him you have confidence in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. d Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere love of the brethren, love one another earnestly from the heart. 23You have been born anew, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding 24 word of God; for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord abides for ever.” That word is the good news which was preached to you. The Living Stone and a Chosen People
2
So put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all slander. 2Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; 3for you
have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 4 Come to him, to that living stone, rejected by men but in God’s sight chosen and precious; 5and like living stones be yourselves built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and he who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
A Call to Holy Living
13 Therefore gird up your minds, be sober, set your hope fully upon the grace that is coming to 14 you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions 15 of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in all your conduct; 16since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17And if you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear through-out the time of your exile. 18You know that you
Or Rejoice in this. Other ancient authorities read known. Or omit you. Or so that your faith is hope in God.
1:16: Lev 11:44–45. 1:24–25: Is 40:6–9. 2:3: Ps 34:8. 2:4: Ps 118:22; Is 28:16. 2:6: Is 28:16. * 1:1: See note on Jas 1:1. Baptism is the main theme of this letter which, in fact, may have been a baptismal address. † 1:11, Spirit of Christ: Christ, as the eternally existing Word, is envisaged as inspiring the prophets of old.
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