Greeting

Peter,(A) an apostle of Jesus Christ:

To those chosen, living as exiles(B) dispersed(C) abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,(D) chosen(E) according to the foreknowledge(F) of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,(G) to be obedient(H) and to be sprinkled with the blood(I) of Jesus Christ.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

A Living Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.(J) Because of his great mercy(K) he has given us new birth(L) into a living hope(M) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead(N) and into an inheritance that is imperishable,(O) undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven(P) for you. You are being guarded by God’s power(Q) through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.(R) You rejoice in this,[a] even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials(S) so that the proven character of your faith(T)—more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire(U)—may result(V) in praise, glory, and honor(W) at the revelation of Jesus Christ.(X) Though you have not seen(Y) him, you love him;(Z) though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice(AA) with inexpressible and glorious joy, because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets,(AB) who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. 11 They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ(AC) within them was indicating when he testified in advance(AD) to the sufferings of Christ(AE) and the glories(AF) that would follow.[b] 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you(AG) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven(AH)—angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.

A Call to Holy Living

13 Therefore, with your minds ready for action,(AI) be sober-minded(AJ) and set your hope(AK) completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation(AL) of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children,(AM) do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15 But as the one who called you(AN) is holy,(AO) you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.[c](AP) 17 If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially(AQ) according to each one’s work,(AR) you are to conduct yourselves in reverence(AS) during your time living as strangers. 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life(AT) inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold,(AU) 19 but with the precious blood of Christ,(AV) like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb.(AW) 20 He was foreknown(AX) before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times(AY) for you. 21 Through him you believe in God,(AZ) who raised him from the dead(BA) and gave him glory,(BB) so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,[d] so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other,(BC) from a pure[e] heart love one another constantly,[f](BD) 23 because you have been born again(BE)—not of perishable seed(BF) but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.(BG) 24 For

All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory(BH) like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.[g](BI)

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

Footnotes

  1. 1:6 Or In this fact rejoice
  2. 1:11 Or the glories after that
  3. 1:16 Lv 11:44–45; 19:2; 20:7
  4. 1:22 Other mss add through the Spirit
  5. 1:22 Other mss omit pure
  6. 1:22 Or fervently
  7. 1:24–25 Is 40:6–8

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,(A)

To God’s elect,(B) exiles(C) scattered(D) throughout the provinces of Pontus,(E) Galatia,(F) Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,(G) who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge(H) of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,(I) to be obedient(J) to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:(K)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.(L)

Praise to God for a Living Hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!(M) In his great mercy(N) he has given us new birth(O) into a living hope(P) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,(Q) and into an inheritance(R) that can never perish, spoil or fade.(S) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,(T) who through faith are shielded by God’s power(U) until the coming of the salvation(V) that is ready to be revealed(W) in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice,(X) though now for a little while(Y) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.(Z) These have come so that the proven genuineness(AA) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire(AB)—may result in praise, glory and honor(AC) when Jesus Christ is revealed.(AD) Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him(AE) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.(AF)

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke(AG) of the grace that was to come to you,(AH) searched intently and with the greatest care,(AI) 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ(AJ) in them was pointing when he predicted(AK) the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,(AL) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you(AM) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.(AN) Even angels long to look into these things.

Be Holy

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,(AO) set your hope(AP) on the grace to be brought to you(AQ) when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.(AR) 14 As obedient(AS) children, do not conform(AT) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.(AU) 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;(AV) 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a](AW)

17 Since you call on a Father(AX) who judges each person’s work(AY) impartially,(AZ) live out your time as foreigners(BA) here in reverent fear.(BB) 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed(BC) from the empty way of life(BD) handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood(BE) of Christ, a lamb(BF) without blemish or defect.(BG) 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world,(BH) but was revealed in these last times(BI) for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God,(BJ) who raised him from the dead(BK) and glorified him,(BL) and so your faith and hope(BM) are in God.

22 Now that you have purified(BN) yourselves by obeying(BO) the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply,(BP) from the heart.[b] 23 For you have been born again,(BQ) not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,(BR) through the living and enduring word of God.(BS) 24 For,

“All people are like grass,
    and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
25     but the word of the Lord endures forever.”[c](BT)

And this is the word that was preached to you.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 1:16 Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2
  2. 1 Peter 1:22 Some early manuscripts from a pure heart
  3. 1 Peter 1:25 Isaiah 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)