aPeter, an apostle
of Jesus
Christ
,
To those who reside as baliens
, cscattered
throughout
dPontus
, eGalatia
, dCappadocia
, dAsia
, and fBithynia
, gwho are chosen
according to the aforeknowledge
of God
the Father
, bby the sanctifying
work
of the Spirit
, 1to cobey
Jesus
Christ
and be dsprinkled
with His blood
: eMay grace
and peace
2be yours
in the fullest
measure
.
aBlessed be the God
and Father
of our Lord
Jesus
Christ
, who baccording
to His great
mercy
chas caused us to be born
again
to da living
hope
through
the eresurrection
of Jesus
Christ
from the dead
,
to obtain an ainheritance which is imperishable
and undefiled
and bwill not fade
away
, creserved
in heaven
for you,
who are aprotected by the power
of God
bthrough
faith
for ca salvation
ready
dto be revealed
in the last
time
.
aIn this you greatly
rejoice
, even though now
bfor a little
while
, cif
necessary
, you have been distressed
by dvarious
1trials
,
so that the 1 aproof
of your faith
, being more
precious
than gold
which 2is perishable
, beven
though
tested
by fire
, cmay be found
to result
in praise
and glory
and honor
at dthe revelation
of Jesus
Christ
;
and athough you have not seen Him, you blove
Him, and though you do not see
Him now
, but believe
in Him, you greatly
rejoice
with joy
inexpressible
and 1full
of glory
,
obtaining as athe outcome
of your faith
the salvation
of 1your souls
.
aAs to this salvation
, the prophets
who bprophesied
of the cgrace
that would come to you made
careful
searches
and inquiries
,
1seeking to know
what
person
or
time
athe Spirit
of Christ
within
them was indicating
as He bpredicted
the sufferings
of Christ
and the glories
2to follow
.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving
themselves
, but you, in these
things
which
now
have been announced
to you through
those
who apreached
the gospel
to you by bthe Holy
Spirit
sent
from heaven
--things into which
cangels
long
to 1look
.
Therefore, 1 aprepare
your minds
for action, 2 bkeep
sober
in spirit, fix
your chope
completely
on the dgrace
3to be brought
to you at ethe revelation
of Jesus
Christ
.
As 1 aobedient children
, do not 2 bbe conformed
to the former
lusts
which were yours in your cignorance
,
but 1 alike the Holy
One
who called
you, 2 bbe holy
yourselves
also
cin all
your behavior
;
because it is written
, " aYOU SHALL BE HOLY
, FOR I AM HOLY
."
If you aaddress
as Father
the One who bimpartially
cjudges
according
to each
one's
work
, conduct
yourselves din fear
during the time
of your estay
on earth;
knowing that you were not 1 aredeemed
with perishable
things
like silver
or
gold
from your bfutile
way
of life
inherited
from your forefathers
,
but with precious ablood
, as of a blamb
unblemished
and spotless
, the blood of Christ
.
For He was aforeknown before
bthe foundation
of the world
, but has cappeared
1in these
last
times
dfor the sake
of you
who through Him are abelievers
in God
, who raised
Him from the dead
and bgave
Him glory
, so
that your faith
and chope
are in God
.
Since you have ain obedience to the truth
bpurified
your souls
for a 1 csincere
love
of the brethren
, fervently
love
one
another
from 2the heart
,
for you have been aborn again
bnot of seed
which
is perishable
but imperishable
, that is, through
the living
and enduring
cword
of God
.
For, " aALL FLESH
IS LIKE
GRASS
, AND ALL
ITS GLORY
LIKE
THE FLOWER
OF GRASS
. THE GRASS
WITHERS
, AND THE FLOWER
FALLS
OFF
,
aBUT THE WORD OF THE LORD
ENDURES
FOREVER
." And this
is bthe word
which was 1preached
to you.