1Chapter
Greeting
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ:
To those chosen, living as exiles dispersed abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient and to be sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ.
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
A Living Hope
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. 5You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials 7so that the proven character of your faith —more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire —may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. 11They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12It 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 by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven —angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.
10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who prophesied about the grace that would come to you, searched and carefully investigated. 11They inquired into what time or what circumstances the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12It 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 by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven —angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.
A Call to Holy Living
13Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. 15But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; 16for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy. 17If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. 18For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. 20He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 23because you have been born again —not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 24For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
22Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, 23because you have been born again —not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. 24For All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like a flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.
2Chapter
The Living Stone and a Holy People
1Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. 2Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, 3if you have tasted that the Lord is good. 4As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by God— 5you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in Scripture:
See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and honored cornerstone,
and the one who believes in him
will never be put to shame.
7So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this one has become the cornerstone,
8and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
7So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected— this one has become the cornerstone,
8and A stone to stumble over, and a rock to trip over. They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
A Call to Good Works
11Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. 12Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
13Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority 14or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. 15For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 16Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. 17Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
13Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor as the supreme authority 14or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. 15For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. 16Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. 17Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
Submission of Slaves to Masters
18Household slaves, submit to your masters with all reverence not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel. 19For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.
21For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; 23when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
21For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22He did not commit sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth; 23when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. 24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
3Chapter
Wives and Husbands
1In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live 2when they observe your pure, reverent lives. 3Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes, 4but rather what is inside the heart —the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5For in the past, the holy women who put their hope in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.
7Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
7Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner, showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Do No Evil
8Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble, 9not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.
10For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, 11and let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it, 12because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.
10For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, 11and let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it, 12because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.
Undeserved Suffering
13Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? 14But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, 15but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people —were saved through water. 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
18For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19in which he also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison 20who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people —were saved through water. 21Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.
4Chapter
Following Christ
1Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding —because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished with sin — 2in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will. 3For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. 4They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander you. 5They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. 6For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead, so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards, they might live in the spirit according to God’s standards.
End-Time Ethics
7The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer. 8Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. 11If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
Christian Suffering
12Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you. 13Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed. 14If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. 16But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name. 17For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?
18And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?
19So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.
18And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?
19So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.
5Chapter
About the Elders
1I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: 2Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because
God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble.
Conclusion
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you at the proper time, 7casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you. 8Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 9Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same kind of sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.
10The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. 11To him be dominion forever. Amen.
12Through Silvanus, a faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
10The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while. 11To him be dominion forever. Amen.
12Through Silvanus, a faithful brother (as I consider him), I have written to you briefly in order to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
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