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¹ THE FIRST LETTER OF PETERa. Greeting From Peter, an apostleb of Jesus Christ. To the chosen ones, refugees scatteredc in Pontus, Galatia,d Cappadocia,e Asia, and Bithynia.f

² You’ve been chosen in line with God the Father’s foreknowledge. By the Spirit’s work of making you holy,g you’ve come into obedience to Jesus Christ, and into cleansingh by his blood. May grace and peace multiply for you!

³ New Birth into a Living Hope Blessi the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Out of his great mercy, he’s given us new birth into a living hope. Throughj the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead,

⁴ we’ve come into an inheritance that’s permanentk and pure,l and never fades. It’s kept safe in heaven for you.

⁵ By God’s power, through faith, you’re being protected for a salvation that’s ready to be revealed in this last moment of history.m

⁶ Really celebrate about this-even though now, for a little while, you’ve had to face the pain of various kinds of testing.n

⁷ The testing is so that the quality of your faith will be shown to be far more precious than gold-which is perishable, but it’s tested by putting it through fire.o The proven quality of your faith is going to result in praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

⁸ Though you haven’t seen him, you love him. You believe in him now without seeing him, and you really celebrate him, with a joy that’s inexpressible and full of glory.p

⁹ As a result of your faith, you’re getting your lives saved.q

¹⁰ The prophets searched out and tried to understandr this salvation. And they prophesied about the grace that was to come to you.

¹¹ They were trying to understands what time the Spirit might be referring to. Because the Spirit within them was testifying ahead of time about the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that would come afterwards.t

¹² It was revealed to them that they weren’t serving themselves in this, but you. These are the things that have now been announced to you by those who brought you the good news. They were empowered by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Angels yearn to peek into these things.

¹³ Be Holy So get your minds ready for action.u Be sober.v Put all your hope in the grace that Jesus Christ is going to bring you when he’s revealed.w

¹⁴ Be like obedient children. Don’t let yourselves be shaped by the old obsessionsx you had when you were ignorant.

¹⁵ No, in line with the fact that the One who called you is holy, you be holy in all your behavior.

¹⁶ Because scripture says,y You’re to be holy, because I’m holy.z

¹⁷ And do you call God Father-who judges everyone, without favoritism, on the basis of their actions? If so, spend your temporary stay here on earth reverently.

¹⁸ Because as you know, it wasn’t perishable silver or gold that bought your freedom from the empty way of life that you inherited from your ancestors.

¹⁹ No! Your freedom was bought with the costly blood of Christ, who’s like a spotless, perfect lamb.

²⁰ He was foreknown before the creationaa of the world, but he’s been revealed at the end of historybb because of you!

²¹ Through him, you believe in God-who raised him from among the dead, and gave him glory. That way, your faith and hope are in God.

²² By obeying the truth, you’ve purified your souls, so that you have genuine love for one another. Now love each other tenaciously, from a clean heart.cc

²³ Because you’ve been reborn-not through mortal human conception, but through what’s immortal: God’s living, enduring word.dd Because All flesh is like grass, and all it’s glory is like a wildflower:ee. The grass dries up, and the flowerff falls off, But the word of the Sovereign One endures forever.gg. And that word is the good news that’s been preached to you.

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¹ Come to Christ, the Living Stone So get rid of every kind of nastiness and dishonesty. And get rid of pretending that you’re something you’re not, and envying people, and every kind of trash talking.a

² Like newborn babies, be hungry for the milk of honest teaching.b That way, it’ll make you grow upc into salvation.

³ After all,d “You’ve tasted that the Lord is good”.e

⁴ Come to him, the living stone. He was rejected by human beings, but is chosen and valued by God.

⁵ And as living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, into a holy priesthood. Then you’ll be able to bring acceptablef spiritual offerings to God through Jesus Christ.

⁶ Because it says in scripture, Look, I’m placing a stone in Zion: I’ve selected a valuable cornerstone, And the person that puts faith in him will never be put to shame.g

⁷ His value is for you believers. But for the unbelievers, A stone that the builders rejected, That one was used as the number one cornerstone.h

⁸ And it says, A stone that’s easy to trip over, And a rock that offends.i. They’re tripping over him by refusing to listen to the message-which was also their destiny.

⁹ But you’re A chosen race, a royal priesthood, A holy nation, a people appointed as God’s own,j. So that you can proclaim God’s virtues.k. God has called you out of darkness into God’s wonderful light.

¹⁰ You’re the ones who didn’t used to be a people, but now you’re God’s people. You were the ones who hadn’t received mercy, but now you’ve received mercy.l

¹¹ Live as God’s Servants in the World Dear friends,m like foreigners and temporary residents here, avoid the body’s lusts,n which fight against your soul.

¹² Maintain a virtuous lifestyle among your fellow non-Jews.o That way, though they slander you as criminals, they’ll learn from your good behavior. And they’ll glorify God on the day that God comes to judge.p

¹³ Because of the Lord, submit to all the human institutions. For example, submit to the emperorq as a person in authority.

¹⁴ And submit to governors, who are sent by him to punish criminals and honor people who do good.

¹⁵ Because it’s God’s will for you to do that. By doing good, you’ll put a stop tor the ignorant talk of thoughtless people.

¹⁶ Conduct yourselves as free people-but not as though you have your freedom as a cover for bad behavior. Just the opposite: live as slaves of God.

¹⁷ Honor everyone: love the family of faith,s revere God, and honor the emperor.t

¹⁸ Christ’s Suffering is our Example Slaves should be obedient to their masters, with total respect. And not only the good and easygoing ones, but also the unfairu ones.

¹⁹ After all, it’s a credit to a person if they endure unfair sufferingv because of their awareness of God.

²⁰ Because how heroic is it, if you do wrong, and you endure it when you get a beating? But if you’re doing something good, and you endure suffering for it, that gets credit with God.

²¹ After all, that’s what you’re called to. Because Christ also suffered for you. He was leaving you an example, for you to follow in his footsteps.

²² He did nothing wrong, And no lie was found in his mouth.w

²³ When he was insulted, he didn’t insult anybody back. When he was suffering, he didn’t make threats. But he entrusted himself to the One who judges justly.

²⁴ He himself carried our sins with his own bodyx on the wood of the cross. He did it so that we could die to our sins and live in integrity.y It was by his woundsz that you were healed.aa

²⁵ Because you used to be going astray like sheep;bb but now you’ve turned back to the shepherd and guardiancc of your souls.

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¹ Advice for Wives and Husbands Similarly, wives should be obedient to their husbands. That way, even if some of them don’t listen to our message, they’ll be won over by their wives’ behavior-without a word.

² They’ll have witnessed the purity and reverencea of your lives.

³ Make yourselves beautiful not with externals such as fancy braided hair and gold jewelry, or clothes you wear.

⁴ No, it’s about the hidden person of the heart, in the unfading qualitiesb of gentleness and a peacefulc spirit. That’s what is of great value in God’s eyes.

⁵ After all, the holy women who hoped in God used to make themselves beautiful in that way. They were obedient to their husbands.

⁶ For example, Sarah was obedient to Abraham. She’d call him “my lord”. You’ve become her daughtersd when you do what’s good, and without being afraid of any kind of bullying.e

⁷ Similarly, husbands should live together with their wives in consideration of the fact that their bodies are weaker. Give due honor to their femininity.f Relate to them as fellow inheritors of the grace of life, so that your prayers won’t be blocked.

⁸ Show Kindness and Love-Even When you’re Mistreated To summarize:g you all should be harmonious, sympathetic, loving to one another, tender-hearted, humble.

⁹ Don’t pay back nastiness with nastiness, or insults with insults. Instead, you should be blessing people. Because that’s what you’re called to, so that you’ll inherit a blessing.

¹⁰ Because If a person wants to love life And to see good times,h. Let their tongue stop being nasty And let their lips not tell lies.

¹¹ Instead, they should stay away from what’s bad and do what’s good. They should search for peace, and pursue it.

¹² Because the eyes of the Sovereign One are on those who live right, And God’si ears listen for their prayer. But the Sovereign Onej is against those who do what’s bad.k

¹³ And who is there to harm you, if you’re passionate about doing good?

¹⁴ But even if you might end up suffering because of your integrity, you’re going to be blessed. So don’t be afraid of their bullying, l And don’t get upset.m

¹⁵ But reveren Christ the Lord in your hearts. Always be ready with an answer for anyone who asks you the reason for the hope that’s in you.o

¹⁶ But answer with gentleness and respect. Keep a clear conscience. That way, when your abusers insult your good Christian life,p they’ll be put to shame about it.

¹⁷ Because it’s better for you to suffer for doing rightq.-if that’s God’s will-than for doing wrong.

¹⁸ Because Christ sufferedr too. He suffered once, as an offering for sinss.-the just on behalf of the unjust. That way he could bring yout to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but he was brought to life by the Spirit.

¹⁹ By the Spirit,u he also went and preached to the spirits in prison.

²⁰ They’d been disobedient, back in Noah’s day.v That was when God’s patience was stretched thin, and the arkw was being built. A very few people (eight lives) were saved in the flood.x

²¹ This corresponds to baptism, which now saves you, too. It’s not about removing dirt from your skin-it’s about asking God for a cleany conscience. You ask for this through Jesus Christ,

²² who is at God’s right side. He has gone into heaven, and angels and authorities and powers have been brought under his authority.

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¹ Living for God So, since Christ has physically suffered,a you should be mentally prepared for the same thing.b Because the person who’s physically sufferingc is done with sin.

² They’re going to live the rest of the time in their bodyd for God’s will, not for human obsessions.e

³ After all, the time already past is enough to have done what the Gentiles like to do.f You’ve already lived in promiscuity,g lust and drunkenness, going to parties and drinking matches, and worshiping disgusting idols.

⁴ They’re surprised you don’t run off with them into the same flood of self-destructiveness,h and they insult you.

⁵ They’re going to have to give an account of themselves to the One who’s just abouti to judge the living and the dead.

⁶ After all, that’s why even the dead have had the good news preached to them: even though they’ve been judged the human way as physical people,j they can live God’s way in the spirit.k

⁷ Well, the end of everything is near. So be self-controlled and sober so you can pray.l

⁸ Above everything else, really hold onto love for each other. Because love covers a massive number of sins.

⁹ Welcome each other into your homes, without grumbling.

¹⁰ Serve one another, according to the gifts you’ve each received. Use them,m as good managers of the variety of God’s grace.

¹¹ If somebody speaks, it should be like revelations from God.n If somebody serves, it should be like they’re serving out of the strength that God supplies. That way, in all circumstances God will be glorified though Jesus Christ. Jesus deserveso the glory and the power, forever and ever! Amen.

¹² Suffering as a Christian Dear friends, don’t be surprised by the trial by firep that’s happening to you. It’s not as though something strange was happening to you-

¹³ far from it. As you join in Christ’s sufferings, celebrate. That way, you’ll also be able to celebrate and be overjoyed at his glorious appearance.q

¹⁴ If you’re insulted forr the name of Christ, you’re blessed. Because the glorious Spirit of Gods is resting on you.

¹⁵ After all, none of you should suffer for being a murderer, or a thief, or a criminal, or even a busybody.

¹⁶ But if somebody suffers as a “Christian,” they shouldn’t be ashamed. They should glorify God with that name.t

¹⁷ Because it’s time for the judgment to start with God’s own family.u And if it starts first with us, what will the end be-when it comes to those who don’t listen to God’s good news?

¹⁸ And if people of integrity are hardly saved, Where are the ungodly and the sinners going to be?v

¹⁹ The conclusion, then,w for people who are suffering according to God’s will, is this: they should entrust themselves to God, their faithful Creator, and keep on doing good.x

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¹ Tending God’s Flock Finally,a I have a challenge for the elders among you. I speak as your fellow elder, as a witness to the sufferings of Christ, and as your partner in the glory that’s about to be revealed.

² Tend God’s flock that’s with you. Watch over themb.-not because you have to, but by choice, as God would want you to.c And don’t be greedy for money, but do it willingly.

³ And it shouldn’t be as though you’re lording it over the people you’re responsible for.d No, be examples to the flock.

⁴ Then, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you’ll get the unfading crowne of glory.

⁵ Likewise, you younger believers should be obedient to the elders. And everyone should put on the apron of humility with each other. Because God opposes the arrogant, But gives grace to the humble.f

⁶ So humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand. That way, God willg lift you up at the right moment.

⁷ Throw all your anxiety on God, because God cares about you.

⁸ Be sober. Keep watch. Your enemy,h the devil, is like a lion that walks around roaring, looking for somebody to eat.i

⁹ Stand up against him: be firm in your faith. Because you know your brothers and sisters throughout the worldj are going through the exact same sufferings.

¹⁰ The God of all grace has called you to everlasting divine gloryk in Christ Jesus.l After you’ve suffered a little bit, God is personally going tom make you whole, strengthen you, make you healthy, and make you rock solid.n

¹¹ God deserveso the power forever! .

¹² Final Greetings I’ve written these few things to you by dictating them through Silvanus.q I regard him as a faithful Christian brother. I’m challenging you and testifying to you that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!

¹³ Your sister community in Babylon, also chosen by God, says hello to you.r And so does my son Mark.s

¹⁴ Give each other a loving kiss.t Peace to all of you who are in Christ!