Introduction

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace be multiplied.

A Living Hope Through Resurrection

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has begotten us again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, being kept in heaven for you,
5 who are being guarded by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if it is necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire, might be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

8 Whom, though you have not seen, you love; in whom, though you do not now see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and glorified,
9 receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation the prophets, who prophesied about the grace meant for you, searched and inquired carefully,
11 inquiring into what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories after these things.
12 To them it was revealed that not for themselves but for you they were ministering these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, into which things angels long to look.

A Call to Holy Living

13 Therefore, having girded up the loins of your mind, being sober, set your hope completely on the grace being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14 As children of obedience, do not be conformed to the former desires that were yours in ignorance,
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also become holy in all behavior;
16 because it is written: “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

17 And if you call on the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your sojourning,
18 knowing that you were redeemed not with perishable things, silver or gold, from your futile way of life handed down from your fathers,
19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, the blood of Christ,
20 who was foreknown before the foundation of the world but manifested in the last times for your sake,
21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Love One Another Earnestly

22 Having purified your souls by obedience to the truth, resulting in sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
23 having been begotten again not from perishable seed but imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;
24 because
“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 remains forever.”
And this is the word that was preached to you.