1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (Jas 1:1)2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. (Da 4:1; Ac 2:23; Ro 8:29; Ro 11:2; 1Th 4:3; Heb 10:22; Heb 12:24; 2Pe 1:2; Jud 1:2)
Born Again to a Living Hope
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1Co 15:20; 2Co 1:3; Eph 1:3; Tit 3:5; 1Pe 1:23; 1Pe 3:21)4to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, (Ro 8:17; Col 1:5; 2Ti 4:8; 1Pe 5:4)5who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (Ro 8:18; 2Co 4:17; Eph 2:8; Heb 12:11; 1Pe 5:10)6In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, (Jas 1:2; 1Pe 4:12)7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Job 23:10; Ps 66:10; Pr 17:3; Isa 48:10; Ro 2:7; Ro 2:10; 1Co 3:13; 1Co 4:5; 2Th 1:7; Jas 1:3)8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, (Joh 20:29; Heb 11:27; 1Jo 4:20)9obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (Ro 6:22)10Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, (Da 8:15; Mt 13:17; Lu 10:24; 2Pe 1:19)11inquiring what person or time[1] the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. (Isa 52:13; Da 9:24; Mt 26:24; Lu 24:26; Ac 3:18; Ac 16:7; Ro 8:9; 2Pe 1:21)12It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. (Da 8:13; Da 12:4; Da 12:5; Da 12:9; Da 12:13; Mt 13:17; Ac 2:2; Eph 3:10; Heb 11:39)
Called to Be Holy
13Therefore, preparing your minds for action,[2] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Lu 12:35; 1Th 5:6; 1Th 5:8; 2Ti 4:5; 1Pe 4:7; 1Pe 5:8)14As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, (Ac 17:30; Ro 12:2; Tit 3:3; 1Pe 4:2)15but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, (2Co 7:1; 1Th 4:7; Heb 12:14; Jas 3:13; 1Jo 3:3)16since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (Le 11:44)17And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, (Ps 62:12; Jer 3:19; Mal 1:6; Mt 6:9; Ro 11:20; 2Co 6:18; 2Co 7:1; Jas 2:1; 1Pe 3:15)18knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, (Ps 49:8; Ps 130:8; 1Co 6:20; Eph 4:17; Tit 2:14; 2Pe 2:1)19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. (Ex 12:5; Joh 1:29; Ac 20:28; Heb 9:14)20He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you (Ro 16:26; Heb 1:2)21who 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. (Joh 7:39; Joh 12:44; Ac 2:24; Ac 3:13; Ro 10:9; Heb 2:9; 1Pe 3:22)22Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (Ro 12:9; 1Ti 1:5; Heb 13:1)23since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (Joh 1:13; Joh 3:3; Heb 4:12; Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:3)24for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, (Isa 40:6; Isa 40:8; Jas 1:10)25but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. (Isa 40:9; Mt 24:35)
1 Peter 1
New International Version
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles, scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
Praise to God for a living hope
3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In 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 can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.6In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.7These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,9for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.10Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care,11trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.12It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Be holy
13Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.14As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;16for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ (Le 11:44; Le 11:45; Le 19:2)17Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.[1]23For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.24For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,25but the word of the Lord endures for ever.’[2] And this is the word that was preached to you. (Isa 40:6)
1 Peter 1
King James Version
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.10Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:11Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
1 Peter 1
New International Reader’s Version
1I, Peter, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am sending this letter to you, God’s chosen people. You are people who have had to wander in the world. You are scattered all over the areas of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.2You have been chosen in keeping with what God the Father had planned. That happened through the Spirit’s work to make you pure and holy. God chose you so that you might obey Jesus Christ. God wanted you to be in a covenant relationship with him. He established this relationship by the blood of Christ. May more and more grace and peace be given to you.
Peter praises God for a living hope
3Give praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his great mercy he has given us a new birth and a living hope. This hope is living because Jesus Christ rose from the dead.4He has given us new birth so that we might share in what belongs to him. This is a gift that can never be destroyed. It can never spoil or even fade away. It is kept in heaven for you.5Through faith you are kept safe by God’s power. Your salvation is going to be completed. It is ready to be shown to you in the last days.6Because you know all this, you have great joy. You have joy even though you may have had to suffer for a little while. You may have had to suffer sadness in all kinds of trouble.7Your troubles have come in order to prove that your faith is real. Your faith is worth more than gold. That’s because gold can pass away even when fire has made it pure. Your faith is meant to bring praise, honour and glory to God. This will happen when Jesus Christ returns.8Even though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not see him now, you believe in him. You are filled with a glorious joy that can’t be put into words.9You are receiving the salvation of your souls. This salvation is the final result of your faith.10The prophets searched very hard and with great care to find out about this salvation. They spoke about the grace that was going to come to you.11They wanted to find out when and how this salvation would come. The Spirit of Christ in them was telling them about the sufferings of the Messiah. These were his sufferings that were going to come. The Spirit of Christ was also telling them about the glory that would follow.12It was made known to the prophets that they were not serving themselves. Instead, they were serving you when they spoke about the things that you have now heard. Those who have preached the good news to you have told you these things. They have done it with the help of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Be holy
13So be watchful, and control yourselves completely. In this way, put your hope in the grace that lies ahead. This grace will be brought to you when Jesus Christ returns.14You should obey your Father. You shouldn’t give in to evil desires. They controlled your life when you didn’t know any better.15The God who chose you is holy. So you should be holy in all that you do.16It is written, ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ (Le 11:44; Le 11:45; Le 19:2)17You call on a Father who judges each person’s work without favouring one over another. So live as outsiders during your time here. Live with the highest respect for God.18You were set free from an empty way of life. This way of life was handed down to you by your own people of long ago. You know that you were not bought with things that can pass away, like silver or gold.19Instead, you were bought with the priceless blood of Christ. He is a perfect lamb. He doesn’t have any flaws at all.20He was chosen before God created the world. But he came into the world for your sake in these last days.21Because of what Christ has done, you believe in God. It was God who raised him from the dead. And it was God who gave him glory. So your faith and hope are in God.22You have made yourselves pure by obeying the truth. So you have an honest and true love for each other. So love one another deeply, from your hearts.23You have been born again by means of the living word of God. His word lasts for ever. You were not born again from a seed that will die. You were born from a seed that can’t die.24It is written, ‘All people are like grass. All their glory is like the flowers in the field. The grass dries up. The flowers fall to the ground.25But the word of the Lord lasts for ever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you. (Isa 40:6)