1 PETER Chapter 1 - To The Elect Exiles

To The Elect Exiles

Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ,

TO GOD'S ELECT, STRANGERS IN THE WORLD,

Scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,

2 WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN

ACCORDING TO THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF GOD THE FATHER,

THROUGH THE SANCTIFYING WORK OF THE SPIRIT,

FOR OBEDIENCE TO JESUS CHRIST

AND SPRINKLED BY HIS BLOOD:

Grace and Peace be yours in abundance.

Praise To God For A Living Hope

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

IN HIS GREAT MERCY

HE HAS GIVE US NEW BIRTH INTO A LIVING HOPE

THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD,

4 AND INTO AND INHERITANCE

THAT CAN NEVER PERISH, SPOIL OR FADE--

KEPT IN HEAVEN FOR YOU,

5 WHO THROUGH FAITH ARE SHIELDED BY GOD'S POWER

UNTIL THE COMING OF THE SALVATION

THAT IS READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME.

6 In this you Greatly Rejoice,

Though now for a little while

You may have had to Suffer Grief in all kinds of Trials.

7 THESE HAVE COME SO THAT YOUR FAITH--

OF GREATER WORTH THAN GOLD, WHICH PERISHES

EVEN THOUGH REFINED BY FIRE--

MAY PROVE GENUINE

AND MAY RESULT IN PRAISE, GLORY AND HONOR

WHEN JESUS CHRIST IS REVEALED.

8 THOUGH 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,

9 FOR YOU ARE RECEIVING THE GOAL OF YOUR FAITH,

THE SALVATION OF YOUR SOULS.

10 Concerning this Salvation, the Prophets,

Who spoke of the Grace that was to come to you,

SEARCHED INTENTLY AND WITH THE GREATEST CARE,

11 TRYING TO FIND OUT THE TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCES

TO WHICH THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST IN THEM WAS POINTING

WHEN HE PREDICTED THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST

AND THE GLORIES THAT WOULD FOLLOW.

12 IT WAS REVEALED TO THEM

THAT THEY WERE NOT SERVING THEMSELVES BUT YOU,

WHEN THE SPOKE OF THE THINGS

THAT HAVE NOW BEEN TOLD YOU

BY THE HOLY SPIRIT FROM HEAVEN.

Even Angels long to look into these things.

13 THEREFORE PREPARE YOU MINDS FOR ACTION;

BE SELF-CONTROLLED;

SET YOUR HOPE FULL ON THE GRACE

TO BE GIVEN YOU WHEN JESUS CHRIST IS REVEALED.

14 As Obedient Children,

DO NOT CONFORM TO THE EVIL DESIRES YOU HAD

WHEN YOU LIVED IGNORANCE.

15 BUT JUST AS HE WHO CALLED YOU IS HOLY,

SO BE HOLY IN ALL YOU DO;

16 FOR IT IS WRITTEN:

'BE HOLY, AS I AM HOLY.'

17 Since you call on a Father

Who Judges each man's Work impartially,

LIVE YOUR LIVES AS STRANGERS HERE IN REVERENT FEAR.

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things

Such as silver of gold

THAT YOU WERE REDEEMED

FROM THE EMPTY WAY OF LIFE

HANDED DOWN TO YOU FROM YOUR FOREFATHERS,

19 BUT WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST,

A LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH OR DEFECT.

20 HE WAS CHOSEN BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD,

BUT WAS REVEALED IN THESE LAST TIMES

FOR YOUR SAKE.

21 THROUGH HIM YOU BELIEVE IN GOD

AND GLORIFY HIM,

AND SO YOUR FAITH AND HOPE ARE IN GOD.

22 NOW YOU HAVE PURIFIED YOURSELVES

BY OBEYING THE TRUTH

SO THAT YOU HAVE SINCERE LOVE FOR YOUR BROTHERS,

LOVE ONE ANOTHER DEEPLY

FROM THE HEART.

23 FOR YOU HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN,

NOT OF PERISHABLE SEED, BUT IMPERISHABLE,

THROUGH THE LIVING AND ENDURING WORD OF GOD.

24 For, 'All men are like grass

And all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

But the Word of the Lord stands forever.'

And this is the Word that was Preached to you.

(1 Peter 1)