1Pe 1 | BSB | STEP | Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To [the] elect, exiles of [the] Dispersion [throughout] Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

1 Peter 1

Greetings from Peter

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To [the] elect, exiles of [the] Dispersion [throughout] Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 chosen by [the] foreknowledge of God [the] Father [and] sanctified by [the] Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by [His] blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

A Living Hope

3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy [He] has given us new birth into a living hope through [the] resurrection of Jesus Christ from [the] dead, 4 [and] into an inheritance [that is] imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who through faith [are] protected by God’s power for [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 various trials, 7 so that the authenticity of your faith— more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire— may result in praise, glory, and honor at [the] revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 [Though] you have not seen [Him] , you love [Him] ; [and though] you do not see [Him] now, you believe in [Him] and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 [now that] you are receiving the goal of your faith, [the] salvation of [your] souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, [the] prophets, who foretold the grace to come to you, searched and investigated carefully, 11 trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 12 It was revealed to [them] that they were not serving themselves but you, [when they foretold] the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by [the] Holy Spirit sent from heaven. [Even] angels long to look into [these things] .

A Call to Holiness

13 Therefore prepare your minds {for action} . Be sober-minded. Set [your] hope fully on the grace to be given you at [the] revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former 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, because I am holy.” ^{▼▼Leviticus 11:44,45; 19:2; 20:7} 17 Since you call on [a] Father who judges each one’s work impartially, live your lives in reverent fear during your temporary stay [on earth] . 18 [For] you know that it was not with perishable things [such as] silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with [the] precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish [or] spot. 20 He was known before [the] foundation of [the] world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake. 21 Through Him [you] believe in God, who raised Him from [the] dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God.

The Word of the Lord Stands

22 [Since] you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart. ^{▼▼SBL, NE, and WH from the heart} 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through [the] living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All flesh [is] like grass, and all its glory like [the] flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of [the] Lord stands forever.” ^{▼▼Isaiah 40:6-8} And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.