Peter writes to scattered believers, praising God for a living hope through Jesus' resurrection, an inheritance that cannot fade. Trials test faith like gold in fire. He urges them to be holy, since God is holy.
1 Peter , an apostle of Jesus Christ , to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus , Galatia , Cappadocia , Asia , and Bithynia ,
2 Elect 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 .
3 Blessed 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 ,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible , and undefiled , and that fadeth not away , reserved in heaven for you ,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time .
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice , though now for a season , if need be , ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations :
7 That 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 :
8 Whom having not seen , ye love ; in whom , though now ye see him not , yet believing , ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory :
9 Receiving the end of your faith , even the salvation of your souls .
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently , who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you :
11 Searching 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 .
12 Unto 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 .
13 Wherefore 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 ;
14 As obedient children , not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance :
15 But as he which hath called you is holy , so be ye holy in all manner of conversation ;
16 Because it is written , Be ye holy ; for I am holy .
17 And 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 :
18 Forasmuch 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 ;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ , as of a lamb without blemish and without spot :
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world , but was manifest in these last times for you ,
21 Who 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 .
22 Seeing 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 :
23 Being born again , not of corruptible seed , but of incorruptible , by the word of God , which liveth and abideth for ever .
24 For 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 :
25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever . And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you .