1 P eter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

Peter, an apostle (a special messenger) of Jesus Christ, to the elect exiles of the dispersion scattered (sowed) abroad in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2 a ccording to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with blood: May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance '> realized in and through Christ, freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts].

3 B lessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 u nto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay, unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,

5 w ho by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God’s power through faith '> final] salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 W herein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,

be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations,

7 t hat the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:

So that of your faith may be tested, which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. to redound to praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.

8 w hom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Without having seen Him, you love Him; though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and exult and thrill with inexpressible and glorious (triumphant, heavenly) joy.

9 r eceiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

you receive the result (outcome, consummation) of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 C oncerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

The prophets, who prophesied of the grace (divine blessing) which was intended for you, searched and inquired earnestly about this salvation.

11 s earching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glories that should follow them.

They sought to whom or when this was to come which the Spirit of Christ working within them was indicating when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that should follow.

12 T o whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven; which things angel desire to look into.

It was then disclosed to them that the services they were rendering were not meant for themselves and their period of time, but for you. things which have now already been made known plainly to you by those who preached the good news (the Gospel) to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Into these things angels long to look!

13 W herefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

So brace up your minds; be sober (circumspect, morally alert); set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed.

14 a s children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of your ignorance:

as children of obedience; do not conform yourselves to the evil desires in your former ignorance.

15 b ut like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living;

But as the One Who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct and manner of living.

16 b ecause it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.

For it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.

17 A nd if ye call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear:

And if you call upon Him as Father Who judges each one impartially according to what he does, you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence.

18 k nowing that ye were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers;

You must know (recognize) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from forefathers, not with corruptible things silver and gold,

19 b ut with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, even the blood of Christ:

But with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

20 w ho was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake,

It is true that He was chosen and foreordained (destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world, but He was brought out to public view (made manifest) in these last days (at the end of the times) for the sake of you.

21 w ho through him are believers in God, that raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in God.

Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 S eeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:

Since by your obedience to the Truth through the Spirit you have purified your hearts for the sincere affection of the brethren, love one another fervently from a pure heart.

23 h aving been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.

You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin ( seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God.

24 F or, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth:

For all flesh (mankind) is like grass, and all its glory (honor) like flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower drops off,

25 B ut the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.

But the Word of the Lord ( divine instruction, the Gospel) endures forever. And this Word is the good news which was preached to you.