1 P eter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

This letter is from Peter, a missionary of Jesus Christ. I am writing to those who were taken away from their homeland and are living in the countries of Pontus and Galatia and Cappadocia and Asia and Bithynia.

2 a ccording to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

You were chosen by God the Father long ago. He knew you were to become His children. You were set apart for holy living by the Holy Spirit. May you obey Jesus Christ and be made clean by His blood. May you be full of His loving-favor and peace.

3 B lessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Let us thank the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was through His loving-kindness that we were born again to a new life and have a hope that never dies. This hope is ours because Jesus was raised from the dead.

4 t o obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

We will receive the great things that we have been promised. They are being kept safe in heaven for us. They are pure and will not pass away. They will never be lost.

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

You are being kept by the power of God because you put your trust in Him and you will be saved from the punishment of sin at the end of the world.

6 I n this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

With this hope you can be happy even if you need to have sorrow and all kinds of tests for awhile.

7 s o that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

These tests have come to prove your faith and to show that it is good. Gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire. Your faith is worth much more than gold and it must be tested also. Then your faith will bring thanks and shining-greatness and honor to Jesus Christ when He comes again.

8 a nd though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

You have never seen Him but you love Him. You cannot see Him now but you are putting your trust in Him. And you have joy so great that words cannot tell about it.

9 o btaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

You will get what your faith is looking for, which is to be saved from the punishment of sin.

10 A s to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,

The early preachers tried to find out how to be saved. They told of the loving-favor that would come to you.

11 s eeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

The early preachers wondered at what time or to what person this would happen. The Spirit of Christ in them was talking to them and told them to write about how Christ would suffer and about His shining-greatness later on.

12 I t was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

They knew these things would not happen during the time they lived but while you are living many years later. These are the very things that were told to you by those who preached the Good News. The Holy Spirit Who was sent from heaven gave them power and they told of things that even the angels would like to know about. Holy Living

13 T herefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Get your minds ready for good use. Keep awake. Set your hope now and forever on the loving-favor to be given you when Jesus Christ comes again.

14 A s obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance,

Be like children who obey. Do not desire to sin like you used to when you did not know any better.

15 b ut like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

Be holy in every part of your life. Be like the Holy One Who chose you.

16 b ecause it is written, “ You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

The Holy Writings say, “You must be holy, for I am holy.”

17 I f you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;

The Father is the One Who judges you by what you do. He does not respect one person more than another. If you call Him Father, be sure you honor Him with love and fear all the days of your life here on earth.

18 k nowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

You know you were not bought and made free from sin by paying gold or silver which comes to an end. And you know you were not saved from the punishment of sin by the way of life that you were given from your early fathers. That way of life was worth nothing.

19 b ut with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

The blood of Christ saved you. This blood is of great worth and no amount of money can buy it. Christ was given as a lamb without sin and without spot.

20 F or He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you

Long before the world was made, God chose Christ to be given to you in these last days.

21 w ho 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.

Because of Christ, you have put your trust in God. He raised Christ from the dead and gave Him great honor. So now your faith and hope are in God. The Living Word

22 S ince you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

You have made your souls pure by obeying the truth through the Holy Spirit. This has given you a true love for the Christians. Let it be a true love from the heart.

23 f or you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

You have been given a new birth. It was from a seed that cannot die. This new life is from the Word of God which lives forever.

24 F or, “ All flesh is like grass, And all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, And the flower falls off,

All people are like grass. Their greatness is like the flowers. The grass dries up and the flowers fall off.

25 B ut the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you.

But the Word of the Lord will last forever. That Word is the Good News which was preached to you.