Peter's First Letter
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus the Messiah, to the chosen strangers scattered through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and cleansing by the blood of Jesus the Messiah:
Grace and peace be multiplied to you!
Praise God, the Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah, who gave us a new birth because of his great mercy, to live in hope through the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah from the dead, for an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading, being kept also in heaven for those of us who are watching with the power of God through faith for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the end times. Rejoice in it, if necessary grieving a little now through various trials, that the proving of your faith, which is more valuable than gold (which perishes even when it has been refined by fire) may result in congratulations, glory, and honor at the revealing of Jesus the Messiah.
You love him even though you do not know him and believe in him even though you do not see him now, but on the contrary you rejoice with unspeakable and glorious joy, procuring the goal of faith: the salvation of your souls! About this salvation--Prophets who prophesied about the grace that has been given to you searched eagerly and examined [them], trying to find out these things or at what time the Spirit had revealed to them about the Messiah: his sufferings and the glory that was to follow. It was revealed to them that they were serving these [prophecies] to you, not to themselves. These [prophecies] have now been announced to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--and even angels long for a glance into them!
So, [preparing] your mind [for the race to be run], be clear-headed and put your hope fully in the grace that will be brought to you at the revealing of Jesus the Messiah. Like obedient children, do not compromise into the ignorance of your prior desires. Rather, as the one who called you is holy, you also must be holy in all of your conduct, like it is written, "Be holy, like I am holy." Also, if you call "Father" the one who judges without favoritism based on each one's action, then pass the time of your living here with fear, knowing that you were ransomed from the worthless conduct you inherited, not by silver or gold, but by precious blood--like that of a blameless and stainless lamb--the Messiah, who was foreknown before the foundation of the world [was laid], but was revealed at this last time for your sakes. Through him you are faithful to God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope may be in God.
Now that you have purified your life by obedience to the truth in undiluted brotherly love, love one another seriously from the heart, since you have not been born again by a decaying seed, but rather by the living and continuing word of God that will not decay. "All flesh is like grass, and its glory is like the flower in the field. The grass dries up, and the flower falls, but the Master's word remains forever." This is that word that was preached to you. 2So, putting aside all evil, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander, desire like infants the reasonable, pure milk, so that you may grow by it into salvation (if you have truly tasted that the Master is good. You should come to him like you would to a living stone, rejected by mankind, but chosen by God [as] precious. Also, you are like living stones being built as a spiritual house, a sacrifice pleasing to God, through Jesus the Messiah, because the Scripture insists, "Look! I am laying a chosen and precious cornerstone in Zion, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." So this honor is for you who believe, but to the disobedient: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; a stone for tripping and a rock to offend." They trip by disobeying the word, as the prophesy about them said they would do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of [his] possession, so that you can proclaim the virtues of the one who has called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. You who at one time were "Not Mine" are now God's people; you how were "Unloved" are now loved [by God].
My loved ones, I beg you as foreigners and strangers to prohibit bodily desires (which wage war against the mind), and to conduct yourselves well among the nations, so that when they slander you as evildoers, instead they look at your good works and glorify God on the day he intervenes. Submit to every human institution because of the Master, whether to the emperor who rules sovereign, or to his governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do evil and praise those who do good. This is God's will: that by doing good, they silence the ignorance of foolish men. [Live] like free men, not like men who cover up evil with their freedom, but like God's slaves. Honor all men, love the brotherhood, fear God, and honor the emperor.
Household servants: submit with fear to your masters in everything--not only to the good and proper ones, but also to the twisted ones, because it is grace if, because of one's conscience of God, he endures the pain of suffering unjustly. What honor is involved if one endures punishment as a sinner? However, if you endure suffering while doing good, then the grace that comes from God [is involved]. Now, you were called for this purpose--even the Messiah suffered for you, to leave you an example to follow in his tracks. "He did not sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.". When he was abused, he did not abuse in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten. Rather, he handed it over to the one who judges righteously. He has taken up our sins in his body upon the tree, so that once we are separated from those sins, we might live by righteousness. You see, "you are healed by his wounds.". "You were deceived like lambs," but now you have turned to the shepherd and inspector of your lives.
3In the same way, wives should submit to their own husbands, so that even if some are disobedient to the Word, they may be won without the Word by the conduct of their wives, by seeing your holy conduct [motivated] by fear. The wives should not [decorate] themselves outwardly, by braiding their hair or wearing gold or worldly clothing, but rather inwardly (the hidden person of the heart), with imperishable [jewelry]: gentleness and contentment of spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes. For in their time, the holy wives who hoped in God decorated themselves this way. For instance, Sarah was obedient to Abraham--she called him 'sir.'". You have become her children when you do good, unafraid of anything or anyone. In the same way, husbands, live with [your wives] using wisdom, as with a delicate ornament, assigning honor to her as a fellow heir of life's grace, so that nothing interferes with your prayers.
Here is the goal; that all people get along and show sympathy, brotherly love, compassion, and humility; do not return evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but rather the opposite: blessing. Because you were called for this reason: to inherit a blessing. "He who wants to love life and see good days must restrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it, because the eyes of the Master are watching over the righteous, and his ears are listening to their prayers, but the Master's face is against those who do evil. Who will mistreat you for being zealous for good? On the other hand, if you suffer because of righteousness, you are to be envied! "Do not fear what they fear or let it bother you," but sanctify the Master, the Messiah, in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that it in you. But do it with restraint and fear, having a good conscience, so that when those who insult your good conduct in the Messiah speak evil of you, they will be shamed. For it would be better (if it is God's will) to suffer for doing good than evil, because the Messiah also died for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. He was put to death in the body and brought to life in the Spirit. In that death, he also went and proclaimed [it] to the spirits that were imprisoned, those who were at one time disobedient in the days when Noah was preparing the ark, in which only a few (eight souls) were saved by water. An echo of that now saves you--baptism--although not by removing filth from the body, but rather by the request of a good conscience made to God, through the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, who is at God's right hand. He has gone to heaven, and all angels, authorities, and powers are subject to him.
4So, just like the Messiah suffered in the body, you too must be ready in the same mind (because whoever suffers in the body has stopped sinning). Spend the rest of your lives in the body for God's will, and not for man's desires any more, because enough time has been spent doing what the nations want, passing their time in vulgarity, desires, drunkenness, partying, toasting, and criminal idolatry. Because of this, they are amazed that you do not run with them into the same piggish excess--they slander you. They will pay it back to the one who is prepared to judge both the living and the dead. This is why the gospel was proclaimed to the dead as well, so that even though they are judged by men in the body, they might live by God in the Spirit.
Now the end of all things is near, so clear your head and focus on your prayer. Most importantly, keep your love for one another possessively, because "love covers a mob of sins". Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Everyone must use their gift, just as they received it, to serve others, like good managers of God's various graces. If anyone speaks, [let him do so] as like God's prophecies. If anyone serves, let him do it with the strength God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus the Messiah, to whom be glory and power forever and ever, amen!
Brothers, do not be amazed at the fiery trial that is upon you, like something strange has happened to you. Rather, share in them just as the sufferings of the Messiah and rejoice, so that when his glory is revealed, you can rejoice with great triumph. If you are insulted in the name of the Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of God's glory has rested upon you. None of you should suffer as a murderer, thief, evildoer, or as one preoccupied with the affairs of others. However, if [you suffer] as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but rather glorify God in that name. The time of judgment is about to begin at God's household, and if it starts with us first, what will happen to those who are disobedient to God's gospel? "If the righteous is barely saved, where will the ungodly and sinners end up?". So those who suffer because of God's will should entrust themselves to a faithful creator by doing good works.
5So I, a fellow elder, a witness of the Messiah's sufferings, and a sharer in the glory that is about to be revealed, beg the elders who are among you: shepherd the flock of God that is with you, not out of compulsion, but authoritatively, according to God's [direction]; not with greediness, but eagerly; not commanding over those who are allotted to you, but being examples to the flock. When the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. In the same way, young men, submit to your elders. All of you, make humility one of your habits toward each other, because God rages in battle against the arrogant, but gives grace to the humble. So humble yourselves under the powerful hand of God, so that he can raise you up in his time. Throw all of your worries on him, because he is concerned about you.
Clear your head and pay attention! Your enemy, the devil, is walking around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Fight against him, standing strong in the faith, because you know that your brothers are enduring those same sufferings throughout the world.
Now may the God of all grace, who called you into his eternal glory in the Messiah, soon restore, support, and strengthen you, and make you firm. To him be the power forever and ever, amen!
I have written briefly to you through Silas, whom I consider to be a faithful brother, and I encourage you and testify that this is truly the grace of God, in which you also stand. Your fellow assembly in Babylon greets you, asw does my son Mark. Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you in the Messiah.
