1 Peter 1
1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who live as resident aliens in the Diaspora throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 2You have been chosen according to the pre-planning of God the Father, by the setting apart of the Spirit, for obedience and for the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his abundant mercy, he has begotten us anew into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead— 4into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in the heavens for you. 5By the power of God, you are being garrisoned through faith for a deliverance ready to be unveiled in the final moment of time. 6You exult in this, even if for a little while it has been necessary for you to be grieved by various trials. 7These come so that the refined quality of your faith—far more precious than gold which perishes even though it is refined by fire—may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the unveiling of Jesus Christ. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; though you do not see him now, you believe in him and exult with an inexpressible and glorified joy, 9as you receive the goal of your faith: the deliverance of your souls.
10Concerning this deliverance, the prophets who prophesied about the grace intended for you searched and scrutinized intently. 11They were trying to find out what person or what time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories that would follow. 12It was revealed to them that they were serving these things not for themselves, but for you. These things have now been announced to you through those who brought you the good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which even angels long to stoop and look.
13Therefore, girding up the loins of your mind and being perfectly level-headed, set your hope completely on the grace being brought to you at the unveiling of Jesus Christ. 14As children of obedience, do not be shaped by the desires you had back when you were ignorant. 15Instead, just as the one who called you is holy, you yourselves must become holy in your entire way of life, 16because it stands written: “You shall be holy, because I am holy.”
17And if you call upon him as Father—the one who judges each person’s work without favoritism—conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your stay as resident aliens. 18For you know that you were not redeemed from the futile way of life handed down by your ancestors with perishable things like silver or gold, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these final times for your sake. 21Through him you are faithful to God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22Now that you have purified your souls by your obedience to the truth, leading to a sincere love for the brothers and sisters, love one another earnestly from the heart. 23For you have been begotten anew, not from perishable seed but from imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24For: “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls away, 25 but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached as good news to you.