1 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those chosen who live as exiles, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 chosen according to the foreknowledge of our Father, through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Born Into a Living Hope
3 Blessed be our Father and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade, kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by our Father's power until the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time comes. 6 In this you rejoice greatly, even though now, for a little while, you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith, proved genuine—worth more than gold, which perishes even when refined by fire—may bring praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who spoke of the grace that was to come to you searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
Called to Be Holy
13 Therefore, with minds ready for action and fully sober, set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, don't let yourselves be shaped by the desires you once followed in your ignorance. 15 But just as the one who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as exiles here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in our Father, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory; and so your faith and hope are in our Father.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of our Father. 24 For, "All people are like grass, and all their glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25 but the word of our Father endures forever." And this is the word that was preached to you.