Greeting

¹ Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen¹ who are residing temporarily in the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

1. Or “elect”

² according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and for sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

A New Birth to a Living Hope

³ Blessed 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,

⁴ into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you

⁵ who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time,

⁶ in which you rejoice greatly, although¹ now for a short time, if necessary,² you are distressed by various trials,

1. *Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“are distressed”) which is understood as concessive
2. Some manuscripts have “if it is necessary”

⁷ so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

⁸ whom, although you¹ have not seen, you love; in whom now you believe, although you² do not see him, and you rejoice greatly with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

1. *Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“seen”) which is understood as concessive
2. *Here “although” is supplied as a component of the participle (“see”) which is understood as concessive

⁹ obtaining the goal of your faith, the salvation of your¹ souls.

1. *This is an understood repetition of the previous “your”

¹⁰ Concerning this¹ salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace meant for you sought and made careful inquiry,

1. Literally “which”

¹¹ investigating for what person or which time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he¹ testified beforehand to the sufferings with reference to Christ and the glories after these things,

1. *Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“testified beforehand”) which is understood as temporal

¹² to whom it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you with reference to the same things which now have been announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, ⌞things into which⌟¹ angels desire to look.

1. Literally “into which things”

Be Holy in All Your Conduct

¹³ Therefore, ⌞when you have prepared your minds for action⌟¹ by² being self-controlled, put your hope completely in the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1. Literally “having girded up the loins of your mind”
2. *Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being self-controlled”) which is understood as means

¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former desires you used to conform to¹ in your ignorance,

1. *This is an understood repetition of the earlier verb “be conformed to”

¹⁵ but as the one who called you is holy, you yourselves be holy in all your conduct,

¹⁶ for it is written, “You will be holy, because I am¹ holy.”²³

1. *Here the verb is understood in Greek and is supplied in the translation
2. A quotation from Lev 19:2
3. Some manuscripts explicitly state “I am holy”

¹⁷ And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves with fear during the time of your temporary residence,

¹⁸ because you¹ know that you were redeemed from your futile way of life inherited from your ancestors not with perishable things like silver or gold,

1. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“know”) which is understood as causal

¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb

²⁰ who was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has been revealed in these last times for you

²¹ who through him are believing in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love, love one another fervently from the heart,¹

1. Some manuscripts have “from a pure heart”

²³ because you¹ have been born again, not from perishable seed but imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

1. *Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“have been born again”) which is understood as causal

²⁴ For “all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass withers and the flower falls off,

²⁵ but the word of the Lord endures ⌞forever⌟¹.”² And this is the word that has been proclaimed to you.

1. Literally “for the age”
2. A quotation from Isa 40:6, 8