Going to Jesus

1Peter

1Peter 1

¶1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. To the chosen sojourners of the Diaspora in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2.according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, even the sprinkling of blood, for obedience to Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace be multiplied.

¶3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His abundant mercy has begotten us anew into a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4.for an incorruptible, and pure, and permanent inheritance reserved in heaven for you

5.who are kept by the power of God, through faith, for the salvation prepared to be revealed in the last time.

6. In this you rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are distressed by various trials

7.so that the trying of your faith, much more precious than the trying of gold that perishes, though it be tried by fire, may be found worthy of praise, and honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ

8.(whom having not seen, you love, and in whom, though not seeing him now, you believe, and you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory),

9.receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10. Prophets who prophesied of the grace that has come to you searched for and diligently inquired about this salvation,

11.trying to determine who or what time the Spirit of Christ which was in them was indicating when it testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and of the glory that followed.

12. To them it was revealed that they were ministering those things not to themselves, but to you, which things are now reported to you by those who preach the gospel to you by the holy Spirit sent from heaven, into which things angels long to look.

¶13. Wherefore, girding up the loins of your mind, being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

14.as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to desires, as in your former ignorance,

15.but rather, as He who called you is holy, so you be holy in all your ways,

16.for it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”^[1]

17. And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your sojourning with fear,

18.knowing that you were not redeemed from your worthless way of life, received by tradition from your fathers, with corruptible things such as silver or gold,

19.but with the precious blood of Christ, as of an unblemished and spotless lamb,

20.known indeed before the foundation of the world, but revealed in the end times for your sakes

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

22. With your souls purified by obedience to the truth through the Spirit unto a sincere love of the brothers, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

23.being born again, not of corruptible seed but of incorruptible, by the living and eternally enduring word of God.

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

25.but the word of the Lord abides forever.”^[2] And this is the word that is preached to you.

1Peter 2

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¶1. Therefore, having put away all malice, and all deceit, and hypocrisy, and envy, and all evil speaking,

2.as newborn babies, desire pure spiritual milk, that you might grow by it,

3.if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good,

4.to whom coming as to a living stone – yes, rejected by men, but chosen and precious in the sight of God,

5.and you, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6. For it is contained in Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and he who believes on him will never be put to shame.”^[3]

7. Therefore, honor will come to you who believe, but to the disobedient, “The stone that the builders rejected, the same has become the head of the corner,”^[4]

8.and “a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”^[5] Those who disobey stumble at the word, to which also they were appointed.

9. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you should proclaim the virtues of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light,

10.who once were not a people, but now are a divine people, who had not received mercy, but now have received mercy.

¶11. Beloved, I urge you, as strangers and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul,

12.keeping your conduct honorable among the Gentiles so that, although they speak against you as evildoers, they will, seeing your good works, glorify God in the day of visitation.

¶13. Be subject, therefore, to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to a king, as supreme,

14.or to governors, as those sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

15. For such is the will of God that by doing good, you put to silence the ignorance of foolish men,

16.as free men, and yet, as slaves of God, not using liberty as a cover for evil.

17. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

¶18. Servants are be subject to masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh.

19. For this is praiseworthy, if someone for conscience sake toward God endures sorrows, suffering unjustly.

20. What credit is it, if you patiently endure when you sin and are beaten? But if you patiently endure when you do good and suffer, this is commendable with God.

21. For to this you were called, for Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his footsteps,

22.who “committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth”;^[6]

23.who, when he was reviled, did not revile in return; when suffering, did not threaten, but committed himself to the One who judges justly;

24.who himself bore our sins in his body upon the tree so that we, being dead to sins, might live in righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.

25. For you were like sheep being led astray, but now you have been brought back to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1Peter 3

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1. Also, you wives, be subject to your own husbands so that, should any disobey the word, they might be won over without a word, by the conduct of the wives,

2.when they observe your pure conduct coupled with fear.

3. Let your adornment not be outward—the braiding of hair, and wearing of gold, or putting on of clothing—;

4.rather, let it be the hidden man of the heart, with the unfading beauty of a meek and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

5. For this is how holy women who adorned themselves in times past also hoped in God, being in subjection to their husbands,

6.as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him “master”, whose children you are, if you do good and do not fear any terror.

¶7. Furthermore, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman as to a weaker vessel and as heirs together of the grace of life, so that your prayers be not hindered.

¶8. Finally, everyone be of one mind, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, friendly,

9.not rendering evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but giving a blessing instead, knowing that you were called to this, that you might inherit a blessing.

10. For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.

11.Let him eschew evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

12.For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open to their plea. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”^[7]

¶13. And who will do you evil, if you be followers of what is good?

14. But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. “Do not fear their fear, neither be troubled,

15.but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts,”^[8] and always be ready with an answer for all who ask of you a reason for the hope that is in you, with humility and fear,

16.having a good conscience, so that while they slander you as evildoers, those that disparage your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame.

17. For it is better to suffer, if it be the will of God, for doing good than for doing evil.

18. Christ also suffered for sins once for all, a righteous man for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

19.by the which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,

20.who once were unbelieving, when in the days of Noah the long-suffering of God waited while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved by water,

21.corresponding to which, baptism now also saves us (not a removal of dirt from the body, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

22.who is at the right-hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

1Peter 4

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¶1. And so, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

2.so as to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer according to the desires of men, but according to the will of God.

3. The time that is past is sufficient for us to have done the will of the masses, walking in licentiousness, lusts, drunkenness, banquetings, carousings, and lewd worship of idols,

4.concerning which they think it strange that you do not run with them to the same excess of debauchery, speaking blasphemies,

5.who shall give an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6. This is why the gospel was also preached to the dead, so that having been condemned by men in the flesh, they might live by God in the Spirit.

¶7. But the end of all things is at hand; therefore, be sensible and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers,

8.and above all things, continue in earnest love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins,

9.showing hospitality to one another without grumbling,

10.ministering the same to one another as each one has received a gift, as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God.

11. If any man speak, let it be as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things, God might be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

¶12. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is coming to try you, as though a strange thing is happening to you.

13. On the contrary, rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also rejoice and be glad at the revelation of his glory.

14. If you are being reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part, he is blasphemed, but on your part, he is glorified.

15. Let no one among you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evildoer, or as a busybody,

16.but if as a “Christian”, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that.

17. For the appointed time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God, and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who refuse to obey the gospel of God?

18. And if the righteous are scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and sinner appear?

19. So then, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in well-doing, as to a faithful Creator.

1Peter 5

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¶1. As a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and as a partaker of the glory that is to be revealed, I exhort the elders who are among you:

2.shepherd the flock of God that is with you, exercising oversight not under compulsion but willingly, neither for sordid gain, but eagerly,

3.nor as lording it over those assigned to you, but by being examples for the flock.

4. And when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you shall receive an unfading crown of glory.

5. Also, you younger men, submit to the elders; indeed, all of you submit to one another, clothing yourselves with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

6. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He might lift you up in due time,

7.casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

8. Be sober; be watchful. Your adversary, the Accuser, is walking about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour,

9.whom withstand steadfastly in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by those who are your brothers in the world.

10. And after you have suffered a little while, may the God of all grace, who called you into His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, perfect you, and support, strengthen, and establish you.

11. To Him be the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

¶12. By Silvanus, a faithful brother in my judgment, I have written briefly to you, exhorting you and testifying that this, in which you stand, is the true grace of God.

13. She who is in Babylon, called with you, greets you, as well as Markus my son.

14. Greet one another with a loving kiss.
¶Peace to all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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Footnotes

^[1] Lev. 11:44–45.

^[2] Isa. 40:6b, 8.

^[3] Isa. 28:16.

^[4] Ps. 118:22.

^[5] Isa. 8:14.

^[6] Isa. 53:9.

^[7] Ps. 34:12–16a.

^[8] Isa. 8:12b–13a.