1 Peter 1:1 i 1 Peter 1:8

Peter’s First Letter

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,† to the chosen
ones who are living as foreigners in the Disper-
sion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and
Bithynia,
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may
obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood:
Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy
caused us to be born again to a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead,
4 to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance
that doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for
you,
5 who by the power of God are guarded through
faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last
time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a
little while, if need be, you have been grieved in
various trials,
7 that the proof of your faith, which is more
precious than gold that perishes, even though it
is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise,
glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ—
8 whom, not having known, you love. In him,
though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you
† 1:1 “Christ” means “Anointed One”.
1 Peter 1:9 ii 1 Peter 1:17

rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and

full of glory,
9 receiving the result of your faith, the salvation
of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets
sought and searched diligently. They prophesied
of the grace that would come to you,
11 searching for who or what kind of time the
Spirit of Christ which was in them pointed to
when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the
glories that would follow them.
12 To them it was revealed that they served not
themselves, but you, in these things, which now
have been announced to you through those who
preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit
sent out from heaven; which things angels desire
to look into.
13 Therefore prepare your minds for action.‡ Be
sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that
will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus
Christ—
14 as children of obedience, not conforming
yourselves according to your former lusts as in
your ignorance,
15 but just as he who called you is holy, you
yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior,
16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I
am holy.”*
17 If you call on him as Father, who without
respect of persons judges according to each man’s
‡ 1:13 literally, “gird up the waist of your mind” or “put on the belt
of the waist of your mind” * 1:16 Leviticus 11:44-45
1 Peter 1:18 iii 1 Peter 2:1

work, pass the time of your living as foreigners

here in reverent fear,
18 knowing that you were redeemed, not with
corruptible things like silver or gold, from the use-
less way of life handed down from your fathers,
19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without
blemish or spot, the blood of Christ,
20 who was foreknown indeed before the foun-
dation of the world, but was revealed in this last
age for your sake,
21 who through him are believers in God, who
raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so
that your faith and hope might be in God.
22 Seeing you have purified your souls in your
obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sin-
cere brotherly affection, love one another from
the heart fervently,
23 having been born again, not of corruptible
seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of
God, which lives and remains forever.
24 For,
“All flesh is like grass,
and all of man’s glory like the flower in the
grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls;
25 but the Lord’s word endures forever.”*
This is the word of Good News which was
preached to you.

1 Putting
2
away therefore all wickedness, all de-
ceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,
* 1:25 Isaiah 40:6-8
1 Peter 2:2 iv 1 Peter 2:9

2 as newborn babies, long for the pure spiritual

milk, that with it you may grow,
3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is
gracious.
4 Come to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by
men, but chosen by God, precious.
5 You also as living stones are built up as a
spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer
up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through
Jesus Christ.
6 Because it is contained in Scripture,
“Behold,† I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen
and precious.
He who believes in him will not be disap-
pointed.”*
7 For you who believe therefore is the honor, but
for those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
has become the chief cornerstone,”*
8 and,

“a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.”*

For they stumble at the word, being disobedi-
ent, 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 may proclaim the excellence of him who
called you out of darkness into his marvelous
light.
† 2:6 “Behold”, from “‫”ה͏נֵּה‬
ִ or “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice,
observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection. * 2:6
Isaiah 28:16 * 2:7 Psalms 118:22 * 2:8 Isaiah 8:14
1 Peter 2:10 v 1 Peter 2:20

10 In the past, you were not a people, but now are

God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but
now have obtained mercy.
11 Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims
to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the
soul,
12 having good behavior among the nations, so
in that of which they speak against you as evildo-
ers, they may see your good works and glorify God
in the day of visitation.
13 Therefore subject yourselves to every ordi-
nance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether to the
king, as supreme,
14 or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance
on evildoers and for praise to those who do well.
15 For this is the will of God, that by well-doing
you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men.
16 Live as free people, yet not using your free-
dom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondser-
vants of God.
17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear
God. Honor the king.
18 Servants, be in subjection to your masters
with all respect, not only to the good and gentle,
but also to the wicked.
19 For it is commendable if someone endures
pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience
toward God.
20 For what glory is it if, when you sin, you
patiently endure beating? But if when you do
well, you patiently endure suffering, this is com-
mendable with God.
1 Peter 2:21 vi 1 Peter 3:4

21For you were called to this, because Christ

also suffered for us, leaving you‡ an example, that
you should follow his steps,
22 who didn’t sin, “neither was deceit found in
his mouth.”*
23 When he was cursed, he didn’t curse back.
When he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but commit-
ted himself to him who judges righteously.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the
tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to
righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.§
25 For you were going astray like sheep; but now
you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer†
of your souls.

3
1In the same way, wives, be in subjection to
your own husbands, so that, even if any don’t obey
the Word, they may be won by the behavior of
their wives without a word,
2 seeing your pure behavior in fear.
3 Let your beauty come not from the outward
adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing
gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing,
4 but from the hidden person of the heart, in
the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet
spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.

‡ 2:21 TR reads “us” instead of “you” * 2:22 Isaiah 53:9 § 2:24

or, stripes † 2:25 “Overseer” is from the Greek ἐπίσκοπον, which
can mean overseer, curator, guardian, or superintendent.
1 Peter 3:5 vii 1 Peter 3:13

5 For this is how in the past the holy women who

hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in
subjection to their own husbands.
6 So Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord,
whose children you now are if you do well and are
not put in fear by any terror.
7 You husbands, in the same way, live with your
wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the
woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint
heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not
be hindered.
8 Finally, all of you be like-minded, compassion-
ate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous,
9 not rendering evil for evil or insult for in-
sult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were
called to this, that you may 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 deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good.
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears open to their prayer;
but the face of the Lord is against those who
do evil.”*
13 Now who will harm you if you become imita-
tors of that which is good?

* 3:12 Psalms 34:12-16

1 Peter 3:14 viii 1 Peter 3:22

14But even if you should suffer for righteous-

ness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they
fear, neither be troubled.”*
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.
Always be ready to give an answer to everyone
who asks you a reason concerning the hope that
is in you, with humility and fear,
16 having a good conscience. Thus, while you
are spoken against as evildoers, they may be dis-
appointed who curse your good way of life in
Christ.
17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer
for doing what is right than for doing evil.
18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the
righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring
you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
made alive in the Spirit,
19 in whom he also went and preached to the
spirits in prison,
20 who before were disobedient when God
waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship
was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were
saved through water.
21 This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves
you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh,
but the answer of a good conscience toward God—
through 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.

* 3:14 Isaiah 8:12

1 Peter 4:1 ix 1 Peter 4:11

4
1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the
flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for
he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from
sin,
2 that you no longer should live the rest of your
time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the
will of God.
3 For we have spent enough of our past time do-
ing the desire of the Gentiles, and having walked
in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carous-
ings, and abominable idolatries.
4 They think it is strange that you don’t run with
them into the same excess of riot, speaking evil of
you.
5 They will give account to him who is ready to
judge the living and the dead.
6 For to this end the Good News was preached
even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed
as men in the flesh, but live as to God in the spirit.
7 But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of
sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer.
8 And above all things be earnest in your love
among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of
sins.
9 Be hospitable to one another without grum-
bling.
10 As each has received a gift, employ it in serv-
ing one another, as good managers of the grace of
God in its various forms.
11 If anyone speaks, let it be as it were the very
words of God. If anyone serves, let it be as of the
strength which God supplies, that in all things God
may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom
1 Peter 4:12 x 1 Peter 5:1

belong the glory and the dominion forever and

ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, don’t be astonished at the fiery trial
which has come upon you to test you, as though a
strange thing happened to you.
13 But because you are partakers of Christ’s suf-
ferings, rejoice, that at the revelation of his glory
you also may rejoice with exceeding joy.
14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you
are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God
rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but
on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a
thief, or an evil doer, or a meddler in other men’s
matters.
16 But if one of you suffers for being a Christian,
let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in
this matter.
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin
with the household of God. If it begins first with
us, what will happen to those who don’t obey the
Good News of God?
18 “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?”*

19 Therefore let them also who suffer according
to the will of God in doing good entrust their souls
to him, as to a faithful Creator.

5
Therefore I exhort the elders among you, as
1
a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of

* 4:18 Proverbs 11:31

1 Peter 5:2 xi 1 Peter 5:11

Christ, and who will also share in the glory that

will be revealed:
2 shepherd the flock of God which is among you,
exercising the oversight, not under compulsion,
but voluntarily; not for dishonest gain, but will-
ingly;
3 not as lording it over those entrusted to you,
but making yourselves examples to the flock.
4 When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will
receive the crown of glory that doesn’t fade away.
5 Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to
the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with
humility and subject yourselves to one another;
for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the
humble.”*
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in
due time,
7 casting all your worries on him, because he
cares for you.
8 Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful.
Your adversary, the devil, walks around like a
roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Withstand him steadfast in your faith, know-
ing that your brothers who are in the world are
undergoing the same sufferings.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called
you to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you
have suffered a little while, perfect, establish,
strengthen, and settle you.
11 To him be the glory and the power forever and
ever. Amen.
* 5:5 Proverbs 3:34
1 Peter 5:12 xii 1 Peter 5:14

12Through Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I

consider him, I have written to you briefly, ex-
horting and testifying that this is the true grace of
God in which you stand.
13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with
you, greets you. So does Mark, my son.
14 Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace be to all of you who are in Christ Jesus.
Amen.
 xiii

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