A Living Hope, and a Sure Salvation
1 Peter, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ,
To those [elect–both Jewish and Gentile believers] who live as exiles, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia [Minor], and Bithynia, who are chosen
2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be yours in increasing abundance [as you walk closely with God].
3 Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundantandboundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above–spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hopeandconfident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 [born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are being protectedandshielded by the power of God throughyourfaith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.
6 In this you rejoice greatly, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 so that the genuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, even though testedandpurified by fire, may be found to result in [your] praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8 Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believeandtrust in Him and you greatly rejoiceanddelight with inexpressible and glorious joy,
9 receiving as the result [the outcome, the consummation] of your faith, the salvation ofyour souls.
10 Regarding this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace [of God] thatwas intended foryou, searched carefully and inquired [about this future way of salvation],
11 seeking to find out what person or what time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He foretold the sufferings of Christ and the glories [destined] to follow.
12 It was revealed to them that their services [their prophecies regarding grace] were not [meant] for themselvesandtheir time, but for you, in these things [the death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ] which have now been told to you by those who preached the gospel to you by the [power of the] Holy Spirit [who was] sent from heaven. Into these things even the angels long to look.
13 So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit–steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
14 [Live] as obedient children [of God]; do not be conformed to the evil desireswhich governed youin your ignorance [before you knew the requirements and transforming power of the good news regarding salvation].
15 But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in allyourconduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage];
16 because it is written, “You shall be holy(set apart),forIam holy.”
17 If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him]andwith profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stayon earth.
18 For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] way of life inherited [by tradition] from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold,
19 but [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless,the priceless bloodof Christ.
20 For He wasforeordained (foreknown) before the foundation of the world, but has appeared [publicly] in these last times for your sake
21 and through Him you believe [confidently] in God [the heavenly Father], who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are [centered and rest] in God.
22 Since by your obedience to the truth you have purified yourselves for a sincere love of the believers, [see that you] love one another from the heart [always unselfishly seeking the best for one another],
23 for you have been born again [that is, reborn from above–spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] not of seed which is perishable but [from that which is] imperishableandimmortal,that is,through the living and everlasting word of God.
24 For,
“All flesh is like grass,
And all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers
And the flower falls off,
25 But the word of theLord endures forever.”
And this is the word [the good news of salvation] which was preached to you.