001:006 Rejoice triumphantly in the prospect of this, even if now,
for a short time, you are compelled to sorrow amid various trials.
001:007 The sorrow comes in order that the testing of your faith—
being more precious than that of gold, which perishes and yet
is proved by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory
and honour at the re-appearing of Jesus Christ.
001:008 Him you love, though your eyes have never looked on Him.
In Him, though at present you cannot see Him, you nevertheless
trust, and triumph with a joy which is unspeakable and is
crowned with glory,
001:009 while you are securing as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
001:010 There were Prophets who earnestly inquired about that salvation, and closely searched into it—even those who spoke beforehand of the grace which was to come to you.
001:011 They were eager to know the time which the Spirit of Christ within them kept indicating, or the characteristics of that time, when they solemnly made known beforehand the sufferings that were to come upon Christ and the glories which would follow.
001:012 To them it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you, when they foretold the very things which have now been openly declared to you by those who, having been taught by the Holy Spirit which had been sent from Heaven, brought you the Good News. Angels long to stoop and look into these things.
001:013 Therefore gird up your minds and fix your hopes calmly
and unfalteringly upon the boon that is soon to be yours,
at the re-appearing of Jesus Christ.
001:014 And, since you delight in obedience, do not shape your lives
by the cravings which used to dominate you in the time
of your ignorance,
001:015 but—in imitation of the holy One who has called you— you also must be holy in all your habits of life.