[THE FIRST GENERAL LETTER OF PETER.]

I. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered^[1] through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia; ²chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you.

³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy begot us again unto a living hope^[3] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; ⁴unto an inheritance imperishable, and undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵who by the power of God are kept through faith, unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little time, if need be, made sorrowful by manifold trials; ⁷that the proof of your faith, much more precious than gold that perishes, but is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ⁸whom having not seen ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory; ⁹receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰Concerning which salvation the prophets diligently sought and searched, who prophesied of the grace toward you; ¹¹searching as to what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them signified, when it testified beforehand the sufferings destined for Christ, and the glories that should follow; ¹²to whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you they were ministering them, which now have been announced to you, through those who brought you the good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

¹³Wherefore, girding up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope perfectly for the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance; ¹⁵but as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves holy in all your deportment; ¹⁶because it is written: Ye shall be holy, for I am holy.

¹⁷And if ye call him Father^[17], who without respect of persons judges according to each one's work, pass the time of your sojourning in fear; ¹⁸knowing that not with perishable things, silver and gold, ye were redeemed from your vain course of life received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; ²⁰who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but manifested in these last times for you, ²¹who through him believe on God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope are on God.

²²Having purified your souls in obeying the truth unto unfeigned brotherly love, love one another from the heart fervently; ²³being born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the word of God, which lives and abides forever. ²⁴Because,

All flesh is as grass,

And all its glory as the flower of grass.