A Living Hope

3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy [He] has given us new birth[fn] into a living hope through [the] resurrection of Jesus Christ from [the] dead, 4 [and] into an inheritance [that is] imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who through faith [are] shielded by God’s power for [the] salvation [that is] ready to be revealed in [the] last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, honor, and glory[fn] at [the] revelation of Jesus Christ.

8 [Though] you have not known[fn] [Him], you love [Him]; [and though] you do not see [Him] now, you believe in [Him] and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 [now that] you are receiving the goal of your faith, [the] salvation of [your] souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, [the] prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully, 11 trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

12 It was revealed to [them] that they were not serving themselves, but you,[fn] [when they foretold] the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by [the] Holy Spirit sent from heaven. [Even] angels long to look into [these things].