\NormalFont\ShortTitle{1 Peter}
{\MT Peter’s First Letter

\par }\ChapOne{1}{\SH Introduction
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}To
the
people
of
God
who
are
living
abroad,
dispersed
throughout
Pontus,
Galatia,
Cappadocia, Roman Asia,
and Bithynia,
\VS{2}and
who
were
chosen
in
accordance
with
the
foreknowledge
of
God
the
Father,
through
the
consecration
of
the
Spirit,
to
learn
obedience,
and
to
be
purified
by
the
sprinkling
of
the
blood
of
Jesus
Christ,
from
Peter,
an apostle
of
Jesus
Christ.
May
blessing
and
peace
be
yours
in
ever
increasing
measure.
\par }{\SH The Christian’s
Hope
of
Salvation
\par }{\PP \VS{3}Blessed
is
the
God
and
Father
of
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ,
who
has,
in
his
great
mercy,
through
the resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ
from
the
dead,
\VS{4}given
us
the
new
life
of undying
hope,
that
promises
an
inheritance, imperishable, stainless, unfading,
which
has
been
reserved
for
you
in
heaven –
\VS{5}for
you
who,
through
faith,
are
being
guarded
by
the
power
of
God, awaiting
a
salvation
that
is
ready
to
be
revealed
in
the
last
days.
\VS{6}At
the
thought
of
this
you
are
full
of
exultation,
though (if
it
has
been
necessary)
you
have
suffered
for
the
moment
somewhat
from
various
trials;
\VS{7}that
the genuineness
of
your
faith –
a
thing
far
more
precious
than
gold,
which
is perishable,
yet
has
to
be
tested
by
fire –
may
win
praise
and
glory
and
honor
at
the
appearing
of
Jesus
Christ.
\VS{8}Though
you
have
never
seen
him,
yet
you
love
him;
though
you
do
not
even
now
see
him,
yet
you
believe
in
him,
and
exalt
with
a
triumphant
happiness
too
great
for
words,
\VS{9}as
you
receive
the
reward
of
your
faith
in
the
salvation
of
your
souls!
\VS{10}It
was
this
salvation
that
the
prophets,
who
spoke
long
ago
of
the
blessing
intended
for
you,
sought,
and
strove
to
comprehend;
\VS{11}as
they
strove
to
discern
what
that
time
could
be,
to
which
the
Spirit
of
Christ
within
them
was
pointing,
when foretelling
the
sufferings
that
Christ
would
have
to
endure,
and
the
glories
that
would
follow.
\VS{12}And
it
was
revealed
to
them
that
it
was
not
for
themselves,
but
for
you,
that
they
were
acting
as
Ministers
of
the truths
which
have
now
been
told
to
you,
by
those
who,
with
the
help
of
the
Holy
Spirit
sent
from
heaven,
have
brought
you
the
good
news – truths
into
which
even
angels
long
to
look.
\par }{\SH The Christian’s
Character
\par }{\PP \VS{13}Therefore concentrate
your
minds,
with
the strictest self-control,
and
fix
your
hopes
on
the
blessing
that
is
coming
for
you
at
the
appearing
of
Jesus
Christ.
\VS{14}Be
like
obedient
children;
do
not
let
your
lives
be
shaped
by
the
passions
which
once swayed
you
in
the
days
of
your
ignorance,
\VS{15}but
in
your
whole
life
show
yourselves
to
be
holy,
after
the
pattern
of
the
Holy
One
from
whom
you
received
your
call.
\VS{16}For
scripture
says –
\par }{\Q ‘You
will
be
holy,
because
I
am
holy.’
\par }{\MM \VS{17}And
since
you
call
on
him
as ‘Father,’
who
judges
everyone impartially
by
what
he
has
done,
let
respectful
awe
be
the
spirit
of
your
lives
during
the
time
of
your
stay
on
earth.
\VS{18}For
you
know
that
it
was
not
by
perishable
things,
such
as
silver
and
gold,
that
you
were
ransomed
from
the aimless
way
of
living
which
was
handed
down
to
you
from
your
ancestors,
\VS{19}but
by
precious
blood,
as
it
were
of
a
lamb,
unblemished
and spotless,
the
blood
of
Christ.
\VS{20}Destined
for
this
before
the
beginning
of
the
world,
he
has
been
revealed
in
these
last
days
for
your
sakes,
\VS{21}who,
through
him,
are
faithful
to
God
who
raised
him
from
the
dead
and
gave
him
honor,
so
that
your
faith
and
hope
are
now
in
God.
\par }{\PP \VS{22}Now
that,
by
your
obedience
to
the
truth,
you
have
purified
your
lives,
so
that
there
is
growing
up
among
you
a genuine
affection,
love
one
another
earnestly
with
all
your
hearts;
\VS{23}since
your
new
life
has
come,
not
from
perishable,
but imperishable,
seed,
through
the
message
of
the Everliving
God.
\VS{24}For –
\par }{\Q ‘All
earthly
life
is
but
as
grass,
\par }{\QB and
all
its
splendor
as
the
flower
of
grass.
\par }{\Q The
grass
fades,
\par }{\QB its
flower
falls,
\par }{\QC \VS{25}but
the
teaching
of
the
Lord
remains
for
ever.’
\par }{\MM And
that
is
the
teaching
of
the
good
news
which
has
been
told
to
you.

\par }\Chap{2}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Now
that
you
have
done
with
all
malice,
all
deceitfulness, insincerity,
jealous
feelings,
and
all
backbiting,
\VS{2}like
newly
born
infants,
crave
pure
spiritual
milk,
so
that
you
may
be
enabled
by
it
to
grow
until
you
attain
salvation –
\VS{3}since ‘you
have
found
by
experience
that
the
Lord
is
kind.’
\VS{4}Come
to
him,
then,
as
to
a
living
stone,
rejected,
indeed,
by
men,
but
in
God’s
eyes
choice
and
precious;
\VS{5}and,
as
living
stones,
form
yourselves
into
a
spiritual
house,
to
be
a
consecrated
priesthood,
for
the
offering
of
spiritual
sacrifices
that
will
be
acceptable
to
God
through
Jesus
Christ.
\VS{6}For
there
is
a
passage
of
scripture
that
runs –
\par }{\Q ‘See,
I
am
placing
in
Zion
a
choice
and
precious
cornerstone;
\par }{\QB and
those
who
believe
in
him
will
have
no
cause
for
shame.’
\par }{\MM \VS{7}It
is
to
you,
then,
who
believe
in
him
that
he
is
precious,
but
to
those
who
do
not
believe
he
is ‘a
stone
which,
though
rejected
by
the
builders,
has
now
itself
become
the corner-stone,’
\VS{8}and ‘a stumbling-block,
and
a
rock
which
will
prove
a hindrance.’
They
stumble
because
they
do
not
accept
the
message.
This
was
the
fate
destined
for
them.
\VS{9}But
you
are ‘a
chosen
people,
a
royal
priesthood,
a
consecrated
nation,
God’s
own
people,’
entrusted
with
the
proclamation
of
the
goodness
of
him
who
called
you
out
of
darkness
into
his
wonderful
light.
\VS{10}Once
you
were ‘not
a
people,’
but
now
you
are ‘God’s people’;
once
you ‘had
not
found
mercy,’
but
now
you ‘have
found
mercy.’
\par }{\SH Practical Appeals
in
view
of
the
Dangers
of
the
Times.
\par }{\PP \VS{11}Dear
friends,
I
beg
you,
as
pilgrims
and
strangers
on
earth,
to
refrain
from
indulging
the cravings
of
your earthly nature,
for
they
make
war
on
the
soul.
\VS{12}Let
your
daily
life
among
the
Gentiles
be
so
upright,
that,
whenever
they malign
you
as
evildoers,
they
may
learn,
as
they
watch,
from
the
uprightness
of
your
conduct,
to
praise
God ‘at
the
time
when
he
will
visit
them.’
\par }{\PP \VS{13}Submit
to
all
human institutions
for
the
Lord’s
sake,
alike
to
the emperor
as
the
supreme
authority,
\VS{14}and
to
governors
as
sent
by
him
to
punish
evildoers
and
to commend
those
who
do
right.
\VS{15}For
God’s
will
is
this –
that
you
should
silence
the
ignorance
of
foolish
people
by
doing
what
is
right.
\VS{16}Act
as
free
people,
yet
not
using
your
freedom
as
those
do
who
make
it
a
cloak
for
wickedness,
but
as
Servants
of
God.
\VS{17}Show
honor
to
everyone,
love
the
Lord’s
followers, ‘revere
God,
honor
the emperor.’
\par }{\PP \VS{18}Those
of
you
who
are domestic
servants
should
always
be
submissive
and
respectful
to
their
masters,
not
only
to
those
who
are
good
and considerate,
but
also
to
those
who
are arbitrary.
\VS{19}For
this
wins
God’s
approval
when,
because
conscious
of
God’s
presence,
a
person
who
is
suffering
unjustly
bears
their
troubles
patiently.
\VS{20}What
credit
can
you
claim
when,
after
doing
wrong,
you
take
your
punishment
for
it
patiently?
But,
on
the
other
hand,
if,
after
doing
right,
you
take
your
sufferings
patiently,
that
does
win
the
approval
of
God.
\VS{21}For
it
was
to
this
that
you
were
called!
For
Christ,
too,
suffered –
on
your
behalf –
and
left
you
an
example,
that
you
should
follow
in
his
steps.
\VS{22}He ‘never
sinned,
nor
was
anything
deceitful
ever
heard
from
his
lips.’
\VS{23}He
was
abused,
but
he
did
not
answer
with
abuse;
he
suffered,
but
he
did
not
threaten;
he
entrusted
himself
to
him
whose
judgments
are
just.
\VS{24}And
he ‘himself
carried
our sins’
in
his
own
body
to
the
cross,
so
that
we
might
die
to
our
sins,
and
live
for
righteousness. ‘His
bruising
was
your
healing.’
\VS{25}Once
you
were
straying
like
sheep,
but
now
you
have
returned
to
the
shepherd
and
guardian
of
your
souls.

\par }\Chap{3}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Again,
you
married
women
should
submit
to
your
husbands,
so
that
if
any
of
them
reject
the
message,
they
may,
apart
from
the
message,
be
won
over,
by
the
conduct
of
their
wives,
\VS{2}as
they
see
your
pure, reverent
conduct.
\VS{3}Yours
should
be,
not
the
external
adornment
of
the
arrangement
of
the
hair,
the
wearing
of
jewelry,
or
the
putting
on
of
dresses,
\VS{4}but
the
inner
life
with
the imperishable
beauty
of
a
quiet
and
gentle
spirit;
for
this
is
very
precious
in
God’s
sight.
\VS{5}It
was
by
this
that
the
holy
women
of
old,
who
rested
their
hopes
on
God,
adorned
themselves;
submitting
to
their
husbands,
\VS{6}as
Sarah
did,
who
obeyed
Abraham,
and
called
him
master.
And
you
are
her
true
children,
as
long
as
you
live
good
lives,
and
let
nothing
terrify
you.
\par }{\PP \VS{7}Again,
those
of
you
who
are
married
men
should
live considerately
with
their
wives,
showing
due
regard
to
their
sex,
as physically
weaker
than
their
own,
and
not
forgetting
that
they
share
with
you
in
the
gift
of
life.
Then
you
will
be
able
to
pray
without hindrance.
\par }{\PP \VS{8}Lastly,
you
should
all
be
united,
sympathetic,
full
of
love
for
each
other, kind-hearted, humble-minded;
\VS{9}never
returning
evil
for
evil,
or
abuse
for
abuse,
but,
on
the
contrary,
blessing.
It
was
to
this
that
you
were
called –
to
obtain
a
blessing!
\par }{\Q \VS{10}‘The
person
who
wants
to
enjoy
life
\par }{\QB and
see
happy
days –
\par }{\Q they
should
keep
their
tongue
from
evil
\par }{\QB and
their
lips
from
deceitful
words,
\par }{\Q \VS{11}they
should
turn
from
evil
and
do
good,
\par }{\QB They
should
seek
for
peace
and
follow
after
it;
\par }{\Q \VS{12}For
the
eyes
of
the
Lord
are
on
the
righteous,
\par }{\QB and
his
ears
are
attentive
to
their
prayers,
\par }{\QC but
the
face
of
the
Lord
is
set
against
those
who
do
wrong.’
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{13}Who,
indeed,
is
there
to
harm
you,
if
you
prove
yourselves
to
be
eager
for
what
is
good?
\VS{14}Even
if
you
should
suffer
for
righteousness,
count
yourselves
blessed! ‘Do
not
let
people
terrify
you,
or
allow
yourselves
to
be
dismayed.’
\VS{15}Revere
the
Christ
as
Lord
in
your
hearts;
always
ready
to
give
an
answer
to
anyone
who
asks
your
reason
for
the
hope
that
you
cherish,
but
giving
it
with
courtesy
and
respect,
\VS{16}and
keeping
your
consciences
clear,
so
that,
whenever
you
are maligned,
those
who vilify
your
good
and Christian
conduct
may
be
put
to
shame.
\VS{17}It
is
better
that
you
should
suffer,
if
that
should
be
God’s
will,
for
doing
right,
than
for
doing
wrong.
\VS{18}For
Christ
himself
died
to
atone
for
sins
once
for
all –
the
good
on
behalf
of
the
bad –
that
he
might
bring
you
to
God;
his
body
being
put
to
death,
but
his
spirit
entering
on
new
life.
\VS{19}And
it
was
then
that
he
went
and
preached
to
the
imprisoned
spirits,
\VS{20}who
once
were
disobedient,
at
the
time
when
God
patiently
waited,
in
the
days
of
Noah,
while
the
ark
was
being
prepared;
in
which
some
few
lives,
eight
in
all,
were
saved
by
means
of
water.
\VS{21}And baptism,
which
this foreshadowed,
now
saves
you –
not
the
mere
cleansing
of
the
body,
but
the
search
of
a
clear
conscience
after
God –
through
the resurrection
of
Jesus
Christ,
\VS{22}who
has
gone
into
heaven,
and
is
at
God’s
right
hand,
where
angels
and archangels
and
the
powers
of
heaven
now
yield
submission
to
him.

\par }\Chap{4}{\PP \VerseOne{1}Since,
then,
Christ
suffered
in
body,
arm
yourselves
with
the
same resolve
as
he;
for
he
who
has
suffered
in
body
has
ceased
to
sin,
\VS{2}and
so
will
live
the
rest
of
his
earthly
life
guided,
not
by
human
passions,
but
by
the
will
of
God.
\VS{3}Surely
in
the
past
you
have
spent
time
enough
living
as
the
Gentiles
delight
to
live.
For
your
path
has
lain
among scenes
of debauchery, licentiousness,
drunkenness, revelry, hard-drinking,
and
profane
idolatry.
\VS{4}And,
because
you
do
not
run
to
the
same extremes
of profligacy
as
others,
they
are
astonished,
and malign
you.
\VS{5}But
they
will
have
to
answer
for
their
conduct
to
him
who
is
ready
to
judge
both
the
living
and
the
dead.
\VS{6}For
that
was
why
the
good
news
was
told
to
the
dead
also –
that,
after
they
have
been
judged
in
the
body,
as
people
are
judged,
they
might
live
in
the
spirit,
as
God
lives.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{7}But
the
end
of
all
things
is
near.
Therefore
exercise self-restraint
and
be
calm,
so
that
you
may
be
able
to
pray.
\VS{8}Above
all
things,
let
your
love
for
one
another
be
earnest,
for ‘Love
throws
a
veil
over
countless
sins.’
\VS{9}Never
grudge
hospitality
to
one
another.
\VS{10}Whatever
the
gift
that
each
has
received,
use
it
in
the
service
of
others,
as
good
stewards
of
the
varied
bounty
of
God.
\VS{11}When
anyone
speaks,
they
should
speak
as
one
who
is
delivering
the
oracles
of
God.
When
anyone
is endeavoring
to
serve
others,
they
should
do
so
in reliance
on
the
strength
which
God
supplies;
so
that
in
everything
God
may
be
honored
through
Jesus
Christ –
to
whom
be
ascribed
all
honor
and
might
for
ever
and
ever.
Amen.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{12}Dear
friends,
do
not
be
astonished
at
the
trial
of
fire
that
you
are
passing
through,
to
test
you,
as
though
something
strange
were
happening
to
you.
\VS{13}No,
the
more
you
share
the
sufferings
of
the
Christ,
the
more
may
you
rejoice,
that,
when
the
time
comes
for
the manifestation
of
his
glory,
you
may
rejoice
and
exult.
\VS{14}If
you
are
insulted
for
bearing
the
name
of
Christ,
count
yourselves
blessed;
because
the
divine
glory
and
the
Spirit
of
God
are
resting
on
you.
\VS{15}I
need
hardly
say
that
no
one
among
you
must
suffer
as
a
murderer,
or
a
thief,
or
a
criminal,
or
for interfering
in
matters
which
do
not
concern Christians.
\VS{16}But,
if
someone
suffers
as
a
Christian,
they
should
not
be
ashamed
of
it;
they
should
bring
honor
to
God
even
though
they
bear
that
name.
\VS{17}For
the
time
has
come
for
judgment
to
begin
with
the
house
of
God;
and,
if
it
begins
with
us,
what
will
be
the
end
of
those
who
reject
God’s
good
news?
\VS{18}If ‘a
good
person
is
saved
only
with
difficulty,
what
will
become
of
the
godless
and
the
sinful?’
\VS{19}Therefore,
I
say,
let
those
who
suffer,
because
God
wills
it
so,
commit
their
lives
into
the
hands
of
a
faithful
Creator,
and persevere
in
doing
right.

\par }\Chap{5}{\SH Conclusion
\par }{\PP \VerseOne{1}As
for
the
older
ones
among
you,
who
are
elders
in
the church,
I,
their
fellow
elder,
and
a
witness
to
the
sufferings
of
the
Christ,
who
will
also
share
in
the
glory
that
is
to
be
revealed –
\VS{2}I
beg
you
to
be
true
shepherds
of
the
flock
of
God
among
you,
not
because
you
are
compelled,
but
of
your
own
free
will;
not
from
a
base
love
of
gain,
but
with
a
ready
spirit;
\VS{3}not
as
lords
of
your
charges,
but
as
examples
to
your
flock.
\VS{4}Then,
when
the
chief
shepherd
appears,
you
will
win
the
crown
of
glory
that
never
fades.
\VS{5}Again,
you
younger
ones
should
show deference
to
the
older.
And
all
of
you
should
put
on
the badge
of
humility
in mutual
service,
for ‘God
is
opposed
to
the
proud,
but
gives
his
help
to
the
humble.’
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{6}Humble
yourselves,
therefore,
under
the
mighty
hand
of
God,
so
that
he
may
exalt
you
in
his
good
time,
\VS{7}laying
all
your anxieties
on
him,
for
he
makes
you
his
care.
\VS{8}Exercise self-control,
be
watchful.
Your
adversary,
the
devil,
like
a
roaring
lion,
is prowling
about,
eager
to
devour
you.
\VS{9}Stand
firm
against
him,
strong
in
your
faith;
knowing,
as
you
do,
that
the
sufferings
which
you
are undergoing
are
being
endured
to
the
full
by
the
Lord’s
followers
throughout
the
world.
\VS{10}God,
from
whom
all
help
comes,
and
who
called
you,
by
your
union
with
Christ,
into
his
eternal
glory,
will,
when
you
have
suffered
for
a
little
while,
himself
perfect,
establish,
strengthen
you.
\VS{11}To
him
be
ascribed
dominion
for
ever.
Amen.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP \VS{12}I
have
been
writing
to
you
briefly
by
the
hand
of Silas,
our true-hearted
friend (for
so
I
regard
him),
to
encourage
you,
and
to
bear
my
testimony
that
in
what
I
have
written
is
to
be
found
the
true
love
of
God.
On
that
take
your
stand.
\VS{13}Your
sister church
in ‘Babylon’
sends
you greeting,
and
so
does
Mark,
who
is
as
a
son
to
me.
\VS{14}Greet
one
another
with
the
kiss
of
love.
\par }{\BB \par }{\PP May
God
give
his
peace
to
you
all
in
your
union
with
Christ.\par }