1 Peter

Offers hope and instructions for Christians facing suffering and persecution.

Chapter 1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

*Peter, a helper of Jesus, writes to people living in different places like Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

*Choose based on what God the Father knows, through the Spirit's action, for obeying and using Jesus' blood; get more grace and peace for you.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

*Praised is the God and Father of our Savior Jesus Christ, who, because of his great kindness, has brought us to life again with the hope that comes from Jesus' rising from the dead.

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

*A pure, untouched inheritance in heaven is waiting for you.

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

*People saved by God's strength, believing in Him, waiting for final salvation soon to be shown.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

*In which you greatly celebrate, even if it's just for a short time, when you go through difficult times with many trials.

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

*So that the test of your faith, which is far more valuable than gold that disappears when burned, can be shown to bring praise, honor, and glory when Jesus Christ returns.

8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

*You love someone you haven't seen; and even though you can't see them now, you still believe in them, which makes you extremely happy with a joy that words can't describe and is filled with glory.

9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

*Getting to the goal of your belief, which also saves your lives.

10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

*The prophets carefully looked for the salvation that was coming to you and spoke about the kindness that would arrive.

11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

*Looking for what they were showing with the Spirit of Christ within them, when they predicted the suffering of Jesus and the greatness that would come after.

12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

*To those who were shown this, it was revealed that they didn't serve themselves but others. They shared these messages with you through those who preached the gospel using the Holy Spirit from heaven. Even angels want to know about these things.

13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

*So, strengthen your thinking and stay alert. Keep hoping until the very end for the help that will come when Jesus reveals Himself.

14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

*As obedient kids, not following old desires you used to have when you didn't know better:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

*Since the one who called you is holy, be holy in everything you do.

16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

*Because the Bible says, "Be holy, as I am holy."

17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

*If you ask the Father for help, who judges everyone fairly based on their actions, then spend your time on Earth being careful and obedient.

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

*Since you understand that you weren't saved using things that can be destroyed, like silver and gold, but rather through a passing way of life passed down by your ancestors.

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

*But with the valuable blood of Christ, like a perfect and flawless lamb:

20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

*He was truly chosen long ago, even before the world began, but revealed himself in these final times for your benefit.

21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

*Who trusts in him to believe in God, the one who brought him back to life and gave him honor; so your belief and hope are in God.

22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

*Since you have cleaned your hearts by following the truth with the help of the Spirit and genuinely loving other believers, make sure you truly love each other from your hearts with great passion.

23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

*Being born again, not from something that can decay, but from something that doesn't decay, through God's word, which is alive and always exists.

24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

*All people are like grass, and their greatness is like a flower on grass. Grass dies and its flower falls off.

25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

*But God's message lasts forever, and this is the message shared with you through the good news.

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