1This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God's chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.G4074G652G2424G5547G3927G1290G4195G1053G2587G773G2532G978 2God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.G1588G2596G4268G2316G3962G1722G38G4151G1519G5218G2532G4473G129G2424G5547G5485G5213G2532G1515G4129 3All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,G2128G2316G2532G3962G2257G2962G2424G5547G3588G2596G846G4183G1656G313G2248G313G1519G2198G1680G1223G386G2424G5547G1537G3498 4and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.G1519G2817G862G2532G283G2532G263G5083G1722G3772G1519G5209 5And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.G3588G5432G1722G1411G2316G1223G4102G1519G4991G2092G601G1722G2078G2540 6So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.G1722G3739G21G737G3641G1487G1163G2076G3076G1722G4164G3986 7These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.G2443G1383G5216G4102G4183G5093G5553G622G1223G1161G1381G4442G2147G1519G1868G2532G5092G2532G1391G1722G602G2424G5547 8You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.G3739G1492G3756G1492G1492G25G1519G3739G737G3708G3361G1161G4100G21G5479G412G2532G1392 9The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.G2865G5056G5216G4102G4991G5590 10This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you.G4012G3739G4991G4396G1567G2532G1830G3588G4395G4012G5485G1519G5209 11They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward.G2045G1519G5101G2228G4169G2540G4151G5547G3588G1722G846G1213G4303G3804G1519G5547G2532G1391G3326G5023 12They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.G3739G601G3754G3756G1438G1161G2254G1247G846G3739G312G3568G312G5213G1223G2097G5209G1722G40G4151G649G575G3772G3739G32G1937G3879G1519 13So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.G1352G328G3751G5216G1271G3525G1679G5049G1909G5485G5342G5213G1722G602G2424G5547 14So you must live as God's obedient children. Don't slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn't know any better then.G5613G5218G5043G3361G4964G4386G1939G1722G5216G52 15But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.G235G2596G2564G5209G40G2532G1096G846G40G1722G3956G391 16For the Scriptures say, "You must be holy because I am holy."G1360G1125G1096G40G3754G1473G1510G40 17And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as "foreigners in the land."G2532G1487G1941G3962G3588G678G2919G2596G1538G2041G390G5550G5216G3940G1722G5401 18For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.G1492G3754G3084G3756G3084G5349G694G2228G5553G1537G5216G3152G391G3970 19It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.G235G5093G129G5547G5613G286G299G2532G784 20God chose him as your ransom long before the world began, but he has now revealed him to you in these last days.G3303G4267G4253G2602G2889G1161G5319G1909G2078G5550G1223G5209 21Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.G3588G1223G846G4100G1519G2316G1453G846G1453G1537G3498G2532G1325G846G1391G5620G5216G4102G2532G1680G1511G1519G2316 22You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart.G48G5216G5590G1722G5218G225G1223G4151G1519G505G5360G25G240G1537G2513G2588G1619 23For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.G313G3756G1537G5349G4701G235G862G1223G3056G2316G2198G2532G3306G1519G165 24As the Scriptures say, "People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades.G1360G3956G4561G5613G5528G2532G3956G1391G444G5613G438G5528G5528G3583G2532G438G846G1601 25But the word of the Lord remains forever." And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.G1161G4487G2962G3306G1519G165G1161G5124G2076G4487G3588G2097G1519G5209
2So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.G3767G659G3956G2549G2532G3956G1388G2532G5272G2532G5355G2532G3956G2636 2Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,G5613G738G1025G1971G97G1051G3050G2443G837G1722G846 3now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness.G1512G1089G3754G2962G5543 4You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.G4314G3739G4334G2198G3037G593G3303G5259G444G1161G1588G3844G2316G1784 5And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What's more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.G846G2532G5613G2198G3037G3618G4152G3624G40G2406G399G4152G2378G2144G2316G1223G2424G5547 6As the Scriptures say, "I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor, and anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced."G1352G2532G4023G1722G1124G2400G5087G1722G4622G204G3037G1588G1784G2532G4100G1909G846G2617G3364G2617 7Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, "The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone."G5213G3767G3588G4100G5092G1161G544G3037G3739G3618G593G3778G1096G1519G2776G1137 8And, "He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they do not obey God's word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them.G2532G3037G4348G2532G4073G4625G3739G4350G3056G544G1519G3739G2532G5087 9But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.G1161G5210G1588G1085G934G2406G40G1484G1519G4047G2992G3704G1804G703G2564G5209G1537G4655G1519G846G2298G5457 10"Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy."G3588G4218G3756G2992G1161G3568G2992G2316G3588G1653G3756G1653G1161G3568G1653 11Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.G27G3870G5613G3941G2532G3927G567G4559G1939G3748G4754G2596G5590 12Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.G2192G5216G391G2570G1722G1484G2443G1722G3739G2635G5216G5613G2555G1392G1537G2570G2041G2029G1392G2316G1722G2250G1984 13For the Lord's sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state,G3767G5293G3956G2937G442G1223G2962G1535G935G5613G5242 14or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honor those who do right.G1535G2232G5613G3992G1223G846G1519G3303G1557G2555G1161G1868G17 15It is God's will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you.G3754G3779G2076G2307G2316G15G5392G56G878G444 16For you are free, yet you are God's slaves, so don't use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.G5613G1658G2532G3361G2192G1657G5613G1942G2549G235G5613G1401G2316 17Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.G5091G3956G25G81G5399G2316G5091G935 18You who are slaves must accept the authority of your masters with all respect. Do what they tell you—not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are cruel.G3610G5293G1203G1722G3956G5401G3756G3440G18G2532G1933G235G2532G4646 19For God is pleased with you when you do what you know is right and patiently endure unfair treatment.G1063G5124G5485G1487G5100G1223G4893G2316G5297G3077G3958G95 20Of course, you get no credit for being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong. But if you suffer for doing good and endure it patiently, God is pleased with you.G1063G4169G2811G1487G2532G2852G264G5278G235G1487G15G2532G3958G5278G5124G5485G3844G2316 21For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.G1063G1519G5124G2564G3754G5547G2532G3958G5228G2257G5277G2254G5261G2443G1872G846G2487 22He never sinned, nor ever deceived anyone.G3739G4160G3756G266G3761G1388G2147G1722G846G4750 23He did not retaliate when he was insulted, nor threaten revenge when he suffered. He left his case in the hands of God, who always judges fairly.G3739G3058G486G3756G486G3958G546G3756G1161G3860G2919G1346 24He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.G3739G846G399G2257G266G1722G846G4983G1909G3586G2443G2198G581G266G2198G1343G3739G846G3468G2390 25Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.G1063G2258G5613G4263G4105G235G1994G3568G1994G1909G4166G2532G1985G5216G5590
3In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won overG3668G1135G5293G2398G435G2443G1536G544G3056G2770G2532G2770G427G3056G2770G1223G391G1135 2by observing your pure and reverent lives.G2029G5216G53G391G1722G5401 3Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.G3739G2889G2077G3756G2077G1855G1708G2359G2532G4025G5553G2228G1745G2440 4You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.G235G2927G444G2588G1722G862G4239G2532G2272G4151G3739G2076G1799G2316G4185 5This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands.G1063G3779G4218G40G1135G2532G3588G1679G1909G2316G2885G1438G5293G2398G435 6For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called him her master. You are her daughters when you do what is right without fear of what your husbands might do.G5613G4564G5219G11G2564G846G2962G3739G5043G1096G15G2532G5399G3361G5399G3367G4423 7In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.G3668G435G4924G2596G1108G632G5092G1134G5613G772G4632G2532G5613G4789G5485G2222G1519G5216G4335G1581G3361G1581 8Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.G1161G5056G3956G3675G4835G5361G2155G5391 9Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.G3361G591G2556G473G2556G2228G3059G473G3059G1161G5121G2129G1492G3754G2564G1519G5124G2564G2443G2816G2127 10For the Scriptures say, "If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.G1063G2309G25G2222G2532G1492G18G2250G3973G846G1100G575G2556G2532G846G5491G2980G3361G1388 11Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.G1578G575G2556G2532G4160G18G2212G1515G2532G1377G846 12The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil."G3754G3788G2962G1909G1342G2532G846G3775G1519G846G1162G1161G4383G2962G1909G4160G2556 13Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good?G2532G5101G2559G5209G1437G1096G3402G18 14But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't worry or be afraid of their threats.G235G1499G3958G1223G1343G3107G1161G5399G3361G5399G846G5401G3366G5015 15Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.G1161G37G2962G2316G1722G5216G2588G1161G2092G104G4314G627G3956G154G5209G3056G4012G1680G1722G5213G3326G4240G2532G5401 16But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.G2192G18G4893G2443G1722G3739G2635G5216G5613G2555G2617G1908G5216G18G391G1722G5547 17Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!G1063G2909G1487G2307G2316G2309G3958G15G2228G2554 18Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.G3754G5547G2532G530G3958G4012G266G1342G5228G94G2443G4317G2248G2316G2289G3303G4561G1161G2227G4151 19So he went and preached to the spirits in prison—G1722G3739G2532G4198G2784G4151G1722G5438 20those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat. Only eight people were saved from drowning in that terrible flood.G4218G544G3753G530G3115G2316G1551G1722G2250G3575G2787G2680G1519G3739G3641G5123G3638G5590G1295G1223G5204 21And that water is a picture of baptism, which now saves you, not by removing dirt from your body, but as a response to God from a clean conscience. It is effective because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.G499G3739G908G4982G2532G3568G4982G2248G3756G595G4509G4561G235G1906G18G4893G1519G2316G1223G386G2424G5547 22Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.G3739G4198G1519G3772G2076G1722G1188G2316G32G2532G1849G2532G1411G5293G846
4So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.G3767G5547G3958G5228G2257G4561G3695G5210G2532G846G1771G3754G3958G1722G4561G3973G266 2You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.G1519G980G3371G980G1954G5550G1722G4561G1939G444G235G2307G2316 3You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.G1063G5550G3928G979G713G2254G2716G2307G1484G4198G1722G766G1939G3632G2970G4224G2532G111G1495 4Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.G1722G3739G3579G5216G4936G3361G1519G846G401G810G987 5But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.G3739G591G3056G2192G2093G2919G2198G2532G3498 6That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.G1063G1519G5124G2097G2532G3498G2443G2919G3303G2596G444G4561G1161G2198G2596G2316G4151 7The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.G1161G5056G3956G1448G4993G3767G4993G2532G3525G1519G4335 8Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.G1161G4253G3956G2192G1618G26G1519G1438G3754G26G2572G4128G266 9Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.G5382G1519G240G427G1112 10God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.G2531G1538G2983G5486G1247G846G1519G1438G5613G2570G3623G4164G5485G2316 11Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.G1536G2980G5613G3051G2316G1536G1247G5613G1537G2479G3739G2316G5524G2443G2316G1722G3956G1392G1223G2424G5547G3739G2076G1391G2532G2904G1519G165G165G281 12Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.G27G3579G3361G3579G5213G4451G1722G1096G4314G3986G5213G5613G3581G4819G5213 13Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.G235G5463G2526G2841G5547G3804G2443G1722G846G1391G602G5463G2532G21 14So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.G1487G3679G1722G3686G5547G3107G3754G4151G1391G2532G2316G373G1909G5209G2596G3303G846G987G1161G2596G5209G1392 15If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs.G1063G3958G3361G5100G5216G3958G5613G5406G2228G2812G2228G2555G2228G5613G244 16But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!G1161G1487G5613G5546G153G3361G153G1161G1392G2316G1722G5129G3313 17For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News?G3754G2540G2917G756G575G3624G2316G1161G1487G4412G575G2257G5101G5056G544G2098G2316 18And also, "If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?"G2532G1487G1342G3433G4982G4226G5316G765G2532G268G5316 19So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.G5620G2532G3908G3958G2596G2307G2316G3908G1438G5590G1722G16G5613G4103G2939
5And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you.G4245G1722G5213G3870G3588G4850G2532G3144G3804G5547G2532G2844G1391G3195G601 2Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.G4165G4168G2316G1722G5213G1983G3361G317G235G1596G3366G147G235G4290 3Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example.G3366G5613G2634G2819G235G1096G5179G4168 4And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.G2532G750G5319G2865G4735G1391G262 5In the same way, you younger men must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, serve each other in humility, for "God opposes the proud but favors the humble."G3668G3501G5293G4245G1161G3956G5293G240G1463G5012G3754G2316G498G5244G1161G1325G5485G5011 6So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.G5013G3767G5259G2900G5495G2316G2443G5312G5209G1722G2540 7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.G1977G3956G5216G3308G1909G846G3754G846G3199G4012G5216 8Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.G3525G1127G3754G5216G476G1228G5613G5612G3023G4043G2212G5101G2666 9Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.G3739G436G4731G4102G1492G846G3804G2005G5216G81G1722G2889 10In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.G1161G2316G3956G5485G3588G2564G2248G1519G846G166G1391G1722G5547G2424G3958G3641G846G2675G5209G2675G4741G4599G2311 11All power to him forever! Amen.G846G1391G2532G2904G1519G165G165G281 12I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas, whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God's grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.G1223G4610G4103G80G5213G5613G3049G1125G1223G3641G3870G2532G1957G5026G1511G227G5485G2316G1519G3739G2476 13Your sister church here in Babylon sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark.G1722G897G4899G782G5209G2532G3138G3450G5207 14Greet each other with Christian love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.G782G240G1722G5370G26G1515G5213G3956G1722G5547G2424G281
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