1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect2282 who are living as exiles, scattered2283 in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. 2This is according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, so that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood. Grace be to you and may peace be multiplied!
Demonstration of faith—Called to holiness
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that does not fade away. It is reserved in heaven for you, 5who by the power of God are protected through faith for a salvation which is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, although for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials. 7This way, may the demonstration of your faith (which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire) be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ! 8Even though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with unspeakable joy and glory. 9And so you are receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 10About this salvation, the prophets (who prophesied of the grace that would come to you) did much research and investigation. 11They were investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ2284 (which was in them) pointed to by predicting the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow them.2285 12They received revelation that they were servants of these things not for themselves but for you. These [things] have now been announced to you by those who preached the Good News by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven, and [even the] angels2286 desire to gaze upon these things.
13Therefore, prepare your minds for action;2287 be sober2288 and set your hope fully on the grace that is brought to you by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14Be children of obedience and do not conform yourselves to your former lusts as in [the days of] your ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves should also be holy in every aspect of your life, 16because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”2289 17If you call on him who judges without discrimination according to everyone’s work as Father, spend your lives as exiles here {on earth}, in reverent fear. 18Know2290 that it was not with corruptible things (such as silver or gold) that you were redeemed from the useless way of life handed down to you by your forefathers. 19Instead, it was with [the] precious blood of a blameless and pure lamb, [the blood] of Christ! 20He was foreknown even before the foundation of the world but he was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him, you believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.
Call to brotherly affection
22Having purified your souls by obedience to the truth through the Spirit,2291 love one another with a pure heart2292, in sincere brotherly affection, and fervently! 23You have been born again, not of corruptible but of incorruptible seed, through the word of God which lives and remains forever.2293 24Truly:
All flesh is like grass,
and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass.
The grass withers, and its flower falls;
but the word of the Lord endures forever.2294
25This is the word of the Good News which was preached to you.
A spiritual house, a holy priesthood
- Or “chosen ones”
- Greek diaspora/j (diaspora)
- Or possibly, “spirit of the Anointed One”
- Compare Isaias (Isaiah) 53
- The Greek a;ggeloi could also mean “messengers” in reference to the prophets of old
- Literally, “gird up the waist of your mind” or “put on the belt of the waist of your mind”
- Greek “clear-minded”
- Leviticus 11:44-45
- Or “recognize/perceive/acknowledge”
- CT omits “through the Spirit”
- CT reads “from the heart”
- CT reads “living and abiding Word of God” instead of “the word of God which lives and remains forever”
- Isaias 40:6-8. NT agrees with LXX against MT.
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
