1 Peter 1-5

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Greeting

1 Peter,^(A) an apostle of Jesus Christ:

To the temporary residents^(B) dispersed^[a](C) in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,^(D) chosen^{(E) 2} according to the foreknowledge^(F) of God the Father and set apart by the Spirit^(G) for obedience^(H) and for sprinkling with the blood^(I) of Jesus Christ.

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

A Living Hope

³ Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.^(J) According to His great mercy,^(K) He has given us a new birth^(L) into a living hope^(M) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead^{(N) 4} and into an inheritance that is imperishable,^(O) uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven^(P) for you. ⁵ You are being protected by God’s power^(Q) through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.^{(R) 6} You rejoice in this,^[b] though now for a short time you have had to struggle in various trials^{(S) 7} so that the genuineness of your faith^(T)—more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire^(U)—may result^(V) in^[c] praise, glory, and honor^(W) at the revelation of Jesus Christ.^{(X) 8} You love Him,^(Y) though you have not seen^(Z) Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice^(AA) with inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ because you are receiving the goal of your^[d] faith, the salvation of your souls.^[e]

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets^(AB) who prophesied about the grace that would come to you searched and carefully investigated. ¹¹ They inquired into what time or what circumstances^[f] the Spirit of Christ^(AC) within them was indicating when He testified in advance^(AD) to the messianic sufferings^[g](AE) and the glories^(AF) that would follow.^{[h] 12} It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you. These things have now been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you^(AG) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.^(AH) Angels desire to look into these things.

A Call to Holy Living

¹³ Therefore, with your minds ready for action,^[i](AI) be serious^(AJ) and set your hope^(AK) completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation^(AL) of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children,^(AM) do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. ¹⁵ But as the One who called you^(AN) is holy,^(AO) you also are to be holy in all your conduct; ¹⁶ for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.^(AP)[j]

¹⁷ And if you address as Father the One who judges impartially^(AQ) based on each one’s work,^(AR) you are to conduct yourselves in fear^(AS) during the time of your temporary residence. ¹⁸ For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life^(AT) inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold,^{(AU) 19} but with the precious blood of Christ,^(AV) like that of a lamb^(AW) without defect or blemish. ²⁰ He was chosen^[k](AX) before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times^(AY) for you ²¹ who through Him are believers in God,^(AZ) who raised Him from the dead^(BA) and gave Him glory,^(BB) so that your faith and hope are in God.

²² By obedience to the truth,^[l] having purified yourselves^[m] for sincere love of the brothers, love one another^(BC) earnestly^[n] from a pure^[o] heart,^{(BD) 23} since you have been born again^(BE)—not of perishable seed^(BF) but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.^{(BG) 24} For

And this is the word that was preached as the gospel to you.

The Living Stone and a Holy People

2 So rid yourselves of^(BJ) all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.^{(BK) 2} Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk,^(BL) so that you may grow by it for your salvation,^{[q] 3} since you have tasted^(BM) that the Lord is good.^{(BN)[r] 4} Coming to Him, a living stone—rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God— ⁵ you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God^(BO) through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it is contained in Scripture:

⁷ So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving,

⁸ and

They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined^(BU) for this.

A Call to Good Works

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents^(CC) to abstain^(CD) from fleshly^(CE) desires that war against you.^{[ah](CF) 12} Conduct^(CG) yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,^[ai] so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.^[aj](CH)

¹³ Submit^(CI) to every human authority^[ak] because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor^[al] as the supreme authority^{(CJ) 14} or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will^(CK) that you silence the ignorance^(CL) of foolish people by doing good. ¹⁶ As God’s slaves,^(CM) live as free people, but don’t use your freedom as a way to conceal evil.^{(CN) 17} Honor everyone. Love^(CO) the brotherhood.^(CP) Fear God.^(CQ) Honor the Emperor.^[am]

Submission of Slaves to Masters

¹⁸ Household slaves, submit with all fear^(CR) to your masters,^(CS) not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel.^{[an](CT) 19} For it brings favor^[ao] if, mindful of God’s will,^[ap][aq] someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,^(CU) if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

Wives and Husbands

3 In the same way, wives,^(DK) submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message,^(DL) they may be won over^[av](DM) without a message by the way their wives live^{(DN) 2} when they observe your pure, reverent lives.^{(DO) 3} Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments^[aw] or fine clothes.^{(DP) 4} Instead, it should consist of what is inside^[ax] the heart^(DQ) with the imperishable quality of a gentle^(DR) and quiet^(DS) spirit, which is very valuable in God’s eyes. ⁵ For in the past, the holy^(DT) women who put their hope^(DU) in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ just as Sarah^(DV) obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming.^(DW)

⁷ Husbands,^(DX) in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature^[ay](DY) yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Do No Evil

⁸ Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers,^[az](DZ) and be compassionate^(EA) and humble,^{[ba] 9} not paying back evil for evil^(EB) or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing,^(EC) since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.

Undeserved Suffering

¹³ And who will harm^[bc] you if you are deeply committed to what is good?^{[bd] 14} But even if you should suffer for righteousness,^(EI) you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear^(EJ) or be disturbed,^{(EK)[be] 15} but honor^[bf] the Messiah^[bg] as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason^[bh] for the hope that is in you.^{(EL) 16} However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear,^[bi][bj](EM) so that when you are accused,^[bk] those who denounce your Christian life^[bl] will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer^(EN) for doing good, if that should be God’s will,^[bm] than for doing evil.

¹⁹ In that state^[bs] He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits^(ES) in prison^{[bt] 20} who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah^(ET) while an ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people^[bu](EU)—were saved through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh,^(EV) but the pledge^[bv] of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.^{(EW) 22} Now that He has gone into heaven,^(EX) He is at God’s right hand^(EY) with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.^(EZ)

Following Christ

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered^[bw] in the flesh,^[bx] equip^[by] yourselves also with the same resolve^[bz]—because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished^(FA) with sin^[ca]— ² in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires,^[cb] but for God’s will.^{(FB) 3} For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do:^[cc] carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,^(FC) drunkenness, orgies,^(FD) carousing, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ So they are surprised that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood^[cd] of wild living—and they slander you. ⁵ They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(FE) 6} For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead,^(FF) so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly^(FG) realm,^[ce] they might live^(FH) by God in the spiritual realm.^[cf]

End-Time Ethics

⁷ Now the end of all things is near;^(FI) therefore, be serious and disciplined^(FJ) for prayer. ⁸ Above all, maintain an intense love^(FK) for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins.^{(FL)[cg] 9} Be hospitable^(FM) to one another without complaining. ¹⁰ Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others,^(FN) as good managers of the varied grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides,^(FO) so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Christian Suffering

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal^[ch] comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.^{(FP) 13} Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah,^(FQ) so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation^(FR) of His glory. ¹⁴ If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,^(FS) you are blessed, because the Spirit^(FT) of glory and of God rests on you.^{[ci] 15} None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.^{[cj] 16} But if anyone suffers as a “Christian,” he should not be ashamed but should glorify God in having that name. ¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment^(FU) to begin with God’s household,^(FV) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

¹⁹ So those who suffer according to God’s will should, while doing what is good, entrust themselves^(FX) to a faithful Creator.

About the Elders

5 Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness^(FY) to the sufferings of the Messiah and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed,^(FZ) I exhort the elders among you: ² Shepherd God’s flock among you,^(GA) not overseeing^[cl] out of compulsion but freely, according to God’s will;^[cm] not for the money but eagerly; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd^(GB) appears, you will receive the unfading crown^(GC) of glory.

⁵ In the same way, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with^[cn] humility toward one another, because

⁶ Humble^(GE) yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand^(GF) of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,^{[cp] 7} casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.^(GG)

Conclusion

⁸ Be serious!^(GH) Be alert!^(GI) Your adversary the Devil^(GJ) is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. ⁹ Resist him^(GK) and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

¹⁰ Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory^(GL) in Christ Jesus, will personally^[cq] restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.^{[cr] 11} The dominion^[cs] belongs to Him forever.^[ct] Amen.

¹² I have written you this brief letter through Silvanus^[cu](GM) (I know him to be a faithful brother) to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Take your stand in it! ¹³ The church in Babylon,^[cv](GN) also chosen, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love.^(GO) Peace^(GP) to all of you who are in Christ.^[cw]