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1 <1> Greetings from Peter, an apostle[1] of Jesus Christ.
To God’s chosen people who are away from their homes—people scattered all over the areas of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. <2> God planned long ago to choose you and to make you his holy people,[2] which is the Spirit’s[3] work. God wanted you to obey him and to be made clean by the blood sacrifice[4] of Jesus Christ.
I pray that you will enjoy more and more of God’s grace[5] and peace.
<3> Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of his mercy he gave us a new life. This new life brings us a living hope through Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death. <4> Now we wait to receive the blessings God has for his children. These blessings are kept for you in heaven. They cannot be ruined or be destroyed or lose their beauty.
<5> God’s power protects you through your faith, and it keeps you safe until your salvation comes. That salvation is ready to be given to you at the end of time. <6> I know the thought of that is exciting, but for a short time now, you are having to suffer through different kinds of troubles. <7> These troubles test your faith and prove that it is pure. And such faith is worth more than gold. Gold can be proved to be pure by fire, but gold will ruin. When your faith is proven to be pure, the result will be praise and glory[6] and honor when Jesus Christ comes.
<8> You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You can’t see him now, but you believe in him. You are filled with a wonderful and heavenly joy that cannot be explained. <9> Your faith has a goal, and you are reaching that goal—your salvation.
<10> The prophets[7] studied carefully and tried to learn about this salvation. They spoke about the grace[8] that was coming to you. <11> The Spirit[9] of Christ was in those prophets. And the Spirit was telling about the sufferings that would happen to Christ and about the glory that would come after those sufferings. The prophets tried to learn about what the Spirit was showing them—when it would happen and what the world would be like at that time.
<12> It was made clear to them that their service was not for themselves. They were serving you when they told about the things you have now heard. You heard them from those who told you the Good News,[10] with the help of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even the angels would like very much to know more about these things you were told.
<13> So prepare your minds for service. With complete self-control put all your hope in the grace[11] that will be yours when Jesus Christ comes. <14> In the past you did not have the understanding you have now, so you did the evil things you wanted to do. But now you are children of God, so you should obey him and not live the way you did before. <15> Be holy[12] in everything you do, just as God is holy. He is the one who chose you. <16> In the Scriptures[13] God says, “Be holy, because I am holy.”[14]
<17> You pray to God and call him Father, but he will judge everyone the same way—by what they do. So while you are visiting here on earth, you should live with respect for God. <18> You know that in the past the way you were living was useless. It was a way of life you learned from those who lived before you. But you were saved from that way of living. You were bought, but not with things that ruin like gold or silver. <19> You were bought with the precious blood of Christ’s death. He was a pure and perfect sacrificial Lamb.[15] <20> Christ was chosen before the world was made, but he was shown to the world in these last times for you. <21> You believe in God through Christ. God is the one who raised him from death and gave honor to him. So your faith and your hope are in God.
<22> You have made yourselves pure by obeying the truth. Now you can have true love for your brothers and sisters. So love each other deeply—with all your heart. <23> You have been born again. This new life did not come from something that dies. It came from something that cannot die. You were born again through God’s life-giving message[16] that lasts forever. <24> The Scriptures say,
“Our lives are like the grass of spring,
and any glory[17] we enjoy is like the beauty of a wildflower.
The grass dries up and dies,
and the flower falls to the ground.
<25> But the word of the Lord lasts forever.”
Isaiah 40:6-8
And that word is the Good News[18] that was told to you.
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<1> So then, stop doing anything to hurt others. Don’t lie anymore, and stop trying to fool people. Don’t be jealous or say bad things about others. <2> Like newborn babies hungry for milk, you should want the pure teaching that feeds your spirit. With it you can grow up and be saved. <3> You have already tasted the goodness of the Lord.
<4> The Lord Jesus is the living stone.[19] The people of the world decided that they did not want this stone. But he is the one God chose as one of great value. So come to him. <5> You also are like living stones, and God is using you to build a spiritual house.[20] You are to serve God in this house as holy[21] priests, offering him spiritual sacrifices[22] that he will accept because of Jesus Christ. <6> The Scriptures[23] say,
“Look, I have chosen a cornerstone[24] of great value,
and I put that stone in Zion[25];
the one who trusts in him will never be disappointed.”
Isaiah 28:16
<7> That stone has great value for you who believe. But for those who don’t believe he is
“the stone that the builders refused to accept,
which became the most important stone.”
Psalm 118:22
<8> For them he is also
“a stone that makes people stumble,
a rock that makes people fall.”
Isaiah 8:14
People stumble because they don’t obey what God says. This is what God planned to happen to those people.
<9> But you are his chosen people, the King’s priests. You are a holy nation, people who belong to God. He chose you to tell about the wonderful things he has done. He brought you out of the darkness of sin into his wonderful light.
<10> In the past you were not a special people,
but now you are God’s people.
Once you had not received mercy,
but now God has given you his mercy.[26]
<11> Dear friends, you are like visitors and strangers in this world. So I beg you to keep your lives free from the evil things you want to do, those desires that fight against your true selves. <12> People who don’t believe are living all around you. They may say that you are doing wrong. So live such good lives that they will see the good you do, and they will give glory[27] to God on the day he comes.
<13> Be willing to serve the people who have authority[28] in this world. Do this for the Lord. Obey the king, the highest authority. <14> And obey the leaders who are sent by the king. They are sent to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do good. <15> When you do good, you stop ignorant people from saying foolish things about you. This is what God wants. <16> Live like free people, but don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Live as those who are serving God. <17> Show respect for all people. Love all the brothers and sisters of God’s family. Respect God, and honor the king.
<18> Slaves, be willing to serve your masters. Do this with all respect. You should obey the masters who are good and kind, and you should obey the masters who are bad. <19> One of you might have to suffer even when you have done nothing wrong. If you think of God and bear the pain, this pleases God. <20> But if you are punished for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for bearing that punishment. But if you suffer for doing good and you are patient, this pleases God. <21> This is what you were chosen to do. Christ gave you an example to follow. He suffered for you. So you should do the same as he did:
<22> “He never sinned,
and he never told a lie.”
Isaiah 53:9
<23> People insulted him, but he did not insult them back. He suffered, but he did not threaten anyone. No, he let God take care of him. God is the one who judges rightly. <24> Christ carried our sins in his body on the cross. He did this so that we would stop living for sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you were healed. <25> You were like sheep that went the wrong way. But now you have come back to the Shepherd and Protector of your lives.
3 <1> In the same way, you wives should be willing to serve your husbands. Then, even those who have refused to accept God’s teaching will be persuaded to believe because of the way you live. You will not need to say anything. <2> Your husbands will see the pure lives that you live with respect for God. <3> It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. <4> No, your beauty should come from inside you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. That beauty will never disappear. It is worth very much to God.
<5> It was the same with the holy[29] women who lived long ago and followed God. They made themselves beautiful in that same way. They were willing to serve their husbands. <6> I am talking about women like Sarah. She obeyed Abraham,[30] her husband, and called him her master. And you women are true children of Sarah if you always do what is right and are not afraid.
<7> In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way, since they are weaker than you. You should show them respect, because God gives them the same blessing he gives you—the grace[31] of true life. Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers from being heard.
<8> So all of you should live together in peace. Try to understand each other. Love each other like brothers and sisters. Be kind and humble. <9> Don’t do wrong to anyone to pay them back for doing wrong to you. Or don’t insult anyone to pay them back for insulting you. But ask God to bless them. Do this because you yourselves were chosen to receive a blessing. <10> The Scriptures[32] say,
“If you want to enjoy true life
and have only good days,
then avoid saying anything hurtful,
and never let a lie come out of your mouth.
<11> Stop doing what is wrong, and do good.
Look for peace, and do all you can to help people live peacefully.
<12> The Lord watches over those who do what is right,
and he listens to their prayers.
But he is against those who do evil.”
Psalm 34:12-16
<13> If you are always trying to do good, no one can really harm you. <14> But you may suffer for doing right. If that happens, you have God’s blessing. “Don’t be afraid of the people who make you suffer; don’t be worried.”[33] <15> But keep the Lord Christ holy in your hearts. Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have. <16> But answer them in a gentle way with respect. Keep your conscience clear. Then people will see the good way you live as followers of Christ, and those who say bad things about you will be ashamed of what they said.
<17> It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong. Yes, it is better if that is what God wants. <18> Christ himself suffered when he died for you, and with that one death he paid for your sins. He was not guilty, but he died for people who are guilty. He did this to bring all of you to God. In his physical form he was killed, but he was made alive in the spirit. <19> And in the spirit he went and preached to the spirits in prison. <20> Those were the spirits who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for people while Noah was building the big boat. And only a few—eight in all—were saved in the boat through the floodwater. <21> And that water is like baptism,[34] which now saves you. Baptism is not the washing of dirt from the body. It is asking God for a clean conscience. It save s you because Jesus Christ was raised from death. <22> Now he has gone into heaven. He is at God’s right side and rules over angels, authorities, and powers.
4 <1> Christ suffered while he was in his body. So you should strengthen yourselves with the same kind of thinking Christ had. The one who accepts suffering in this life has clearly decided to stop sinning. <2> Strengthen yourselves so that you will live your lives here on earth doing what God wants, not the evil things that people want to do. <3> In the past you wasted too much time doing what those who don’t know God like to do. You were living immoral lives, doing the evil things you wanted to do. You were always getting drunk, having wild drinking parties, and doing shameful things in your worship of idols.
<4> Now those “friends” think it is strange that you no longer join them in all the wild and wasteful things they do. And so they say bad things about you. <5> But they will have to face God to explain what they have done. He is the one who will soon judge everyone—those who are still living and those who have died. <6> Some were told the Good News[35] before they died. They were criticized by others in their life here on earth. But it was God’s plan that they hear the Good News so that they could have a new life in the spirit.[36]
<7> The time is near when all things will end. So keep your minds clear, and control yourselves. This will help you in your prayers. <8> Most important of all, love each other deeply, because love makes you willing to forgive many sins. <9> Open your homes to each other and share your food without complaining. <10> God has shown you his grace[37] in many different ways. So be good servants and use whatever gift he has given you in a way that will best serve each other. <11> If your gift is speaking, your words should be like words from God. If your gift is serving, you should serve with the strength that God gives. Then it is God who will be praised in everything through Jesus Christ. Power and glory[38] belong to him forever and ever. Amen.[39]
<12> My friends, don’t be surprised at the painful things that you are now suffering, which are testing your faith. Don’t think that something strange is happening to you. <13> But you should be happy that you are sharing in Christ’s sufferings. You will be happy and full of joy when Christ shows his glory.[40] <14> When people say bad things to you because you follow Christ, consider it a blessing. When that happens, it shows that God’s Spirit, the Spirit of glory, is with you. <15> You may suffer, but don’t let it be because you murder, steal, make trouble, or try to control other people’s lives. <16> But if you suffer because you are a “Christ follower,” don’t be ashamed. You should praise God for that name. <17> It is time for judging to begin. That judging will begin with God’s family. If it begins wi th us, then what will happen to those who don’t accept the Good News[41] of God?
<18> “If it is hard for even a good person to be saved,
what will happen to the one who is against God and full of sin?”
Proverbs 11:31 (Greek version)
<19> So if God wants you to suffer, you should trust your lives to him. He is the one who made you, and you can trust him. So continue to do good.
5 <1> Now I have something to say to the elders[42] in your group. I am also an elder. I myself have seen Christ’s sufferings. And I will share in the glory[43] that will be shown to us. I beg you to <2> take care of the group of people you are responsible for. They are God’s flock.[44] Watch over that flock because you want to, not because you are forced to do it. That is how God wants it. Do it because you are happy to serve, not because you want money. <3> Don’t be like a ruler over those you are responsible for. But be good examples to them. <4> Then when Christ the Ruling Shepherd comes, you will get a crown[45]—one that will be glorious and never lose its beauty.
<5> Young people, I have something to say to you too. You should accept the authority of the elders. You should all have a humble attitude in dealing with each other.
“God is against the proud,
but he gives grace[46] to the humble.”
Proverbs 3:34
<6> So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then he will lift you up when the right time comes. <7> Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.
<8> Control yourselves and be careful! The devil is your enemy, and he goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to attack and eat. <9> Refuse to follow the devil. Stand strong in your faith. You know that your brothers and sisters all over the world are having the same sufferings that you have.
<10> Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is the God who gives all grace. He chose you to share in his glory in Christ. That glory will continue forever. <11> All power is his forever. Amen.[47]
<12> Silas will bring this letter to you. I know that he is a faithful brother in Christ. I wrote this short letter to encourage you. I wanted to tell you that this is the true grace[48] of God. Stand strong in that grace.
<13> The church in Babylon[49] sends you greetings. They were chosen just as you were. Mark, my son in Christ, also sends his greetings. <14> Give each other a special greeting[50] of love when you meet.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
[1] 1:1 apostle A follower of Jesus chosen to represent him in a special way. During his earthly ministry, Jesus named twelve men as apostles, to whom he gave the specific responsibility and authority to represent him and proclaim his message throughout the world. Later, he appeared to Paul and gave him a similar commission, especially to non-Jewish people. Barnabas, Paul’s missionary companion, and James, the brother of Jesus, are also called apostles, as well as several others in the New Testament. Some of these occurrences of the word, however, have the more general sense of “messenger” or “emissary.”
[2] 1:2 holy people Literally, “saints” or “holy ones,” a term used in the New Testament to describe followers of Jesus Christ as God’s special people. They are holy because they have been made pure through Christ and belong only to God.
[3] 1:2 Spirit See “Holy Spirit.”
[4] 1:2 made clean … sacrifice Or “sprinkled with the blood,” which probably compares the beginning of the new agreement by the blood sacrifice of Christ (Mk. 14:24) with Moses’ sprinkling the blood of animal sacrifices on the people of Israel to seal the agreement God made with them (Ex. 24:3-8). See also Heb. 9:15-26.
[5] 1:2 grace The love and kindness that God shows in his complete willingness to give people favors he does not owe them and blessings they don’t deserve.
[6] 1:7 glory A word that refers to the special qualities of God. Often it means brightness, referring to the way he appears to people. Sometimes it means majesty or power, referring to a kind of greatness that cannot be compared to anything in human experience. It can also include the ideas of honor, fame or respect, especially in expressions of praise.
[7] 1:10 prophet A person who speaks a message from God. Many of the books in the Old Testament are messages spoken or written by “the prophets,” who were some of those God chose to speak for him. God often used dreams or visions to tell or show his prophets what they should say.
[8] 1:10 grace The love and kindness that God shows in his complete willingness to give people favors he does not owe them and blessings they don’t deserve.
[9] 1:11 Spirit See “Holy Spirit.”
[10] 1:12 Good News In the gospels this is usually the news about the coming of God’s kingdom (see above) or its representative Jesus Christ. In other places it is, more specifically, the news or message of God’s grace—that he has made a way through Jesus Christ for people to be made right with him and enjoy his blessings now and forever.
[11] 1:13 grace The love and kindness that God shows in his complete willingness to give people favors he does not owe them and blessings they don’t deserve.
[12] 1:15 holy Set apart or chosen for a special use; especially, belonging to God or used only for him. Also, pure or perfect, worthy of God and fit for his service. In the New Testament God’s people are holy because they have been made pure through Christ and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, keep themselves from sin and live only for God.
[13] 1:16 Scripture Part of the Scriptures or “Holy Writings”—the Old Testament.
[14] 1:16 Quote from Lev. 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7.
[15] 1:19 Lamb A symbolic name for Jesus Christ. It means that he was an offering for sin like the lambs that were offered as a sacrifice to God in the Old Testament.
[16] 1:23 message See “Good News.”
[17] 1:24 glory A word that refers to the special qualities of God. Often it means brightness, referring to the way he appears to people. Sometimes it means majesty or power, referring to a kind of greatness that cannot be compared to anything in human experience. It can also include the ideas of honor, fame or respect, especially in expressions of praise.
[18] 1:25 Good News In the gospels this is usually the news about the coming of God’s kingdom (see above) or its representative Jesus Christ. In other places it is, more specifically, the news or message of God’s grace—that he has made a way through Jesus Christ for people to be made right with him and enjoy his blessings now and forever.
[19] 2:4 stone The most important stone in God’s spiritual temple or house (his people).
[20] 2:5 house God’s house—the place where God’s people worship him. Here, it means that believers are the spiritual building where God lives.
[21] 2:5 holy Set apart or chosen for a special use; especially, belonging to God or used only for him. Also, pure or perfect, worthy of God and fit for his service. In the New Testament God’s people are holy because they have been made pure through Christ and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, keep themselves from sin and live only for God.
[22] 2:5 sacrifice To offer a gift to God as an expression of worship, thanksgiving or payment for sin. Also, the gift that is offered. In the Old Testament it was usually a special animal that was killed and burned on an altar. The Old Testament sacrifices offered for sins were symbolic of the perfect sacrifice that God himself would provide through Jesus Christ. Jesus gave his own life as a sacrifice to pay for the sins of all people. See Hebrews 10:1-14.
[23] 2:6 Scripture Part of the Scriptures or “Holy Writings”—the Old Testament.
[24] 2:6 cornerstone The first and most important stone of a building.
[25] 2:6 Zion The southeastern part of the mountain that Jerusalem is built on. Sometimes it means the city of Jerusalem, the people of God living there, or the Temple.
[26] 2:10 In the past … his mercy See Hos. 2:23.
[27] 2:12 glory A word that refers to the special qualities of God. Often it means brightness, referring to the way he appears to people. Sometimes it means majesty or power, referring to a kind of greatness that cannot be compared to anything in human experience. It can also include the ideas of honor, fame or respect, especially in expressions of praise.
[28] 2:13 people … authority Literally, “every human creation,” meaning rulers, governors, presidents, or other government leaders.
[29] 3:5 holy Set apart or chosen for a special use; especially, belonging to God or used only for him. Also, pure or perfect, worthy of God and fit for his service. In the New Testament God’s people are holy because they have been made pure through Christ and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, keep themselves from sin and live only for God.
[30] 3:6 Abraham The most respected ancestor of the Jewish people. Through him God promised to make a great nation and bless all the people of the earth. Read Gen. 12:1-3.
[31] 3:7 grace The love and kindness that God shows in his complete willingness to give people favors he does not owe them and blessings they don’t deserve.
[32] 3:10 Scripture Part of the Scriptures or “Holy Writings”—the Old Testament.
[33] 3:14 Quote from Isa. 8:12.
[34] 3:21 baptism A Greek word usually referring to the act of dipping or “burying” a person briefly in water, connected with their decision to change their life and turn to God, trusting him to forgive their sins. For people coming to faith in Jesus Christ it was an expression of their trust in his death as the sacrifice God accepted to pay for their sins. Described as a sharing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, it marked the beginning of their new life in Christ as part of God’s people. See Acts 2:38; Rom. 6:3, 4; Gal. 3:26-28; Col. 2:12, 13.
[35] 4:6 Good News In the gospels this is usually the news about the coming of God’s kingdom (see above) or its representative Jesus Christ. In other places it is, more specifically, the news or message of God’s grace—that he has made a way through Jesus Christ for people to be made right with him and enjoy his blessings now and forever.
[36] 4:6 in the spirit Or “through the Spirit,” meaning by the power of the Holy Spirit.
[37] 4:10 grace The love and kindness that God shows in his complete willingness to give people favors he does not owe them and blessings they don’t deserve.
[38] 4:11 glory A word that refers to the special qualities of God. Often it means brightness, referring to the way he appears to people. Sometimes it means majesty or power, referring to a kind of greatness that cannot be compared to anything in human experience. It can also include the ideas of honor, fame or respect, especially in expressions of praise.
[39] 4:11 Amen A Hebrew word meaning “That’s right,” “True,” or “Yes.” It is used to express strong agreement with what has been said.
[40] 4:13 glory A word that refers to the special qualities of God. Often it means brightness, referring to the way he appears to people. Sometimes it means majesty or power, referring to a kind of greatness that cannot be compared to anything in human experience. It can also include the ideas of honor, fame or respect, especially in expressions of praise.
[41] 4:17 Good News In the gospels this is usually the news about the coming of God’s kingdom (see above) or its representative Jesus Christ. In other places it is, more specifically, the news or message of God’s grace—that he has made a way through Jesus Christ for people to be made right with him and enjoy his blessings now and forever.
[42] 5:1 elders (New Testament) A group of men chosen to lead a church. Also called “overseers” and “pastors” (shepherds), they have the work of caring for God’s people. See Acts 14:23; 20:17, 28; Eph. 4:11; Php. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; Tit. 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-3.
[43] 5:1 glory A word that refers to the special qualities of God. Often it means brightness, referring to the way he appears to people. Sometimes it means majesty or power, referring to a kind of greatness that cannot be compared to anything in human experience. It can also include the ideas of honor, fame or respect, especially in expressions of praise.
[44] 5:2 God’s flock God’s people. They are like a flock (group) of sheep that need to be cared for.
[45] 5:4 crown Literally, “wreath,” a ring of leaves or branches that was placed on the head of the winners of athletic contests to honor them. It is a symbol of victory and reward.
[46] 5:5 grace The love and kindness that God shows in his complete willingness to give people favors he does not owe them and blessings they don’t deserve.
[47] 5:11 Amen A Hebrew word meaning “That’s right,” “True,” or “Yes.” It is used to express strong agreement with what has been said.
[48] 5:12 grace The love and kindness that God shows in his complete willingness to give people favors he does not owe them and blessings they don’t deserve.
[49] 5:13 The church in Babylon Literally, “She in Babylon.”
[50] 5:14 special greeting Literally, “kiss.”