Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the resident aliens of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are the chosen ones
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in holiness produced by the spirit for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Born Again to a Living Hope
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has given us new birth to a living hope by means of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead,
to an inheritance that is imperishable and undefiled and unfading, which is being kept in heaven for you,
the ones being guarded by the power of God by trust, for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
You rejoice in this, even though now for a little while, you must suffer various trials,
so that the tested genuineness of your trust—which is more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire—will be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Although you have not seen him, you love him; although you do not see him now but believe in him, you rejoice greatly with inexpressible and glorious joy,
because you are attaining the goal of your trust, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets (who prophesied of the grace that would come to you) searched diligently for and made careful inquiry,
inquiring about what time or what sort of circumstance the spirit of Christ in them was indicating when it testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ and the glories that would come after them.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves—but you—in the things that have now been announced to you by those who proclaimed the good news to you by the holy spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
Called to Be Holy
Therefore, having prepared your mind for action and being clearheaded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the appearing of Jesus Christ.
As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former desires you had in your ignorance,
but as the one who called you is holy, you yourselves must also be holy in all your way of life,
for it is written, Be holy, for I am holy.
And since you call on him as Father, the one who judges impartially according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your sojourning.
For you know that you were not redeemed from your pointless way of life—the life handed down from your fathers—by corruptible things such as silver or gold,
but by the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
For he was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Through him you trust in God, who raised him from among the dead and gave him glory, so that your trust and hope are in God.
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth so that you have sincere affection for God’s family, love one another fervently from a pure heart,
for you have been born again, not from corruptible seed but from incorruptible, through the living and enduring word of God.
For, all flesh is like grass, and all its glory is like the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,
but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word—the good news that was proclaimed to you.