1Peter , an apostle of Jesus Christ , to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus , Galatia , Cappadocia , Asia, and Bithynia, 2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father , in sanctification of the Spirit , unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ : Grace to you and peace be multiplied . 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead , 4unto an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you , 5who by the power of God are guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time .
The Living Hope
6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while , if need be , ye have been put to grief in manifold trials , 7that the proof of your faith , being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire , may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ : 8whom not having seen ye love; on whom , though now ye see him not , yet believing , ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory : 9receiving the end of your faith , even the salvation of your souls .
The Call to Holiness
10Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently , who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you : 11searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did point unto , when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ , and the glories that should follow them . 12To whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves , but unto you , did they minister these things , which now have been announced unto you through them that preached the gospel unto you by the Holy Spirit sent forth from heaven ; which things angels desire to look into . 13Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind , be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ ; 14as children of obedience , not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of your ignorance: 15but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; 16because it is written , Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.
The Enduring Word of God
17And if ye call on him as Father , who without respect of persons judgeth according to each man ’s work , pass the time of your sojourning in fear : 18knowing that ye were redeemed , not with corruptible things , with silver or gold , from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers ; 19but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, even the blood of Christ : 20who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world , but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake , 21who through him are believers in God , that raised him from the dead , and gave him glory ; so that your faith and hope might be in God . 22Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren , love one another from the heart fervently : 23having been begotten again , not of corruptible seed , but of incorruptible, through the word of God , which liveth and abideth . 24For , All flesh is as grass , And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass . The grass withereth , and the flower falleth : 25But the word of the Lord abideth for ever . And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you .