AFV2020 - I Peter

Chapter 1

1:1  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect strangers scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia;

1:2  Who have been chosen according to the predetermined knowledge of God the Father, by sanctification through the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you.

1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again unto a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead;

1:4  Unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for us,

1:5  Who are being safeguarded by the power of God through faith, for salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

1:6  In this you yourselves greatly rejoice; though for the present, if it is necessary, you are in distress for a little while by various trials;

1:7  In order that the proving of your faith, which is much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is being tested by fire, may be found unto praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1:8  Whom, not having seen, you love; in Whom, though at the present time you do not see Him, you believe, and rejoice with unspeakable joy, and filled with glory;

1:9  And are receiving the end of your faith—even the salvation of your souls;

1:10  Concerning which salvation the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you have diligently searched out and intently inquired,

1:11  Searching into what way and what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them was indicating, testifying beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and these glories that would follow;

1:12  To whom it was revealed that, not for themselves, but to us they were ministering these things, which now have been announced to you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven—into which things the angels desire to look.

1:13  For this reason, be prepared in your minds, be self-controlled, and be fully hoping in the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1:14  As obedient children, do not conform yourselves to the former lusts, as you did in your ignorance.

1:15  But according as He Who has called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all your conduct;

1:16  For it is written, "You be holy because I am holy."

1:17  And if you call upon the Father, Who judges according to each man's work without respect of persons, pass the time of your life's journey in the fear of God;

1:18  Knowing that you were not redeemed by corruptible things, by silver or gold, from your futile way of living, inherited by tradition from your forefathers;

1:19  But by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot;

1:20  Who truly was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for your sakes;

1:21  Even for you who through Him do believe in God, Who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

1:22  Having purified your lives by obedience to the Truth unto unfeigned brotherly love through the Spirit, love one another fervently with a pure heart.

1:23  Foryou have been begotten again, not from corruptible seed, but from incorruptible seed, by the living Word of God, which remains forever.

1:24  For all flesh is like grass, and all the glory of man is like the flower of the field; the grass has withered, and its flower has fallen away.

1:25  But the Word of the Lord endures forever; and this is the message that was preached to you through the gospel.

Chapter 2

2:1  Therefore, having put away all wickedness, and all deceit, and hypocrisies and jealousies, and all slanders,

2:2  As newborn babes, yearn after the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow,

2:3  If you yourselves have indeed tasted that the Lord is gracious.

2:4  To Whom coming, as to a living Stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, and precious,

2:5  You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house—a holy priesthood—to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

2:6  For this reason it says in the scripture, "Behold, I place in Zion the Cornerstone, chosen and precious; and the one who believes in Him shall never be put to shame."

2:7  The preciousness is to you, therefore, who believe; but to those who disobey, the Stone that the builders rejected has become the Head of the corner,

2:8  And a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense; especially to those who stumble at the Word, being disobedient, unto which unbelief they also were appointed.

2:9  But you are a chosen stock, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession of God, that you might proclaim His excellent virtues, Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

2:10  Who once were not a people, but now are the people of God; who had not received mercy, but now have received mercy.

2:11  Beloved, I exhort you, as strangers and sojourners, to restrain yourselves from fleshly lusts which war against the soul;

2:12  Having your way of life honest among the Gentiles so that although they speak against you as evil doers, through having witnessed your good works, they may glorify God in the day of visitation.

2:13  Therefore, submit yourselves to every human institution for the Lord's sake; whether to the king, as supreme,

2:14  Or to governors, as sent by him to execute vengeance against evil doers, and to praise those who do well.

2:15  For so is the will of God, that by doing well yourselves, you may put to silence the ignorance of senseless men;

2:16  As free, and not using your freedom as a cover for evil, but as bondslaves of God.

2:17  Show honor to everyone. Love the brotherhood, revere God and honor the king.

2:18  Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all fear—not only to the good and gentle ones, but also to the harsh and unjust ones;

2:19  Because this is acceptable: if, for the sake of conscience toward God, anyone endures sorrows, suffering unjustly.

2:20  For what commendation is there if, disobeying and being beaten, you endure it? But if while doing good you endure suffering, this is acceptable with God;

2:21  For to this you were called because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow in His footsteps

2:22  Who committed no sin; neither was guile found in His mouth;

2:23  Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when suffering, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him Who judges righteously;

2:24  Who Himself bore our sins within His own body on the tree, so that we, being dead to sins, may live unto righteousness; by Whose stripes you were healed.

2:25  For you were as sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Chapter 3

3:1  Likewise, you wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if any are not obedient to the Word, through the behavior of the wives they may be gained without a word,

3:2  Having witnessed your chaste behavior carried out with reverence;

3:3  Whose adorning, let it not be the external adornment of braiding the hair, or wearing gold jewelry, or dressing in costlyclothing;

3:4  But let your adornment be the inward person of the heart, manifested in the incorruptible jewel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great value in God's sight.

3:5  For in this way also the holy women of the past who hoped in God adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands;

3:6  Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; and you are her children, if you are doing what is right, and are not frightened by any intimidation.

3:7  Likewise, you husbands, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, as with a weaker vessel, giving them honor as women, and as joint heirs of the grace of life so that your prayers may not be cut off.

3:8  Now the goal is that all of you be of one mind, sympathizing, loving the brethren, compassionate and friendly;

3:9  Not rendering evil for evil, or abuse for abuse, but instead a blessing, knowing that you were called to this: that you should inherit a blessing.

3:10  For the one who desires to love life, and to see good days, let him restrain his own tongue from evil, and not allow his lips to speak deceit.

3:11  Let him avoid evil, and let him continually practice good. Let him seek peace, and let him earnestly pursue it

3:12  Because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their supplications. But the face of the Lord is against those who practice evil.

3:13  And is there anyone who will harm you if you be followers of that which is good?

3:14  Now on the other hand, if you do undergo suffering for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. But you should not be afraid of their terror, and you should not let yourselves be intimidated;

3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your own hearts, and always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and reverence;

3:16  Having a good conscience, that, whereas they may speak against you as evil doers, those who are reviling your good way of life in Christ may be ashamed.

3:17  For it is better, if it is the will of God, for you to suffer while doing good than to suffer for doing evil

3:18  Because Christ indeed once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God; on the one hand, He was put to death in the flesh; but on the other hand, He was made alive by the Spirit

3:19  By which He also went and preached to the spirits in prison,

3:20  Which disobeyed in a past time, when once the long-suffering of God was waiting in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few— that is, eight souls—were saved through water;

3:21  Of which a like fulfillment is baptism, and is now saving us—not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

3:22  Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been put in subjection to Him.

Chapter 4

4:1  Consequently, since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind because the one who has suffered in theflesh has finishedlivingin sin

4:2  To this end: that he no longer live his remaining time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

4:3  For the past time of our lives is sufficient to have worked out the will of the Gentiles, when we ourselves walked in licentiousness and lusts, and were debauched with wine, carousing, drinking and wanton idolatries.

4:4  In seeing this difference in your behavior, they are astonished that you do not rush with them into the same overflowing debauchery, and they revile you.

4:5  But they shall render an account to Him Who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

4:6  And for this purpose the gospel was preached to those who have died so that, although in the flesh they may in fact have been judged according to men's standards, on the other hand, they might live according to God's will in the Spirit.

4:7  Now the end of all things has drawn near. Therefore, be serious-minded and be watchful in prayers;

4:8  But above all, have fervent love among yourselves because love will cover a multitude of sins.

4:9  Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

4:10  Let each one, according as he has received a gift from God, be using it to serve the others as good stewards of the grace of God which manifests itself in various ways.

4:11  If anyone speaks, let it be as the words of God; if anyone serves, let it be as from the strength which God supplies; so that in everything, God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to Whom is the glory and the power into the ages of eternity. Amen.

4:12  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial among you which is taking place to test you, as if some strange thing were happening to you.

4:13  But to the degree that you have a share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice; so that, at the revelation of His glory, you also may rejoice exceedingly.

4:14  If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God is resting upon you; on their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

4:15  Assuredly, let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or as an overlording busybody in other people's lives.

4:16  Yet if anyone is suffering as a Christian, he should not be ashamed; but let him glorify God because of this,

4:17  For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it first begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

4:18  And if the righteous are saved with much difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?

4:19  For this reason also, let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator.

Chapter 5

5:1  The elders who are among you I exhort, even as a fellow elder, and an eyewitness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker of the glory that is about to be revealed:

5:2  Feed the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight not by compulsion, but willingly; not in fondness of dishonest gain, but with an eager attitude;

5:3  Not as exercising lordship over your possessions; but by being examples to the flock of God.

5:4  And when the Chief Shepherd is manifested, you shall receive an unfading, eternal crown of glory.

5:5  In the same manner, you younger men be subject to the older men; and all of you be subject to one another, being clothed with humility because God sets Himself against the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.

5:6  Be humbled therefore under the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt you in due time;

5:7  Casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.

5:8  Be sober! Be vigilant! For your adversary the devil is prowling about as a roaring lion, seeking anyone he may devour.

5:9  Whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are being fulfilled among your brethren who are in the world.

5:10  Now may the God of all grace, Who has called us unto His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, Himself perfect you, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

5:11  To Him be the glory and the power into the ages of eternity. Amen.

5:12  By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I reckon, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

5:13  The church in Babylon, chosen together with you, greets you, as does Mark, my son.

5:14  Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be with all of you who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.