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1 Peter 1 |
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Peter,
an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world,
scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
{2} who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the
Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to
Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in
abundance. {3} Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} and
into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven
for you, {5} who through faith are shielded by God's power until
the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last
time. {6} In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little
while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. {7}
These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold,
which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and
may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
{8} Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you
do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, {9} for you are receiving the
goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. {10} Concerning
this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to
you, searched intently and with the greatest care, {11} trying to
find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in
them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the
glories that would follow. {12} It was revealed to them that they
were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that
have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by
the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these
things. {13} Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be
self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when
Jesus Christ is revealed. {14} As obedient children, do not
conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. {15}
But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
{16} for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." {17}
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live
your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. {18} For you know
that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you
were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your
forefathers, {19} but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb
without blemish or defect. {20} He was chosen before the creation
of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
{21} Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead
and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. {22}
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you
have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the
heart. {23} For you have been born again, not of perishable seed,
but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
{24} For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the
flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, {25}
but the word of the Lord stands forever." And this is the word that
was preached to you. |
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1 Peter
2 |
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Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy,
and slander of every kind. {2} Like newborn babies, crave pure
spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, {3}
now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. {4} As you
come to him, the living Stone--rejected by men but chosen by God and
precious to him-- {5} you also, like living stones, are being
built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual
sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. {6} For in
Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious
cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
{7} Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who
do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the
capstone," {8} and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a
rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the
message--which is also what they were destined for. {9} But you
are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you
out of darkness into his wonderful light. {10} Once you were not
a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received
mercy, but now you have received mercy. {11} Dear friends, I urge
you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful
desires, which war against your soul. {12} Live such good lives
among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may
see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. {13}
Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted
among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, {14} or
to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to
commend those who do right. {15} For it is God's will that by
doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. {16}
Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for
evil; live as servants of God. {17} Show proper respect to
everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.
{18} Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not
only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are
harsh. {19} For it is commendable if a man bears up under the
pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. {20} But
how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and
endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is
commendable before God. {21} To this you were called, because
Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow
in his steps. {22} "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found
in his mouth." {23} When they hurled their insults at him, he did
not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he
entrusted himself to him who judges justly. {24} He himself bore
our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live
for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. {25} For
you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the
Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. |
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1 Peter 3 |
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Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of
them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the
behavior of their wives, {2} when they see the purity and
reverence of your lives. {3} Your beauty should not come from
outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry
and fine clothes. {4} Instead, it should be that of your inner
self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of
great worth in God's sight. {5} For this is the way the holy
women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves
beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, {6} like
Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her
daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. {7}
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your
wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs
with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your
prayers. {8} Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one
another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.
{9} Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with
blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a
blessing. {10} For, "Whoever would love life and see good days
must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
{11} He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and
pursue it. {12} For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and
his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is
against those who do evil." {13} Who is going to harm you if you
are eager to do good? {14} But even if you should suffer for what
is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear ; do not be
frightened." {15} But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give
the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and
respect, {16} keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak
maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their
slander. {17} It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for
doing good than for doing evil. {18} For Christ died for sins
once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He
was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, {19}
through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison {20}
who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah
while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all,
were saved through water, {21} and this water symbolises baptism
that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the
pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ, {22} who has gone into heaven and is at God's
right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. |
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1 Peter 4 |
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Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with
the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with
sin. {2} As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly
life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. {3}
For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to
do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and
detestable idolatry. {4} They think it strange that you do not
plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse
on you. {5} But they will have to give account to him who is
ready to judge the living and the dead. {6} For this is the
reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that
they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live
according to God in regard to the spirit. {7} The end of all
things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that
you can pray. {8} Above all, love each other deeply, because love
covers over a multitude of sins. {9} Offer hospitality to one
another without grumbling. {10} Each one should use whatever gift
he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in
its various forms. {11} If anyone speaks, he should do it as one
speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with
the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised
through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and
ever. Amen. {12} Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful
trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to
you. {13} But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of
Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. {14}
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed,
for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. {15} If you
suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of
criminal, or even as a meddler. {16} However, if you suffer as a
Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
{17} For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God;
and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not
obey the gospel of God? {18} And, "If it is hard for the
righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"
{19} So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit
themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. |
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1 Peter 5 |
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To the
elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's
sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
{2} Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as
overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God
wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; {3}
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the
flock. {4} And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive
the crown of glory that will never fade away. {5} Young men, in
the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe
yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the
proud but gives grace to the humble." {6} Humble yourselves,
therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
{7} Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. {8}
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around
like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. {9} Resist
him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers
throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. {10}
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in
Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you
and make you strong, firm and steadfast. {11} To him be the power
for ever and ever. Amen. {12} With the help of Silas, whom I
regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging
you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.
{13} She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her
greetings, and so does my son Mark. {14} Greet one another with a
kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. |
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