1 |
Peter, an
apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2Elect according to the
foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience
and
sprinkling of the [Blood BL->32] of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace,
be
multiplied.
3Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again
unto a
lively hope by The [Resurrection
RS->38] of Jesus Christ from the
dead, 4To
an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved
in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God
through faith
unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6Wherein
ye
greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in
heaviness
through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your
faith, being
much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with
fire,
might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of
Jesus
Christ: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now
ye see him
not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9Receiving
the end of your faith, even the salvation of your
souls. 10Of
which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who
prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: 11Searching
what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did
signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the
glory
that should follow. 12Unto whom it was revealed, that not
unto
themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now
reported
unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy
Spirit
sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 13Wherefore
gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the
grace
that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14As
obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former
lusts in
your ignorance: 15But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye
holy in all manner of conversation; 16Because it is
written, Be ye
holy; for I am holy. 17And if ye call on the Father, who
without
respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time
of your
sojourning here in fear: 18Forasmuch as ye know
that ye were
not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from
your vain
conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But
with the precious [Blood BL->33] of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and
without
spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation
of the
world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21Who
by him do
believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory;
that your
faith and hope might be in God. 22Seeing ye have purified
your souls
in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the
brethren, see
that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23Being
born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word
of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever. 24For all flesh is
as
grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass
withereth,
and the flower thereof falleth away: 25But the word of the
Lord
endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached
unto
you.
2 |
Wherefore
laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies,
and all
evil speakings, 2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk
of the
word, that ye may grow thereby: 3If so be ye have tasted
that the
Lord is gracious. 4To whom coming, as unto
a living
stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and
precious, 5Ye
also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy
priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6Wherefore
also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief
corner
stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be
confounded. 7Unto
you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which
be
disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made
the head
of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of
offence, even
to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto
also they
were appointed. 9But ye are a chosen generation, a
royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew
forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous
light: 10Which
in time past were not a people, but are now the people
of God:
which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11Dearly
beloved, I beseech you as strangers and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12Having
your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak
against
you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall
behold,
glorify God in the day of visitation.
13Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s
sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14Or unto
governors, as
unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for
the
praise of them that do well. 15For so is the will of God,
that with
well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16As
free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness,
but as
the servants of God. 17Honour all men. Love the
brotherhood.
Fear God. Honour the king. 18Servants, be subject
to your
masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the
froward. 19For this is thankworthy, if a man for
conscience
toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20For what
glory is
it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it
patiently?
but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it
patiently, this is
acceptable with God. 21For even hereunto were ye called:
because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should
follow his
steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his
mouth: 23Who,
when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened
not;
but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24Who
his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being
dead to
sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25For
ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd
and
Bishop of your souls.
3 |
Likewise,
ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any
obey not
the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of
the
wives; 2While they behold your chaste conversation coupled
with fear. 3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning
of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of
apparel; 4But
let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the
sight of
God of great price. 5For after this manner in the old time
the holy
women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection
unto
their own husbands: 6Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling
him lord:
whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with
any
amazement. 7Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them
according
to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel,
and as
being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not
hindered. 8Finally,
be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as
brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9Not
rendering
evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;
knowing that
ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10For
he
that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from
evil,
and his lips that they speak no guile: 11Let him eschew
evil, and do
good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12For the eyes of
the Lord are
over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers:
but the
face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
13And
who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers
of that which is good? 14But and if ye suffer for
righteousness’
sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither
be
troubled; 15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be
ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of
the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16Having a
good
conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they
may be
ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17For
it
is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing,
than
for evil doing. 18For Christ also hath once suffered for
sins, the
just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death
in the
flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19By which also he went
and
preached unto the spirits in prison; 20Which sometime were
disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of
Noah,
while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were
saved by
water. 21The like figure whereunto even [baptism BP->41] doth also now save us not the putting away
of the filth
of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by The
[Resurrection RS->39]
of Jesus Christ: 22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the
right hand
of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
4 |
Forasmuch
then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves
likewise with
the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from
sin; 2That
he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to
the lusts
of men, but to the will of God. 3For the time past of our
life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we
walked in
lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and
abominable
idolatries: 4Wherein they think it strange that ye run not
with them
to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5Who
shall
give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6For
for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that
they
might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to
God in the
spirit.
7But
the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore
sober, and watch unto prayer. 8And above all things have
fervent
charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of
sins. 9Use
hospitality one to another without grudging. 10As every man
hath
received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as
good
stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11If any man speak, let
him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him
do it
as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be
glorified
through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.
[Amin
AM.C->29].
12Beloved,
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But
rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that,
when his
glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If
ye be reproached for The [Name
NM.E->41] of Christ, happy are
ye;
for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he
is evil
spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15But let none
of you
suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer,
or as a
busybody in other men’s matters. 16Yet if any man suffer
as a
Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this
behalf. 17For
the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:
and if it
first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that
obey not
the gospel of God? 18And if the righteous scarcely be
saved, where
shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19Wherefore let
them that
suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to
him
in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
5 |
The elders
which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of
the
sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be
revealed: 2Feed
the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof,
not
by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready
mind; 3Neither
as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the
flock. 4And
when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory
that
fadeth not away. 5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves
unto the
elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be
clothed with
humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time: 7Casting all your care
upon him;
for he careth for you. 8Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he
may
devour: 9Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that
the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10But
the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ
Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish,
strengthen, settle you. 11To him be glory
and dominion
for ever and ever. [Amin AM.C->30].
12By Silouanos,
a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have
written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace
of God
wherein ye stand. 13The church that is at Babylon,
elected
together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my
son. 14Greet
ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all
that are in
Christ Jesus. [Amin AM.C->31].