| 001:001
| Peter,
an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, |
| 001:002 | Elect
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of
the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace
unto you, and peace, be multiplied. |
| 001:003 | Blessed
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 of Jesus
Christ from the dead, |
| 001:004 | To
an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved
in heaven for you, |
| 001:005 | Who
are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed
in the last time. |
| 001:006 | Wherein
ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness
through manifold temptations: |
| 001:007 | That
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: |
| 001:008 | Whom
having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing,
ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: |
| 001:009 | Receiving
the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. |
| 001:010 | Of
which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied
of the grace that should come unto you: |
| 001:011 | Searching
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. |
| 001:012 | Unto
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 Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the
angels desire to look into. |
| 001:013 | Wherefore
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; |
| 001:014 | As
obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts
in your ignorance: |
| 001:015 | But
as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
|
| 001:016 | Because
it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. |
| 001:017 | And
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: |
| 001:018 | Forasmuch
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;
|
| 001:019 | But
with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot: |
| 001:020 | Who
verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest
in these last times for you, |
| 001:021 | Who
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. |
| 001:022 | Seeing
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:
|
| 001:023 | Being
born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God,
which liveth and abideth for ever. |
| 001:024 | For
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: |
| 001:025 | But
the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel
is preached unto you. |
|
| 002:001
| Wherefore
laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all evil
speakings, | | 002:002 | As
newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
|
| 002:003 | If
so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. |
| 002:004 | To
whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of
God, and precious, |
| 002:005 | Ye
also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. |
| 002:006 | Wherefore
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.
|
| 002:007 | Unto
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,
|
| 002:008 | And
a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at
the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. |
| 002:009 | But
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; |
| 002:010 | Which
in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not
obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. |
| 002:011 | Dearly
beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts,
which war against the soul; |
| 002:012 | Having
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. |
| 002:013 | Submit
yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to
the king, as supreme; |
| 002:014 | Or
unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers,
and for the praise of them that do well. |
| 002:015 | For
so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance
of foolish men: |
| 002:016 | As
free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants
of God. |
| 002:017 | Honour
all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. |
| 002:018 | Servants,
be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle,
but also to the froward. |
| 002:019 | For
this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering
wrongfully. |
| 002:020 | For
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. |
| 002:021 | For
even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving
us an example, that ye should follow his steps: |
| 002:022 | Who
did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: |
| 002:023 | Who,
when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not;
but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: |
| 002:024 | Who
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. |
| 002:025 | For
ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop
of your souls. |
|
| 003:001
| 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;
| | 003:002 | While
they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. |
| 003:003 | Whose
adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing
of gold, or of putting on of apparel; |
| 003:004 | But
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. |
| 003:005 | For
after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God,
adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: |
| 003:006 | Even
as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as
ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. |
| 003:007 | Likewise,
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. |
| 003:008 | Finally,
be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren,
be pitiful, be courteous: |
| 003:009 | Not
rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;
knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. |
| 003:010 | For
he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from
evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: |
| 003:011 | Let
him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. |
| 003:012 | For
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. |
| 003:013 | And
who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? |
| 003:014 | But
and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of
their terror, neither be troubled; |
| 003:015 | But
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: |
| 003:016 | Having
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. |
| 003:017 | For
it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than
for evil doing. |
| 003:018 | For
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:
|
| 003:019 | By
which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; |
| 003:020 | Which
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. |
| 003:021 | The
like figure whereunto even baptism 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 of Jesus Christ: |
| 003:022 | Who
is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities
and powers being made subject unto him. |
|
| 004:001
| 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;
| | 004:002 | That
he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of
men, but to the will of God. |
| 004:003 | For
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: |
| 004:004 | Wherein
they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot,
speaking evil of you: |
| 004:005 | Who
shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. |
| 004:006 | For
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. |
| 004:007 | But
the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
|
| 004:008 | And
above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover
the multitude of sins. |
| 004:009 | Use
hospitality one to another without grudging. |
| 004:010 | As
every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. |
| 004:011 | If
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. Amen. |
| 004:012 | Beloved,
think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though
some strange thing happened unto you: |
| 004:013 | But
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. |
| 004:014 | If
ye be reproached for the name 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. |
| 004:015 | But
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. |
| 004:016 | Yet
if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify
God on this behalf. |
| 004:017 | For
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?
|
| 004:018 | And
if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner
appear? |
| 004:019 | Wherefore
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. |
|
| 005:001
| 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:
| | 005:002 | Feed
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; |
| 005:003 | Neither
as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. |
| 005:004 | And
when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that
fadeth not away. |
| 005:005 | Likewise,
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. |
| 005:006 | Humble
yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in
due time: |
| 005:007 | Casting
all your care upon him; for he careth for you. |
| 005:008 | Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour: |
| 005:009 | Whom
resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished
in your brethren that are in the world. |
| 005:010 | But
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. |
| 005:011 | To
him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. |
| 005:012 | By
Silvanus, 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.
|
| 005:013 | The
church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so
doth Marcus my son. |
| 005:014 | Greet
ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ
Jesus. Amen. |