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1 Peter 1
New International Version

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,(A)

To God’s elect,(B) exiles(C) scattered(D) throughout the provinces of Pontus,(E) Galatia,(F) Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,(G) 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge(H) of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit,(I) to be obedient(J) to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:(K)

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.(L)

### Praise to God for a Living Hope

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!(M) In his great mercy(N) he has given us new birth(O) into a living hope(P) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,(Q) 4 and into an inheritance(R) that can never perish, spoil or fade.(S) This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,(T) 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power(U) until the coming of the salvation(V) that is ready to be revealed(W) in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice,(X) though now for a little while(Y) you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.(Z) 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness(AA) of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire(AB)—may result in praise, glory and honor(AC) when Jesus Christ is revealed.(AD) 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him(AE) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.(AF)

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke(AG) of the grace that was to come to you,(AH) searched intently and with the greatest care,(AI) 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ(AJ) in them was pointing when he predicted(AK) the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you,(AL) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you(AM) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.(AN) Even angels long to look into these things.

### Be Holy

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,(AO) set your hope(AP) on the grace to be brought to you(AQ) when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.(AR) 14 As obedient(AS) children, do not conform(AT) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.(AU) 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;(AV) 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a](AW)

17 Since you call on a Father(AX) who judges each person’s work(AY) impartially,(AZ) live out your time as foreigners(BA) here in reverent fear.(BB) 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed(BC) from the empty way of life(BD) handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood(BE) of Christ, a lamb(BF) without blemish or defect.(BG) 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world,(BH) but was revealed in these last times(BI) for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God,(BJ) who raised him from the dead(BK) and glorified him,(BL) and so your faith and hope(BM) are in God.

22 Now that you have purified(BN) yourselves by obeying(BO) the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply,(BP) from the heart.[b] 23 For you have been born again,(BQ) not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,(BR) through the living and enduring word of God.(BS) 24 For,

“All people 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 endures forever.”[c](BT)

And this is the word that was preached to you.

#### Footnotes

1. 1 Peter 1:16 Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2
2. 1 Peter 1:22 Some early manuscripts from a pure heart
3. 1 Peter 1:25 Isaiah 40:6-8 (see Septuagint)

#### Cross references

1. 1 Peter 1:1 : 2Pe 1:1
2. 1 Peter 1:1 : Mt 24:22
3. 1 Peter 1:1 : S Heb 11:13
4. 1 Peter 1:1 : S Jas 1:1
5. 1 Peter 1:1 : Ac 2:9; 18:2
6. 1 Peter 1:1 : S Ac 16:6
7. 1 Peter 1:1 : Ac 16:7
8. 1 Peter 1:2 : Ro 8:29
9. 1 Peter 1:2 : 2Th 2:13
10. 1 Peter 1:2 : ver 14, 22
11. 1 Peter 1:2 : Heb 10:22; 12:24
12. 1 Peter 1:2 : S Ro 1:7
13. 1 Peter 1:3 : 2Co 1:3; Eph 1:3
14. 1 Peter 1:3 : Tit 3:5
15. 1 Peter 1:3 : ver 23; S Jn 1:13
16. 1 Peter 1:3 : ver 13, 21; S Heb 3:6
17. 1 Peter 1:3 : 1Co 15:20; 1Pe 3:21
18. 1 Peter 1:4 : S Ac 20:32; S Ro 8:17
19. 1 Peter 1:4 : 1Pe 5:4
20. 1 Peter 1:4 : Col 1:5; 2Ti 4:8
21. 1 Peter 1:5 : 1Sa 2:9; Jn 10:28
22. 1 Peter 1:5 : S Ro 11:14
23. 1 Peter 1:5 : S Ro 8:18
24. 1 Peter 1:6 : Ro 5:2
25. 1 Peter 1:6 : 1Pe 5:10
26. 1 Peter 1:6 : Jas 1:2; 1Pe 4:12
27. 1 Peter 1:7 : Jas 1:3
28. 1 Peter 1:7 : Job 23:10; Ps 66:10; Pr 17:3; Isa 48:10
29. 1 Peter 1:7 : 2Co 4:17
30. 1 Peter 1:7 : ver 13; S 1Th 2:19; 1Pe 4:13
31. 1 Peter 1:8 : Jn 20:29
32. 1 Peter 1:9 : Ro 6:22
33. 1 Peter 1:10 : S Mt 26:24
34. 1 Peter 1:10 : ver 13
35. 1 Peter 1:10 : S Mt 13:17
36. 1 Peter 1:11 : S Ac 16:7; 2Pe 1:21
37. 1 Peter 1:11 : S Mt 26:24
38. 1 Peter 1:12 : S Ro 4:24
39. 1 Peter 1:12 : ver 25
40. 1 Peter 1:12 : S Lk 24:49
41. 1 Peter 1:13 : S Ac 24:25
42. 1 Peter 1:13 : ver 3, 21; S Heb 3:6
43. 1 Peter 1:13 : ver 10
44. 1 Peter 1:13 : ver 7; S 1Co 1:7
45. 1 Peter 1:14 : ver 2, 22
46. 1 Peter 1:14 : Ro 12:2
47. 1 Peter 1:14 : Eph 4:18
48. 1 Peter 1:15 : Isa 35:8; 1Th 4:7; 1Jn 3:3
49. 1 Peter 1:16 : Lev 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7
50. 1 Peter 1:17 : S Mt 6:9
51. 1 Peter 1:17 : S Mt 16:27
52. 1 Peter 1:17 : S Ac 10:34
53. 1 Peter 1:17 : S Heb 11:13
54. 1 Peter 1:17 : Heb 12:28
55. 1 Peter 1:18 : S Mt 20:28; S 1Co 6:20
56. 1 Peter 1:18 : Gal 4:3
57. 1 Peter 1:19 : S Ro 3:25
58. 1 Peter 1:19 : S Jn 1:29
59. 1 Peter 1:19 : Ex 12:5
60. 1 Peter 1:20 : Eph 1:4; S Mt 25:34
61. 1 Peter 1:20 : Heb 9:26
62. 1 Peter 1:21 : Ro 4:24; 10:9
63. 1 Peter 1:21 : S Ac 2:24
64. 1 Peter 1:21 : Php 2:7-9; Heb 2:9
65. 1 Peter 1:21 : ver 3, 13; S Heb 3:6
66. 1 Peter 1:22 : Jas 4:8
67. 1 Peter 1:22 : ver 2, 14
68. 1 Peter 1:22 : S Jn 13:34; S Ro 12:10
69. 1 Peter 1:23 : ver 3; S Jn 1:13
70. 1 Peter 1:23 : Jn 1:13
71. 1 Peter 1:23 : S Heb 4:12
72. 1 Peter 1:25 : Isa 40:6-8; S Jas 1:10, 11

New International Version (NIV)

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