Study Desk

^(a)Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as ^(b)aliens, ^(c)scattered throughout ^(d)Pontus, ^(e)Galatia, ^(f)Cappadocia, ^(g)Asia, and ^(h)Bithynia, ⁽ⁱ⁾who are chosen

according to the ^(j)foreknowledge of God the Father, ^(k)by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, ^[a]to ^(l)obey Jesus Christ and be ^(m)sprinkled with His blood: ⁽ⁿ⁾May grace and peace ^[b]be yours in the fullest measure.

^(o)Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ^(p)according to His great mercy ^(q)has caused us to be born again to ^(r)a living hope through the ^(s)resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

to obtain an ^(t)inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and ^(u)will not fade away, ^(v)reserved in heaven for you,

who are ^(w)protected by the power of God ^(x)through faith for ^(y)a salvation ready ^(z)to be revealed in the last time.

^(aa)In this you greatly rejoice, even though now ^(ab)for a little while, ^(ac)if necessary, you have been distressed by ^(ad)various ^[c]trials,

so that the ^[d](ae)proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which ^[e]is perishable, ^(af)even though tested by fire, ^(ag)may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at ^(ah)the revelation of Jesus Christ;

and ^(ai)though you have not seen Him, you ^(aj)love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and ^[f]full of glory,

obtaining as ^(ak)the outcome of your faith the salvation of ^[g]your souls.

^(al)As to this salvation, the prophets who ^(am)prophesied of the ^(an)grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries,

^[h]seeking to know what person or time ^(ao)the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He ^(ap)predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories ^[i]to follow.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who ^(aq)preached the gospel to you by ^(ar)the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which ^(as)angels long to ^[j]look.

Therefore, ^[k](at)prepare your minds for action, ^[l](au)keep sober in spirit, fix your ^(av)hope completely on the ^(aw)grace ^[m]to be brought to you at ^(ax)the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As ^[n](ay)obedient children, do not ^[o](az)be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ^(ba)ignorance,

but ^[p](bb)like the Holy One who called you, ^[q](bc)be holy yourselves also ^(bd)in all your behavior;

because it is written, "^(be) You shall be holy, for I am holy ."

If you ^(bf)address as Father the One who ^(bg)impartially ^(bh)judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves ^(bi)in fear during the time of your ^(bj)stay on earth;

knowing that you were not ^[r](bk)redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your ^(bl)futile way of life inherited from your forefathers,

but with precious ^(bm)blood, as of a ^(bn)lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

For He was ^(bo)foreknown before ^(bp)the foundation of the world, but has ^(bq)appeared ^[s]in these last times ^(br)for the sake of you

who through Him are ^(bs)believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and ^(bt)gave Him glory, so that your faith and ^(bu)hope are in God.

Since you have ^(bv)in obedience to the truth ^(bw)purified your souls for a ^[t](bx)sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from ^[u]the heart,

for you have been ^(by)born again ^(bz)not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring ^(ca)word of God.

For, "^(cb) All flesh is like grass , And all its glory like the flower of grass . The grass withers , And the flower falls off ,

^(cc) But the word of the Lord endures forever ." And this is ^(cd)the word which was ^[v]preached to you.

Therefore, ^(a)putting aside all ^[a]malice and all deceit and ^[b]hypocrisy and ^[c]envy and all ^[d](b)slander,

^(c)like newborn babies, long for the ^[e](d)pure ^[f]milk of the word, so that by it you may ^(e)grow ^[g]in respect to salvation,

if you have ^(f)tasted ^[h](g)the kindness of the Lord.

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been ^(h)rejected by men, but is ^[i]choice and precious in the sight of God,

⁽ⁱ⁾you also, as living stones, ^[j]are being built up as a ^(j)spiritual house for a holy ^(k)priesthood, to ^(l)offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For this is contained in ^[k]Scripture: "^(m) Behold , I lay in Zion a choice stone, a ⁽ⁿ⁾ precious corner stone, And he who believes in ^[l] Him will not be ^[m] disappointed ."

^(o)This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "^(p) The stone which the builders ^(q) rejected , This became the very corner stone,"

and, "^(r)A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense "; ^(s)for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, ^(t)and to this doom they were also appointed.

But you are ^(u) a chosen race, a royal ^(v) priesthood, a ^(w) holy nation , ^(x) a people for God's own possession , so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you ^(y)out of darkness into His marvelous light;

^(z)for you once were not a people , but now you are the people of God ; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy .

^(aa)Beloved, ^(ab)I urge you as ^(ac)aliens and strangers to abstain from ^(ad)fleshly lusts which wage ^(ae)war against the soul.

^(af)Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they ^(ag)slander you as evildoers, they may ^[n]because of your good deeds, as they observe them, ^(ah)glorify God ^(ai)in the day of ^[o]visitation.

^(aj)Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

or to governors as sent ^[p]by him ^(ak)for the punishment of evildoers and the ^(al)praise of those who do right.

For ^[q](am)such is the will of God that by doing right you may ^(an)silence the ignorance of foolish men.

Act as ^(ao)free men, and ^[r]do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as ^(ap)bondslaves of God.

^(aq)Honor all people, ^(ar)love the brotherhood, ^(as)fear God, ^(at)honor the ^[s]king.

^(au)Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and ^(av)gentle, but also to those who are ^[t]unreasonable.

For this finds ^[u]favor, if for the sake of ^(aw)conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.

For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if ^(ax)when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds ^[v]favor with God.

For ^(ay)you have been called for this purpose, ^(az)since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you ^(ba)an example for you to follow in His steps,

who ^(bb) committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth ;

^[w]and while being ^(bc)reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;

and He Himself ^[x](bd)bore our sins in His body on the ^[y](be)cross, so that we ^(bf)might die to ^[z]sin and live to righteousness; for ^(bg)by His ^[aa]wounds you were ^(bh)healed.

For you were ^(bi)continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the ^(bj)Shepherd and ^[ab]Guardian of your souls.

^(a)In the same way, you wives, ^(b)be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be ^(c)won without a word by the behavior of their wives,

as they observe your chaste and ^[a]respectful behavior.

^(d)Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;

but let it be ^(e)the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

For in this way in former times the holy women also, ^(f)who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands;

just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, ^(g)calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right ^[b](h)without being frightened by any fear.

⁽ⁱ⁾You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with ^[c](j)someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

^[d]To sum up, ^(k)all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, ^(l)brotherly, ^(m)kindhearted, and ⁽ⁿ⁾humble in spirit;

^(o)not returning evil for evil or ^(p)insult for insult, but ^[e]giving a ^(q)blessing instead; for ^(r)you were called for the very purpose that you might ^(s)inherit a blessing.

For, "^(t) The one who desires life, to love and see good days , Must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit .

"^(u) He must turn away from evil and do good ; He must seek peace and pursue it .

"^(v) For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous , And His ears attend to their prayer , But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil ."

^(w)Who is ^[f]there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good?

But even if you should ^(x)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(y)you ^[g]are blessed. ^(z) And do not fear their ^[h] intimidation, and do not be troubled ,

but ^[i]sanctify ^(aa)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(ab)to make a ^[j]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(ac)hope that is in you, yet ^(ad)with gentleness and ^[k](ae)reverence;

^[l]and keep a ^(af)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(ag)you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

For ^(ah)it is better, ^(ai)if ^[m]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

For ^(aj)Christ also died for sins ^(ak)once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might ^(al)bring us to God, having been put to death ^(am)in the flesh, but made alive ^(an)in the ^[n]spirit;

in ^[o]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,

who once were disobedient, when the ^(ao)patience of God ^(ap)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ^(aq)the ark, in which a few, that is, ^(ar)eight ^(as)persons, were brought safely through the ^[p]water.

^(at)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—^(au)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God ^[q]for a ^(av)good conscience—through ^(aw)the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

^(ax)who is at the right hand of God, ^(ay)having gone into heaven, ^(az)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Therefore, since ^(a)Christ has ^[a]suffered in the flesh, ^(b)arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because ^(c)he who has ^[b]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

^(d)so as to live ^(e)the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the ^(f)will of God.

For ^(g)the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, ^[c](h)having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and ^[d]abominable idolatries.

In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of ⁽ⁱ⁾dissipation, and they ^(j)malign you;

but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge ^(k)the living and the dead.

For ^(l)the gospel has for this purpose been ^[e]preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.

^(m)The end of all things ^[f]is near; therefore, ⁽ⁿ⁾be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of ^[g]prayer.

Above all, ^(o)keep fervent in your love for one another, because ^(p)love covers a multitude of sins.

^(q)Be hospitable to one another without ^(r)complaint.

^(s)As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good ^(t)stewards of the manifold grace of God.

^(u)Whoever speaks, is to do so ^[h]as one who is speaking the ^(v)utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving ^[i](w)by the strength which God supplies; so that ^(x)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, ^(y)to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

^(z)Beloved, do not be surprised at the ^(aa)fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

but to the degree that you ^(ab)share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the ^(ac)revelation of His glory ^(ad)you may rejoice with exultation.

If you are reviled ^[j](ae)for the name of Christ, ^(af)you are blessed, ^(ag)because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Make sure that ^(ah)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a ^[k](ai)troublesome meddler;

but if anyone suffers as a ^(aj)Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to ^(ak)glorify God in this name.

For it is time for judgment ^(al)to begin ^[l]with ^(am)the household of God; and if it ^(an)begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those ^(ao)who do not obey the ^(ap)gospel of God?

^(aq) And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved , ^[m] what will become of the ^(ar) godless man and the sinner ?

Therefore, those also who suffer according to ^(as)the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

^(a)Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your ^(b)fellow elder and ^(c)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a ^(d)partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,

shepherd ^(e)the flock of God among you, exercising oversight ^(f)not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and ^(g)not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;

nor yet as ^(h)lording it over ^[a]those allotted to your charge, but ^[b]proving to be ⁽ⁱ⁾examples to the flock.

And when the Chief ^(j)Shepherd appears, you will receive the ^(k)unfading ^[c](l)crown of glory.

^(m)You younger men, likewise, ⁽ⁿ⁾be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with ^(o)humility toward one another, for ^(p) God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble .

Therefore ^(q)humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

casting all your ^(r)anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

^(s)Be of sober spirit, ^(t)be on the alert. Your adversary, ^(u)the devil, prowls around like a roaring ^(v)lion, seeking someone to devour.

^[d](w)But resist him, ^(x)firm in your faith, knowing that ^(y)the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your ^[e]brethren who are in the world.

After you have suffered ^(z)for a little while, the ^(aa)God of all grace, who ^(ab)called you to His ^(ac)eternal glory in Christ, will Himself ^(ad)perfect, ^(ae)confirm, strengthen and establish you.

^(af)To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Through ^(ag)Silvanus, our faithful brother ^[f](for so I regard him), ^(ah)I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is ^(ai)the true grace of God. ^(aj)Stand firm in it!

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, ^(ak)Mark.

^(al)Greet one another with a kiss of love. ^(am)Peace be to you all who are in Christ.