1 Peter 1

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those chosen — temporary visitors of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia — [a] 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in holiness of spirit, for obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: may favor and peace be multiplied to you. [b]

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy fathered us again into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ out of the dead, [d] 4 into an inheritance imperishable and undefiled and unfading, kept in the heavens for you, 5 who by God’s power are guarded through faith for a rescue ready to be revealed in the last time. [e]

6 In this you are glad, though for a little while now, if it must be, you have been grieved by various tests, 7 so that what is proved of your faith — more precious than gold, which perishes and yet is tested through fire — may be found leading to praise and glory and honor at the revealing of Jesus Christ. [f] 8 Whom, not having seen, you love; in whom, not seeing him now but trusting, you are glad with a joy unspeakable and glorified, [g] † 9 receiving back the end of your faith, the rescue of souls. [h]

10 Concerning this rescue the prophets sought out and searched — those who prophesied about the favor meant for you — 11 searching into what person or what time the Spirit of Christ in them was making clear when it testified beforehand to the sufferings meant for Christ and the glories after them. [i] 12 To them it was revealed that they were serving these things not to themselves but to you — things now announced to you through those who brought you the good news by a holy spirit sent from heaven, things into which messengers long to stoop down and look. [j]

13 Therefore, having girded up the loins of your mind, being completely sober, set your hope on the favor being brought to you at the revealing of Jesus Christ. [k] † 14 As children of obedience, not being shaped to the desires you had before, in your ignorance, 15 but according to the Holy One who called you, you yourselves also become holy in all your way of life, 16 because it is written: “You are to be holy, because I am holy.” [l]

17 And if you call on as Father the one who judges impartially according to each person’s work, live in fear for the time of your stay as foreigners, [m] 18 knowing that it was not with perishable things, silver or gold, that you were ransomed out of your futile way of life handed down from your fathers, [n] 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot — the blood of Christ, [o] 20 foreknown before the foundation of the world, but made plain at the last of the times for your sake, 21 who through him are faithful toward God, who raised him out of the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. [p]

22 Having purified your souls in the obedience of the truth for brotherly love without hypocrisy, love one another earnestly from the heart, [q] 23 having been fathered again, not out of perishable seed but imperishable, through the living and remaining word of God;

And this is the word that was brought to you as good news.