1 Peter

Yăhwēh’s Plans For Holiness

Peter, an emissary of Yĕshua the Mĕssiah, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen ^1:2according to the predetermination of the Almĭghty Făther, in connection to sanctification, by the Spĭrit, with respect to obedience and a sprinkling of the blood of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah. Loving-kindness to you and shalōm be multiplied.

³Blessed be the Almĭghty and Făther of our ’Adŏnai̱ Yĕshūa̒, the Mĕssiah, who according to his great mercy causes us to be born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah from the dead, ⁴to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵who are protected by the power of the Almĭghty, through faithfulness, for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, ⁷that the proof of your faithfulness, being more precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah.

⁸And though you have not seen him, you love him, and though you do not see him now, but affirm faithfulness, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹obtaining as the outcome of your faithfulness the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the loving kindness that would come to you, made careful search and inquiry, ¹¹seeking to know what person or time the Spĭrit of Mĕssiah with them was indicating as he predicted the sufferings of Mĕssiah and the glories to follow. ¹²It 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 proclaimed the good news to you by the Holy Spĭrit sent from heaven—things into which messengers long to look.

¹³Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the loving-kindness to be brought to you at the revelation of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah. ¹⁴As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts, which were yours in your ignorance, ¹⁵but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior, ¹⁶because it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” ¹⁷And if you address as Făther the One who impartially judges according to each man’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay upon earth, ¹⁸knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life, inherited from your forefathers, ¹⁹but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Mĕssiah. ²⁰Because he was known aforetime, indeed before the foundation the world, but is manifested in these last times for the sake of you ²¹who through him are faithful to the Almĭghty, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faithfulness and hope are in the Almĭghty.

²²Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brothers, eagerly love one another from the heart, ²³because you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of the Almĭghty. ²⁴Because, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, ²⁵but the word of Yăhwēh abides to time immemorial.” And this is the word which was proclaimed to you.

As Newborn Babes

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, ^2:2like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, ³if you have tasted the kindness of Yăhwēh.

As Living Stones

⁴And coming to him as to a living stone, rejected by men, but choice and precious in the sight of the Almĭghty, ⁵you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to the Almĭghty through Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah. ⁶Because this is contained in Scripture, “Behold I lay in Tsiyōn a choice stone, a precious corner stone, and he who affirms faithfulness in him will not be disappointed.” ⁷This precious valued one, then, is for you who affirm faithfulness. But for those who are disloyal, “The stone which the builders rejected, this became the very corner stone,” ⁸and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,” because they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, for which also they were disposed. ⁹But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for the Almĭghty’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, ¹⁰because you once were not a people, but now you are the people of the Almĭghty. You had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

¹¹Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul. ¹²Keep your behavior excellent among the nations, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify the Almĭghty in the day of visitation.

Honor Authority

¹³Submit yourselves to every human institution through Yăhwēh, whether to a king as the one in authority, ¹⁴or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. ¹⁵Because such is the will of the Almĭghty that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. ¹⁶Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as servants of the Almĭghty. ¹⁷Honor all men. Love the brotherhood, fear the Almĭghty, honor the king.

¹⁸Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable, ¹⁹because this finds favor, when for the sake of conscience toward the Almĭghty a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. ²⁰Because what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it, and you patiently endure it, then this finds favor with the Almĭghty.

Mĕssiah is Our Example

²¹Because you have been called for this purpose, since Mĕssiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in his steps, ²²who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth. ²³And while being insulted, he did not insult in return. While suffering, he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously. ²⁴And he himself bore our sin penalties in his body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live for righteousness. By his wounds you are healed, ²⁵because you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Holy Living

INthe same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, ^3:2as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. ³And let not your adornment be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses. ⁴But let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of the Almĭghty. ⁵Because in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in the Almĭghty, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands. ⁶Thus Sarah obeyed ’Av̱raham, calling him lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear.

⁷You husbands likewise, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman, and grant her honor as a fellow heir of the loving-kindness of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

⁸To sum up, let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit, ⁹not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead, because you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. ¹⁰Because, let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. ¹¹And let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek shalōm and pursue it, ¹²because the eyes of Yăhwēh are upon the righteous, and his ears attend to their prayer, but the face of Yăhwēh is against those who do evil.

¹³And who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, ¹⁵but sanctify Mĕssiah as ’Adŏnai̱ in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence, ¹⁶and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who insult your good behavior in Mĕssiah may be put to shame.

¹⁷Because it is better, if the Almĭghty should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

¹⁸Because Mĕssiah also suffered for sins once, the just for the unjust, in order that he might bring us to the Almĭghty, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spĭrit, ¹⁹by which Spĭrit, also, concerning the spirits in prison (as one who had been departed) he proclaims victory, ²⁰who formerly disobeyed, while the Almĭghty was patiently waiting in the days of Nōaḥ, during the construction of the ark, into which a few, that is, eight souls, were delivered through water, ²¹which figuratively now delivers you, a washing, not by the removal of filth from the flesh, but the pledge to the Almĭghty of a good conscience, because of the resurrection of Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah, ²²who is at the right hand of the Almĭghty, having departed to heaven, where messengers and authorities and powers have been subjected to him.

Keep Fervent in Your Love

Therefore, since Mĕssiah has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ^4:2so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of the Almĭghty. ³Because the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the nations, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. ⁴And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you, ⁵but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶Because the good news has for this purpose been proclaimed 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 the Almĭghty.

⁷The end of all things has come near. Therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. ⁸Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹Be hospitable to one another without complaint. ¹⁰As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the many sided loving-kindness of the Almĭghty. ¹¹Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of the Almĭghty. Whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which the Almĭghty supplies, so that in all things the Almĭghty may be glorified through Yĕshūa̒ the Mĕssiah, to whom belongs the glory and dominion unto the ages of the ages. ’Amēn.

Share the Sufferings of Mĕssiah

¹²Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. ¹³But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Mĕssiah, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of his glory, you may rejoice with exultation. ¹⁴If you are insulted for the name of Mĕssiah, you are blessed, because the Spĭrit of glory and of the Almĭghty rests upon you. ¹⁵By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler, ¹⁶but if anyone suffers as a Christian (Messianic), let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify the Almĭghty.

¹⁷Because it is time for judgment to begin with the household of the Almĭghty, and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the good news of the Almĭghty?

¹⁸And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? ¹⁹Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of the Almĭghty entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Serve Yăhwēh Willingly

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Mĕssiah, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, ^5:2shepherd the flock of the Almĭghty among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of the Almĭghty, and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness, ³nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. ⁴And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

⁵You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because the Almĭghty is opposed to the proud, but gives loving-kindness to the humble. ⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of the Almĭghty, that he may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷casting all your anxiety upon him, because he cares for you.

⁸Be of sober spirit. Be on the alert. Your adversary, the Accuser, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹But resist him, firm in your faithfulness, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers who are in the world. ¹⁰And after you have suffered for a little while, the Almĭghty of all loving-kindness, who called you to his everlasting glory in Mĕssiah, will himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. ¹¹To him be dominion for the ages of the ages. ’Amēn.

¹²Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (because so I consider him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true loving-kindness of the Almĭghty. Stand firm in it!

¹³She who is in Bav̱el, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. ¹⁴Greet one another with a kiss of love. Shalōm be to you all who are in Mĕssiah.