1 Peter 1

1 Peter [a delegate of Jesus Christ], an apostle of Jesus Christ [the Messiah, God’s anointed], To the elect [chosen by God, select] who are exiles [strangers, sojourners] of the Dispersion [scattering, diaspora] throughout Pontus [a region in Asia Minor], Galatia [a region in Asia], Cappadocia [a region in Asia Minor], Asia [the Roman province], and Bithynia [a region in Asia], chosen [by God, select] word study 2 according to the [previous, divine] foreknowledge of God [Almighty] the Father and sanctified [set apart, made holy] by the Spirit [the Holy Breath of God] for obedience [submission, loyalty] to Jesus Christ [the Anointed Savior] and sprinkling [ceremonial purification] by His blood [the atoning sacrifice]: Grace [unmerited favor, divine kindness] and peace [harmony, inner calm] be yours in abundance [multiplied, overflowing]. word study 3 Blessed be the God [praiseworthy, worthy of admiration] and Father [the male parent, divine caregiver] of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy [abundant kindness, loving compassion] He has given us new birth [begotten us again, regenerated us] into a living hope [a lively expectation, a confident trust] through the resurrection [a standing up again from death] of Jesus Christ from the dead [out from the state of death, no longer lifeless], word study 4 and into an inheritance [incorruptible, eternal] that is imperishable [incorruptible, never spoils], undefiled [pure, holy], and unfading [lasts forever, never withers], reserved [kept safe, preserved] in heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s home] for you [as a gift, a treasure], word study 5 who through [because of, by means of] faith [trust, confidence in God] are shielded [guarded, protected] by God’s [the Almighty, divine] power [strength, ability] for the salvation [rescue, spiritual deliverance] that is ready [prepared, awaiting] to be revealed [uncovered, made known] in the last [final, ultimate] time [season, opportunity]. word study 6 In this [which is your salvation, a cause for joy] you greatly rejoice [with exceeding gladness, to jump for joy], though now [at this moment, in this present time] for a little while [a short season, a brief time] you may have had to suffer [be grieved, experience sorrow] grief [heaviness, sadness] in [through, during] various [manifold, diverse] trials [temptations, testings] word study 7 so that the proven character [trial, testing] of your faith [trust, confidence in God]—more precious [valuable, highly esteemed] than gold [a valuable metal], which perishes [is destroyed, loses value] even though refined [purified, tried] by fire [flames]—may result in praise [honor, admiration], glory [honor, renown], and honor [respect, dignity] at the revelation [apocalypse, unveiling] of Jesus [God’s salvation, the Messiah] Christ [the Anointed One, Savior]. word study 8 Though you have not seen Him [whom you do not know, though unseen], you love Him [with a deep affection, esteem]; and though you do not see Him now [at this moment, in the present], you believe in Him [trust, have faith] and rejoice with an inexpressible [unspeakable, beyond words] and glorious [full of glory, glorified] joy [a deep and lasting happiness], word study 9 now that you [as believers, recipients of God’s promise] are receiving [being repaid, obtaining the result] the goal [end, culmination] of your faith [trust, confidence in God], the salvation [rescue, deliverance] of your souls [the seat of emotions, desires, and spiritual life]. word study 10 Concerning this salvation [rescue or safety, spiritual deliverance], the prophets [messengers of God, interpreters of His will] who foretold [spoke beforehand, prophesied] the grace [divine influence, graciousness] to come to you [toward you, for your benefit] searched [investigated carefully, sought out] and investigated [examined diligently, tried to learn] carefully [with all care, thoroughly], word study 11 trying to determine [searching for, investigating] the time [season, opportune moment] and setting [circumstances, situation] to which the Spirit [the vital principle] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] in them was pointing [signifying, indicating] when He predicted [foretold, testified beforehand] the sufferings [hardships, afflictions] of Christ [the Messiah, Jesus] and the glories [honor, praise] to follow [come after, accompany]. word study 12 It was revealed [made clear, disclosed] to them that they were not serving [ministering, attending to] themselves, but you [for your benefit], when they foretold [prophesied, spoke beforehand] the things now [in this present time] announced [reported, proclaimed] by those who preached [proclaimed, shared] the gospel [good news, message of salvation] to you by the Holy [set apart, sacred] Spirit [breath, divine presence] sent [dispatched, commissioned] from heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place]. Even angels [messengers, heavenly beings] long [yearn, desire deeply] to look into [stoop, gaze] these things [mysteries, divine truths]. word study 13 Therefore [as a consequence of your faith] prepare your minds [gird up the loins of your understanding] for action [to be ready to serve]. Be [live as] sober-minded [morally alert, discreet]. Set your hope [trust, expectation] fully [completely, perfectly] on the grace [divine favor, kindness] to be given you [brought to you] at the revelation [disclosure, unveiling] of Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] Christ [the anointed Messiah]. word study 14 As obedient [submissive to God’s will] children [born of God], do not conform [mold yourselves to fit] to the passions [strong desires, lusts] of your former [previously, in the past] ignorance [lack of knowledge, unawareness]. word study 15 But just as He [the One who chose you] who called [invited, summoned] you is holy [set apart, sacred], so be holy [consecrated, dedicated] in all [every aspect of] you do [your behavior, manner of life], word study 16 for it is written [in Scripture, as a command]: “Be [become, come into being as] holy [set apart, dedicated to God], because [since, as] I [the Lord, God] am [exist, have my being as] holy [separate from evil, morally pure].” word study 17 Since you call on a Father [who is impartial and just] who judges [evaluates and assesses] each one’s work [actions and deeds] impartially [without respect of persons, based on merit], conduct yourselves [live and behave] in reverent [deep and respectful] fear [awe and trembling] during your stay [temporary residence, sojourn] as foreigners [strangers and aliens, temporary dwellers]. word study 18 For you know [being conscious, having spiritual awareness] that it was not with perishable [corruptible, fleeting] things such as silver [money, valuable metal] or gold [a precious commodity] that you were redeemed [ransomed, set free] from the empty [futile, useless] way of life [manner of living, behavior] you inherited [received by tradition] from your forefathers [ancestors, fathers], word study 19 but with the precious [highly valued, costly] blood [atoning sacrifice] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], a lamb [symbol of innocence] without blemish [blameless] or spot [stain]. word study 20 He was known [foreordained, chosen] before the foundation [beginning, conception] of the world [the orderly arrangement, creation], but was revealed [manifested, made visible] in the last [final, extreme] times [periods, ages] for your sake [because of, on account of you]. word study 21 Through Him [because of His work, by His means] you believe [have faith, trust] in God [the one true deity, Creator], who raised Him [Christ, the Messiah] from the dead [the state of being lifeless, spiritually or physically] and glorified [honored, gave praise to] Him; and so your faith [trust, confidence] and hope [expectation, assurance] are in God [the object of your trust, the one you rely on]. word study 22 Since you have purified [made clean, sanctified] your souls [the seat of emotions and desires] by obedience [submission to God’s commands] to the truth [reality, divine revelation] so that you have a genuine [unfeigned, sincere] love [affection, esteem] for your brothers [fellow believers, spiritual family], love [show esteem and goodwill] one another [mutually] deeply, from a pure [clean, undefiled] heart [the center of thoughts and feelings]. word study 23 For you have been born again [begotten anew, having a new life], not of perishable [corruptible, mortal] seed, but of imperishable [incorruptible, eternal], through the living [having life] and enduring [remaining forever] word [logos, the divine message] of God [the one true deity]. word study 24 For, “All [every, including all people] flesh [human nature, physical body] is like [comparable to, similar to] grass [herbage, plants], and all [every aspect of] its glory [honor, praise, dignity] like [resembling, akin to] the flowers [blooms, blossoms] of the field [open land, pasture]; the grass [herbage, plants] withers [dries up, becomes barren] and the flowers [blooms, blossoms] fall [drop, fade away], word study 25 but the word [declaration, utterance] of the Lord [God, Master] stands [remains, abides] forever [for all eternity, to the age].” And this is the word [message, good news] that was proclaimed [preached, announced] to you [toward you, into your hearts]. word study