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The Hope of Eternal Life

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

So be truly glad.[a] There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.

10 This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11 They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward.

12 They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.

A Call to Holy Living

13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 1:6 Or So you are truly glad.
  2. 1:16 Lev 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7.

Praise to God for a Living Hope

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

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke(U) of the grace that was to come to you,(V) searched intently and with the greatest care,(W) 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ(X) in them was pointing when he predicted(Y) 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,(Z) when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you(AA) by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.(AB) Even angels long to look into these things.

Be Holy

13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,(AC) set your hope(AD) on the grace to be brought to you(AE) when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.(AF) 14 As obedient(AG) children, do not conform(AH) to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.(AI) 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;(AJ) 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”[a](AK)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 1:16 Lev. 11:44,45; 19:2