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Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus,
Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
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Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification
of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace
to you, and peace, be multiplied.
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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy has begotten us again to a lively hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead,
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To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away,
reserved in heaven for you,
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Who are kept by the power of God through faith to salvation ready to be revealed
in the last time.
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Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in
heaviness through manifold temptations:
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That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that
perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and
glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
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Whom having not seen, you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet
believing, you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
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Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
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Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who
prophesied of the grace that should come to you:
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Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them
did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the
glory that should follow.
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To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they did minister the
things, which are now reported to you by them that have preached the gospel to
you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to
look into.
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Why gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace
that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
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As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in
your ignorance:
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But as he which has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of
conversation;
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Because it is written, Be you holy; for I am holy.
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And if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according
to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
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For as much as you know that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, as
silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your
fathers;
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But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without
spot:
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Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest
in these last times for you,
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Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him
glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
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Seeing you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit to
unfeigned love of the brothers, see that you love one another with a pure heart
fervently:
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Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of
God, which lives and stays for ever.
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For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The
grass wither, and the flower thereof falls away:
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But the word of the Lord endures for ever. And this is the word which by the
gospel is preached to you.
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Why laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, all
evil speakings,
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As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow
thereby:
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If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
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To whom coming, as to a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of
God, and precious,
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You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
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Why also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner
stone, elect, precious: and he that believes on him shall not be confounded.
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To you therefore which believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient,
the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the
corner,
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And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at
the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
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But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of
darkness into his marvelous light;
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Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had
not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
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Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly
lusts, which war against the soul;
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Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak
against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold,
glorify God in the day of visitation.
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Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be
to the king, as supreme;
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Or to governors, as to them that are sent by him for the punishment of
evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
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For so is the will of God, that with well doing you may put to silence the
ignorance of foolish men:
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As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the
servants of God.
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Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
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Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and
gentle, but also to the fraudulent.
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For this is thank worthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief,
suffering wrongfully.
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For what glory is it, if, when you be buffeted for your faults, you shall take
it patiently? but if, when you do well, and suffer for it, you take it
patiently, this is acceptable with God.
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For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving
us an example, that you should follow his steps:
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Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
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Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened
not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:
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Who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead
to sins, should live to righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.
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For you were as sheep going astray; but are now returned to the Shepherd and
Bishop of your souls.
3:1
Likewise, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey
not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the
wives;
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While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
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Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
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But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible,
even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of
great price.
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For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God,
adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:
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Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters you are, as long
as you do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
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Likewise, you husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor to
the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of
life; that your prayers be not hindered.
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Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as
brothers, be pitiful, be courteous:
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Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;
knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing.
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For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from
evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
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Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
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For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their
prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
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And who is he that will harm you, if you be followers of that which is good?
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But and if you suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are you: and be not afraid
of their terror, neither be troubled;
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But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer
to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and
fear:
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Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers,
they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
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For it is better, if the will of God be so, that you suffer for well doing, than
for evil doing.
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For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he
might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the
Spirit:
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By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison;
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Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in
the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight
souls were saved by water.
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The like figure whereunto even baptism does also now save us (not the putting
away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,)
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
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Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities
and powers being made subject to him.
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For as much then as Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves
likewise with the same mind: for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased
from sin;
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That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of
men, but to the will of God.
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For the time past of our life may suffice us to have worked the will of the
Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revelings,
parties, and abominable idolatries:
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Wherein they think it strange that you run not with them to the same excess of
riot, speaking evil of you:
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Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
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For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they
might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the
spirit.
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But the end of all things is at hand: be you therefore sober, and watch to
prayer.
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And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall
cover the multitude of sins.
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Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
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As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as
good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
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If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let
him do it as of the ability which God gives: that God in all things may be
glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and
ever. Amen.
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Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as
though some strange thing happened to you:
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But rejoice, inasmuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when
his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with exceeding joy.
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If you be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are you; for the spirit of
glory and of God rests on you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your
part he is glorified.
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But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or
as a busybody in other men's matters.
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Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him
glorify God on this behalf.
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For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it
first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of
God?
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And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner
appear?
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Why let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of
their souls to him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator.
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The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of
the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be
revealed:
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Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by
constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
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Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
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And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a crown of glory
that fades not away.
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Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yes, all of you be
subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud,
and gives grace to the humble.
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Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you
in due time:
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Casting all your care on him; for he cares for you.
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Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walks about, seeking whom he may devour:
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Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished in your brothers that are in the world.
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But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ
Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish,
strengthen, settle you.
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To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
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By Silvanus, a faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I have written briefly,
exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein you stand.
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The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, salutes you; and so
does Marcus my son.