1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

"KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD"

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see himnot, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

10Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:

11Searching 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.

12Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

EXHORTATION TO HOLINESS

13Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

15But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

21Who 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.

22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Peter an Apostle of Iesus Christ, to the strangers scattred thorowout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2Elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit vnto obedience, and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ: Grace vnto you and peace be multiplied.

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten vs againe vnto a liuely hope, by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from the dead,

4To an inheritance incorruptible, and vndefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserued in heauen for you,

5Who are kept by the power of God through faith vnto saluation, ready to be reuealed in the last time.

6Wherin ye greatly reioyce, though now for a season (if neede bee) yee are in heauinesse through manifolde temptations:

7That the triall of your faith, being much more precious then of golde that perisheth, though it bee tryed with fire, might be found vnto praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of Iesus Christ:

8Whom hauing not seene, yee loue, in whom though now ye see him not, yet beleeuing, ye reioyce with ioy vnspeakeable, and full of glory,

9Receiuing the ende of your faith, euen the saluation of your soules:

10Of which saluation the Prophets haue inquired, and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come vnto you,

11Searching what, or what maner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signifie, when it testified beforehand the suffrings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

12Unto whome it was reuealed, that not vnto themselues, but vnto vs, they did minister the things which are now reported vnto you, by them that haue preached the Gospel vnto you, with the holy Ghost sent downe from heauen, which things the Angels desire to looke into.

13Wherefore gird vp the loynes of your minde, bee sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to bee brought vnto you at the reuelation of Iesus Christ:

14As obedient children, not fashioning your selues according to the former lusts, in your ignorance:

15But as hee which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all maner of conuersation;

16Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy.

17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons iudgeth according to euery mans worke, passe the time of your soiourning here in feare:

18For as much as ye know that yee were not redeemed with corruptible things, as siluer and golde, from your vaine conuersation receiued by tradition from your fathers;

19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lambe without blemish and without spot,

20Who verily was foreordeined before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

21Who by him do beleeue in God that raised him vp from the dead, and gaue him glorie, that your faith and hope might be in God.

22Seeing yee haue purified your soules in obeying the truth through the Spirit, vnto vnfained loue of the brethren: see that ye loue one another with a pure heart feruently,

23Being borne againe, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liueth and abideth for euer.

24For all flesh is as grasse, and all the glory of man as the flowre of grasse: the grasse withereth, and the flowre thereof falleth away.

25But the word of the Lord endureth for euer: & this is the word which by the Gospel is preached vnto you.

I == John 7:35 ; Acts 2:5 , 9-10

II == Rom 1:7 ; 8:29 ; Titus 3:5 ; Heb 10:22 ; 12:24 ; 1st Peter 2:9 ; 3:21

IV == Col 1:5

V == John 17:11-12 , 15

VI == Matt 5:12 ; 1st Peter 4:13 ; 5:10

VII == Job 23:10 ; Ps 66:10 ; Prov 17:3 ; Isa 48:10 ; Rom 2:7 , 10 ; 2nd Thess 1:7-12

X == Gen 49:10 ; dan 2:44

XI == Ps 22:6 ; Isa 53:3 ; Dan 9:26

XIII == Luke 12:35 ; 17:30 ; Eph 6:14

XIV == Rom 12:2

XV == Luke 1:74-75

XVI == Lev 11:44-45 ; 19:2

XVII == Deut 10:17

XVIII == 1st Cor 6:20 ; 7:23 ; 1st Peter 4:3

XIX == Ex 12:5 ; Isa 53:7

XX == Rom 3:25 ; 16:25-26 ; Eph 1:10 ; 3:9 , 11 ; Heb 1:2 ; 9:26

XXI == Matt 28:18 ; Acts 2:24 , 33

XXII == 1st Peter 2:17 ; 3:8 ; 4:8 ; 1st John 3:18 ; 4:7 , 21

XXIII == John 1:13 ; 3:5

XXIV == Ps 103:15 ; Isa 40:6 ; 51:12

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen sojourners of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 in the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification by the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling with the blood of Jesus Christ: may grace and peace be yours in abundance. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you 5 who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time. 6 In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, 7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, 9 as you attain the goal of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls. 10 Concerning this salvation, prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and investigated it, 11 investigating the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories to follow them. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you with regard to the things that have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you (through) the holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels longed to look. 13 Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, live soberly, and set your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance 15 but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, 16 for it is written, "Be holy because I (am) holy."17 Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning, 18 realizing that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold 19 but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb. 20 He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, 21 who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere mutual love, love one another intensely from a (pure) heart. 23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God,24 for: "All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the field; the grass withers, and the flower wilts; 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever." This is the word that has been proclaimed to you.

1. OPENING ADDRESS (1:1-2)
2. DIGNITY OF THE CHRISTIAN VOCATION (1:5 -2:10)
     A. NEW BIRTH IN CHRIST (1:3-9)
     B. TESTIMONY OF THE PROPHETS (1:10-12)
     C. BE HOLY YOURSELVES ( 1:13-2: 3 )
     D. CHRIST THE LIVING STONE ( 2: 4 - 10)
3. DUTIES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. (2:11 - 3:12)
     A. CIVIL DUTIES OF THE SAINTS ( 2: 11 - 17)
     B. SUFFERING LIKE CHRIST ( 2: 18 - 25 )
     C. HOUSEHOLD DUTIES OF THE SAINTS ( 3 : 1 - 7 )
     D. MORAL DUTIES OF THE SAINTS ( 3 : 8 - 12 )
4. DIFFICULTIES OF CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION ( )
     A. CONDUCT DURING PERSECUTION ( 3:13 - 5: 11 )
     B. LIVING FOR THE LAST DAYS ( 4: 1 - 11 )
     C. SUFFERING AND CHRISTIAN GLORY ( 4: 12 - -19 )
     D. SHEPHERDS AND THE FLOCK ( 5 : 1 - 5 )
     E. HUMILITY AND VIGILANCE ( 5 : 6 - 11 )
5. CLOSING BENEDICTION. ( 5 : 12 - 14 )

This book was written by Peter from Babylon (5:13) about A.D. 65. This is the area of the original Babylon, not mystery Babylon, Rome as some think. (Arguments for Rome are largely based on tradition.) Rome was never considered mystery Babylon until after John wrote Revelation 25-30 years later. Also Peter did not write in mystery in this epistle, and there is no indication in scripture that Peter was ever in Rome. He was probably martyred within a year and a half after Paul.

v 1. Although he was the apostle to the circumcision, it is written to the same believers  scattered, “Diaspore”, exiles, through Asia Minor that the book of Hebrews was written to. They were Jews primarily, but included Gentiles who became Jewish proselytes. Christians were hated by Jews because they worshiped Christ as God. Hated by Romans because they spoke of Christ as King. Roman pagans considered them atheists because they had no temples or visible sacrifices. 

v 2. Chosen by the foreknowledge of God.
Sanctified, made holy, by the Holy Spirit
Sprinkled, covered, by the blood of Christ
They were in great need of this grace and peace, freedom from fear and conflict.

v 3. They hadn’t witnessed the resurrection as Peter had, but because of it, they had a living hope, assurance of heaven, just as we have. Here and in v 23; Jn. 3:3-7, “Ye must be born again.”

v 4. Our heavenly inheritance is imperishable and reserved, (Gr. guarded) for us. The Jews inheritance is in the Millennium.

v 5. We are kept in eternal salvation now, but it will be completed in eternity.

v 6,7. These people had suffered and were going to suffer a great deal more. He assured them God was refining them as in Zechariah 13:8,9, to be His people, and they will receive praise from Christ at His return, Mt. 25:21; Jn. 12:26. Our joy is independent of our circumstances. Trials prove the reality of our faith.

v 8,9. We learn to love and continue to love others through our contacts and perceptions of them. Peter had seen Christ, but we cannot see him, so we learn to know Him and love Him by focusing our faith on Him. The greater our love, the greater the joy until our present eternal salvation is complete in heaven.

v 10-12. We know more about Christ than the old prophets, though they prophesied of Him. They could not understand the timing and fulfillment of what the Holy Spirit inspired them to write, but could observe that the things were for a future day, not for themselves. (Ask students the basic things we know about Christ which the prophets foretold without understanding, birth, life, death, resurrection and return.) We even know more about the gospel going to the Gentiles etc. than the angels did before the Church began, Eph. 3:5,6.

v 13. We are to prepare our minds to discipline, self restraint and concentration on the truths of the Word, and we will rejoice when Christ returns.

v 14. Gentiles were to turn from the horrible moral standards of their past and Jews were to turn from religious zeal, both done in ignorance, to true worship of God.

v 15,16. The command to be holy was given Lev. 11:44,45. Four truths:
a. Our new life when we are born again is divine, so it is holy.
b. To obey we must become practically what we are positionally.
At Bar-Mitzvah ceremony a Jew boy is declared a man, then he must act like one.
c. We can only discipline ourselves to do this by the power of the Holy Spirit.
d. With our old nature it is possible to sin, but not necessary to sin in our new. God is holy. Our actions show what kind of God we think He is.

v 17-18. Holy living does not bring salvation, but it is lived if we fear God. It was not money or their religious activity that saved them, but the sacrifice and shedding of Christ’s blood. Redeem is the idea of a ransom paid for a life, being bought out of the market place of sin.

v 19 LAMB WITHOUT BLEMISH: Jesus is depicted as a pass over lamb ( 1st Cor 5:7) Exodus stipulates that the lamb chosen for pass over must not have any physical defects ( Ex 12:5) Jesus is free from blemish of sin and from his human body ( 1st Peter 2:22) and ransomed us from our sinful ways. ( 1:18) and Israel was redeemed from sinful Egypt ( Ex 15:13) and Jesus' blood shed for our salvation ( 1st Pet 1:19) ( Ex 12:21-23) The blood of the paschal lamb was shed at the sign of God's deliverance at the first Exodus.

v 20. Christ’s offer of Himself was made before the earth was created, but it was not performed till the day of the apostles and His life on earth.

v 21. God’s stamp of approval of Christ’s offering was shown by His resurrection so we can be encouraged know beyond any doubt that this was of God.

v 22. Fellowship based on mere mutual interests and pleasant personality is not Christian love. Lives pure by confessed sins and obedience to truth, the Holy Spirit, enable us to love those who are unlovely.

v 23-25.  Our physical birth is from mortal seed or sperm. Our new birth is from seed which is imperishable, the Word of God,  Matt. 13:3-23, which tells us the way of salvation. Not just the written word, but Christ is the true Word and it is He who imparts spiritual life to us. All flesh, our mortal activities are fleeting, but the word of the Lord is everlasting. From it we learn how to receive life everlasting, God dwelling in us.