1 Peter 1-2

1 ¹From Peter, [an appointed messenger] of Christ,
to the strangers scattered through out Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
²Elect, according to the fore-knowledge of God,, the Father, through purification of the spirit into obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and Peace be multiplied. ³Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy, has given us a [chance to be reborn] and so, a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. ⁴To an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled, and won't fade away, reserved in heaven, for us, ⁵Who are [guarded] by the power of God through FAITH [of] salvation, ready to be revealed in the last [days]. ⁶In this you greatly rejoice, even though, now, for a little while, you may be grieving, pining or depressed through diversity of trials, ⁷that the trial of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes, so that your faith, even tried by fire, will be found praise worthy, honorable and full of glory when Jesus comes, ⁸Him, who you've loved, even though you haven't seen Him, but believed, rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory. ⁹Receiving the promise of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

¹⁰The salvation for which the prophets sought and searched diligently and who prophesied of the grace that you'd receive. ¹¹Searching what or when, the spirit of who was in them, was declaring, when preaching testified before hand the sufferings destined for Christ and the glories that should follow. ¹²To whom it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us, they were ministering the things that are now reported to you by them that have preached the gospel to you with the Holy Spirit, things the angels intensely desire to look into. ¹³[For this reason][prepare for strenuous mental activity] of your mind, [deny yourself worldly pleasures] and hope, unchangeable and undoubting, for the grace that is being brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴As obedient children, not falling into old patterns of former lusts in your ignorance. ¹⁵But, like the Holy One who called you, be holy in all manner of behavior. ¹⁶Because it is written, "You will be holy for I am holy". ¹⁷And if you call on the Father, who shows no favoritism but judges according to every man's labor, pass the time of your sojourn here and [experience] God.

¹⁸Since, as you know, you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, from your futile life style handed down through your parents traditions, ¹⁹But with the precious blood of Christ, [like the sacrificial lamb] without blemish or spot. ²⁰Who, in truth, has been known from all eternity down to the present and revealed in these last times for you, ²¹who by Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, that your faith and hope might be in God. ²²Seeing that you HAVE purified your souls by obedience to the truth through the spirit to [honest, real] love of the brethren, seeing that you love one another with a pure heart [intensely], ²³Being born again, not as corruptible seed (a mortal) but an incorruptible seed (immortal), by the Word of God, which lives and endures forever. ²⁴All flesh is like the grass that withers away and the glory of man like a flower that falls [and flies] away. ²⁵But the Word of God endures forever. And the gospel is preached to you by the word.

2 ¹[For this reason] lay aside all vicious intentions, all deceit and deception, hypocrisies, envy and all evil, malicious slanderous talk. ²As new born babes, (new Christians), earnestly desire the truth of the word, nourishment, that you may grow. ³So you will have sampled the graciousness of the Lord, ⁴who came as a living stone (see verse 8), rejected by men, but chosen by God and precious. ⁵You, too, are like living stones, [walking, rooted] built up into a spiritual life, a holy priesthood (sanctified, set apart for a holy purpose-See verse 9) to bring to the alter, spiritual sacrifices (sin) acceptable to God because Jesus died for them.

⁶[For that reason] also scripture says, "Behold I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious; and he that believes will not be [confused, bewildered, condemned]." Isaiah 28:16. ⁷So you who believe are precious, but to you who disbelieve, the stone, the builders reject, He is made the head of the corner, (honored) by believers, ⁸being a stumbling block, a rock of offense to those who stumble at the word, being unbelievers.

⁹You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own [to tell the world of the virtues] of Him who called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. ¹⁰[A people] who were strangers who hadn't obtained mercy, but are now people of God, who have obtained mercy.

¹¹Dearly Beloved, I beg you as past strangers and pilgrims (unbelievers), to abstain from fleshly lusts that war against your soul, ¹²with behavior that is honest among the Gentiles, so if they tell others you are evil doers, they will see your light shine and God will be glorified in the day [He looks upon and observes you].

¹³Submit to man's laws [rules] FOR THE LORD'S SAKE, whether to a king, supreme, ¹⁴or a governor and to any sent by him for vengeance of evil doers and for the praise of them that do well. ¹⁵For this is God's will, that by doing what is right you will silence ignorant, foolish men. ¹⁶As free but not using your liberty as an ungodly license for maliciousness but as the servants of God. ¹⁷Honor ALL men, love your brothers and sisters within the family of God, reverence Him and honor the king. ¹⁸Servants be submissive to those over you with all reverence; not only to the rulers that are good and gentle but even the averse. ¹⁹Because a man, [consciously aware of his place as a son and joint heir] endures grief and suffering undeserved. ²⁰What glory is there if your buffeted for your faults and take it patiently? However, if you suffer [unjustly] and take it patiently this is worthy and pleasing to God.

²¹You were called to follow Christ's steps, he suffered for us and left us an example to guide us: ²²[He] who didn't sin nor did He speak deceitfully; ²³and when abusive words were heaped upon Him, didn't retaliate, when He suffered He didn't threaten, but left judgment to Him that judges justly; ²⁴and, who himself bore our sins in His own body on the cross so that our sins would cease to exist and we could be justified; by His stripes we are healed. ²⁵Because you were like sheep going astray but you've now been returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.