New Birth to Joy and Holiness

1:3 Blessed be8 the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1:4 that is,9 into10 an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, 1:5 who by God’s power are protected through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1:6 This brings you great joy,11 although you may have to suffer12 for a short time in various trials. 1:7 Such trials show the proven character of your faith,13 which is much more valuable than gold—gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away14—and will bring praise15 and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.16 1:8 You17 have not seen him, but you love him. You18 do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice19 with an indescribable and glorious20 joy, 1:9 because you are attaining the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

1:10 Concerning this salvation,21 the prophets22 who predicted the grace that would come to you23 searched and investigated carefully. 1:11 They probed24 into what person or time25 the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he testified beforehand about the sufferings appointed for Christ26 and his subsequent glory.27 1:12 They were shown28 that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things angels long to catch a glimpse of.

1:13 Therefore, get your minds ready for action29 by being fully sober, and set your hope30 completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.31 1:14 Like obedient children, do not comply with32 the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,33 1:15 but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, 1:16 for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.”34 1:17 And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here35 in reverence. 1:18 You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, 1:19 but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. 1:20 He was foreknown36 before the foundation of the world but37 was manifested in these last times38 for your sake. 1:21 Through him you now trust39 in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

1:22 You have purified40 your souls by obeying the truth41 in order to show sincere mutual love.42 So43 love one another earnestly from a pure heart.44 1:23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. 1:24 For

all flesh45 is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of the grass;46

the grass withers and the flower falls off,

1:25 but the word of the Lord47 endures forever.48

And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

2:1 So get rid of1 all evil and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2:2 And2 yearn3 like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk,4 so that by it you may grow up to5 salvation,6 2:3 if you have experienced7 the Lord’s kindness.8