60:001:001 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the
strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and
Bithynia,
60:001:002 Elect 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.
60:001:003 Blessed 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,
60:001:004 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that
fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
60:001:005 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.
60:001:006 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need
be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
60:001:007 That 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:
60:001:008 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him
not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
60:001:009 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your
souls.
60:001:010 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched
diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
60:001:011 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.
60:001:012 Unto 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.
60:001:013 Wherefore 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;
60:001:014 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to
the former lusts in your ignorance:
60:001:015 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all
manner of conversation;
60:001:016 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
60:001:017 And 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:
60:001:018 Forasmuch 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;
60:001:019 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot:
60:001:020 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the
world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
60:001:021 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.
60:001:022 Seeing 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:
60:001:023 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
60:001:024 For 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:
60:001:025 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the
word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
60:002:001 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and
hypocrisies, and envies, all evil speakings,
60:002:002 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that
ye may grow thereby:
60:002:003 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
60:002:004 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of
men, but chosen of God, and precious,
60:002:005 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by
Jesus Christ.
60:002:006 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I
lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth
on him shall not be confounded.
60:002:007 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto
them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the
same is made the head of the corner,
60:002:008 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them
which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were
appointed.
60:002:009 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him
who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
60:002:010 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.
60:002:011 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
60:002:012 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.
60:002:013 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's
sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
60:002:014 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the
punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
60:002:015 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to
silence the ignorance of foolish men:
60:002:016 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of
maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
60:002:017 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the
king.
60:002:018 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only
to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
60:002:019 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God
endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
60:002:020 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your
faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer
for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
60:002:021 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also
suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
60:002:022 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
60:002:023 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he
suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth
righteously:
60:002:024 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,
that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
stripes ye were healed.
60:002:025 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto
the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
60:003:001 Likewise, ye 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;
60:003:002 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
60:003:003 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of
plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
60:003:004 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.
60:003:005 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also,
who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their
own husbands:
60:003:006 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose
daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any
amazement.
60:003:007 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to
knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and
as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not
hindered.
60:003:008 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
60:003:009 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but
contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye
should inherit a blessing.
60:003:010 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:
60:003:011 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and
ensue it.
60:003:012 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears
are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them
that do evil.
60:003:013 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that
which is good?
60:003:014 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye:
and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
60:003:015 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always
to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that
is in you with meekness and fear:
60:003:016 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.
60:003:017 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer
for well doing, than for evil doing.
60:003:018 For Christ also hath 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:
60:003:019 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in
prison;
60:003:020 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering
of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing,
wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
60:003:021 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth 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:
60:003:022 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God;
angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
60:004:001 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh,
arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in
the flesh hath ceased from sin;
60:004:002 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.
60:004:003 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought
the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts,
excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
60:004:004 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to
the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
60:004:005 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the
quick and the dead.
60:004:006 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.
60:004:007 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober,
and watch unto prayer.
60:004:008 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:
for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
60:004:009 Use hospitality one to another without grudging.
60:004:010 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the
same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
60:004:011 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 giveth: that God
in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise
and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
60:004:012 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
60:004:013 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's
sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also
with exceeding joy.
60:004:014 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for
the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is
evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
60:004:015 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.
60:004:016 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed;
but let him glorify God on this behalf.
60:004:017 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?
60:004:018 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the
ungodly and the sinner appear?
60:004:019 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God
commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a
faithful Creator.
60:005:001 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:
60:005:002 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;
60:005:003 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being
ensamples to the flock.
60:005:004 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a
crown of glory that fadeth not away.
60:005:005 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea,
all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for
God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
60:005:006 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that he may exalt you in due time:
60:005:007 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
60:005:008 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a
roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
60:005:009 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
60:005:010 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal
glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you
perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
60:005:011 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
60:005:012 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I
have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true
grace of God wherein ye stand.
60:005:013 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you,
saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
60:005:014 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with
you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.