^aPeter, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ,

To those elect—both Jewish and Gentile believers who live as ^bexiles, ^cscattered throughout ^dPontus, ^eGalatia, ^fCappadocia, ^gAsia Minor, and ^hBithynia, ⁱwho are chosen Heb 13:14 2 according to the ^aforeknowledge of God the Father by the ^bsanctifying work of the Spirit to ^cbe obedient to Jesus Christ and to be ^dsprinkled with His blood: ^eMay grace and peace that special sense of spiritual well-being be yours in increasing abundance as you walk closely with God. John 14:27

3 ^aBlessed gratefully praised and adored be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who ^baccording to His abundant and boundless mercy has ^ccaused us to be born again that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose to ^dan ever-living hope and confident assurance through the ^eresurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, Matt 28:1-9; Mark 16:6; Luke 24:6; John 20:1-18 4 born anew into an ^ainheritance which is imperishable beyond the reach of change and undefiled and ^bunfading, ^creserved in heaven for you, 5 who are being ^aprotected and shielded by the power of God ^bthrough your faith for ^csalvation that is ready ^dto be revealed for you in the last time. 6 ^aIn this you rejoice greatly, even though now ^bfor a little while, ^cif necessary, you have been distressed by ^dvarious trials, 7 so that the ^agenuineness of your faith, which is much more precious than gold which is perishable, ^beven though tested and purified by fire, ^cmay be found to result in your praise and glory and honor at ^dthe revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 ^aThough you have not seen Him, you ^blove Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 receiving as ^athe result the outcome, the consummation of your faith, the salvation of ¹your souls.

10 ^aRegarding this salvation, the prophets who ^bprophesied about the ^cgrace of God that was intended for you, searched carefully and inquired about this future way of salvation, 11 seeking to find out what person or what time ^athe Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He ^bforetold the sufferings of Christ and the glories destined to follow. 12 It was revealed to them that their services their prophecies regarding grace were not meant for themselves and their time, but for you, in these things the death, resurrection, and glorification of Jesus Christ which have now been told to you by those who ^apreached the gospel to you by ^bthe power of the Holy Spirit who was sent from heaven. Into these things even the ^cangels long to look.

13 So ^aprepare your minds for action, ^bbe completely sober in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert, fix your ^chope completely on the ^dgrace of God that is coming to you ^ewhen Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 Live as ^aobedient children of God; do not ^bbe conformed to the evil desires which governed you in your ^cignorance before you knew the requirements and transforming power of the good news regarding salvation. 15 But ^alike the Holy One who called you, ^bbe holy yourselves ^cin all your conduct be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage; 16 because it is written, “^aYOU SHALL BE HOLY (set apart) , FOR I AM HOLY.” Lev 11:44, 45; 19:2

17 If you ^aaddress as Father, the One who ^bimpartially ^cjudges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves ^din reverent fear of Him and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your ^estay on earth. 18 For you know that you were not ^aredeemed from your ^buseless spiritually unproductive way of life inherited by tradition from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold, 19 but you were actually purchased with precious ^ablood, like that of a sacrificial ^blamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ. Lev 22:20 20 For He was ^1aforeordained (foreknown) before ^bthe foundation of the world, but has ^cappeared publicly in these last times ^dfor your sake 21 and through Him you ^abelieve confidently in God the heavenly Father, who raised Him from the dead and ^bgave Him glory, so that your faith and ^chope are centered and rest in God.

22 Since ^aby your obedience to the truth you have ^bpurified yourselves for a ^csincere love of the believers, see that you love one another from the heart always unselfishly seeking the best for one another, 23 for you have been ^aborn again that is, reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose ^bnot of seed which is perishable but from that which is imperishable and immortal, that is, through the living and everlasting ^cword of God. 24 For,“^aALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS.THE GRASS WITHERSAND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,