A Greeting from Peter
(2 Peter 1:1–2)
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, Jas 1:1Act 2:5-11Eph 2:19Heb 11:131Pe 2:11Act 8:4Jhn 11:52Mat 24:22
To the elect who are exiles of the Dispersion throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, chosen 1 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: 2Th 2:13Eph 1:4-5Heb 12:241Pe 1:22Rom 11:2Act 2:23Jhn 15:16-192Pe 1:2
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
A Living Hope
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth 2into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1Pe 1:231Jn 5:4Rom 15:13Tit 3:4-6Eph 1:72Co 1:31Jn 3:3Rom 12:12 and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, Rev 21:27Heb 9:151Pe 5:42Ti 4:8Col 1:5Mat 25:34Eph 1:11Eph 1:18 who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. Php 1:6Eph 2:82Th 2:13-14Rom 8:31-39Job 19:25Jhn 10:28-301Pe 1:13Heb 9:28
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials Jas 1:21Pe 5:10Rom 12:12Rom 5:2Mat 5:12Isa 61:3Jhn 16:33Jhn 16:22 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Job 23:10Jas 1:12Isa 48:101Pe 4:12Jas 1:3-4Zec 13:9Pro 17:3Rom 2:7
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, Jhn 20:292Co 5:7Rom 15:13Heb 11:1Jhn 16:222Co 4:181Pe 1:61Pe 5:4 now that you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Rom 6:22Jas 1:21Heb 11:13
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who foretold the grace to come to you searched and investigated carefully, Mat 13:17Luk 10:24Dan 2:44Luk 24:25-27Act 10:43Act 7:52Jhn 5:39Zec 6:12 trying to determine the time and setting to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. 2Pe 1:21Isa 52:13-14Luk 24:25-27Rom 8:9Act 26:22-23Isa 53:1-12Zec 14:9Gen 3:15
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, when they foretold the things now announced by those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. Jhn 15:261Co 2:10Eph 3:101Pe 1:25Heb 11:39-40Heb 4:2Mrk 16:152Co 1:22
A Call to Holiness
(Hebrews 12:14–17)
Therefore prepare your minds for action. 3 Be sober-minded. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1Pe 5:8Luk 12:351Pe 4:7Heb 9:281Pe 3:151Jn 3:3Tit 2:11-131Th 5:6-8 As obedient children, do not conform to the passions of your former ignorance. Rom 12:2Tit 3:3-51Pe 4:2-3Eph 2:21Th 4:5Col 3:5-7Eph 4:18-22Act 17:30 But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, Mat 5:482Co 7:1Heb 12:14Jas 3:13Eph 5:1-21Jn 3:3Php 2:15-161Th 4:3-7 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 4 Lev 11:44Lev 19:2Lev 20:7Amo 3:3
Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners. Act 10:34-352Ch 19:72Co 7:1Php 2:12Mat 6:9Heb 12:28Jer 3:19Eph 1:17 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers, 1Co 6:20Tit 2:141Co 7:23Psa 49:7-8Gal 1:4Eph 4:17Rom 1:211Pe 1:7 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or spot. 1Jn 1:71Pe 2:22-24Jhn 1:29Heb 9:12-14Rev 5:9Exo 12:5Jhn 1:36Col 1:14 He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake. Eph 1:42Ti 1:9-10Heb 9:26Rev 13:8Heb 1:2Tit 1:2-3Col 1:26Eph 3:11
Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him; and so your faith and hope are in God. Act 2:24Heb 2:9Jhn 12:44Act 2:32-33Heb 7:251Pe 1:111Pe 3:22Eph 1:15
The Enduring Word
(Isaiah 40:6–8)
Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart. 5 1Ti 1:5Heb 13:1Rom 12:9-101Pe 3:81Jn 4:12Jhn 13:34-351Jn 4:7Jas 4:8 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 1Pe 1:3Heb 4:12Jhn 1:13Jhn 3:3Jhn 6:631Co 15:53-541Jn 5:18Jas 1:18 For, Isa 40:6-8Psa 103:15Jas 4:14Jas 1:10-11Psa 37:22Ki 19:261Jn 2:17Psa 129:6
“All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord stands forever.” 6 Isa 40:8Mat 5:181Co 15:1-4Psa 119:891Jn 1:12Pe 1:19Jhn 1:1Luk 16:17
And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.