I
am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in
the lands of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, the province of Asia, and
Bithynia. God the Father
chose you long ago, and the Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you
have obeyed Jesus Christ and are cleansed by his blood.
May
you have more and more of God’s special favor and wonderful peace.
The
Hope of Eternal Life
All
honor to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for it is by his
boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege of being born
again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ
rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless
inheritance for his children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and
undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And God, in his
mighty power, will protect you until you receive this salvation,
because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last day for
all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even
though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.
These
trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and
pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your
faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith
remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you
much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is
revealed to the whole world.
You
love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see
him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious,
inexpressible joy. Your reward for trusting him will be the salvation
of your souls.
This
salvation was something the prophets wanted to know more about. They
prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you, even though
they had many questions as to what it all could mean. They wondered
what the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told
them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory
afterward. They wondered when and to whom all this would happen.
They
were told that these things would not happen during their lifetime,
but many years later, during yours. And now this Good News has been
announced by those who preached to you in the power of the Holy Spirit
sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are
eagerly watching these things happen.
