PETER’S FIRST GENERAL LETTER
Chapter One
Peter, Jesus Christ’s apostle, to the chosen inhabitants of the diaspora of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by edification of the Spirit into obedience and sprinkling of Jesus Christ’s blood: grace to you and peace be multiplied.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who, according to his great mercy, has given us new birth into a living hope, through Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead, into an incorruptible and undefiled and unfading inheritance reserved in heaven for us, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith into a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In which you’re rejoicing greatly, even if for a little while now it’s necessary to have been made sorrowful in various trials, so that the proving of your faith - much more precious than gold which perishes - being proved by fire, might be found to praise and honour and glory, at Jesus Christ’s appearing, whom you loving having not seen, on whom now not looking but believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, salvation of souls. About which salvation prophets, who prophesied of the grace towards you, sought out and searched out, searching in what or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ in them was signifying, testifying beforehand about the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. To whom it was revealed that not to themselves but to us those things had respect, which have now been announced to you through those who have preached the joyful news to you in the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, into which the angels wish to look.
So therefore, having girded up the loins of your mind, being sober, set your hope firmly on the grace being brought to you in Jesus Christ’s revelation, as obedient children, not conforming yourself to your former ignorant desires: but just as he who called you is holy: so also you yourselves be holy in all your behaviour, because it’s been written, “You be holy because I am holy!”
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to the work of each one, pass the time of your sojourn in fear, knowing that you’ve been redeemed from your vain manner of life handed down by your fathers, not by corruptible things, not by silver or gold, but by the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world but made known in the last times for your sake, who through him believe in God, who raised him up from the dead and gave him glory so that your faith and hope might be in God.
Having purified your souls in obedience to the truth, through the Spirit to unfeigned brotherly love, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again not of perishable seed but of imperishable, by the word of God living and remaining for ever. For all flesh is as grass, and all man’s glory as the flower of grass. The grass has withered and its flower has fallen off, but the word of the Lord remains for ever. And this is the word which has been proclaimed to you.
Chapter Two
So, having put aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisies and envying and all evil speaking, like new-born babies crave the genuine spiritual milk so that by it you may grow, if indeed you’ve tasted that the Lord is kind. Coming to whom - a living stone, rejected indeed by men but chosen by God, precious - yourselves also as living stones are being built up: a spiritual house, a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
So that also it’s included in the scripture, “Look, I’m placing in Zion a corner stone, chosen, precious, and the one believing on him will not be put to shame at all.”
So to you who believe : the valued one. But to those disobeying, the stone which the ones building rejected, this one has become at the head of the corner, and a stumbling stone, and a rock of offence, to which the ones stumbling at this word, being disobedient, were also appointed.
But you are a chosen race:, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, an acquired people, so that you might proclaim the virtues of him who out of darkness called you to his wonderful light, who once were not a people, but are now God’s people, who had not received mercy, but have now received mercy.
Beloved, I implore you as strangers and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly desires which make war against the soul, having your behaviour good among the Gentiles, so that whereas they are speaking against you as doing evil, having looked on your good works they may glorify God in the day of visitation.
So be subject to every human rule for the sake of the Lord: whether to the king as supreme, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of well-doers. Because this is the will of God: that acting well you may silence the ignorance of stupid people, as free and not having freedom as a cloak for malice, but as servants of God. Show respect to everyone, love the brotherhood, fear God, honour the king.
Servants, submit yourselves with all respect to the masters, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the crooked. For this is gracious if, conscious of God, anyone endures sorrow, suffering unjustly. For what’s the glory if sinning and being struck you endure it? But if doing good, and suffering you put up with it, this is agreeable to God
Because you were called to this, even as Christ suffered on our behalf, leaving us an example so that we should follow in his steps, who did no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth, who being vilified did not vilify in return; suffering, he did not threaten, but handed it over to him who judges righteously; who himself bore our sins in his body on the cross so that being dead to sins we may live to righteousness, by whose bruise you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray but have returned now to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.
Chapter Three
Similarly the wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands, so that if any are disobedient to the word they may be gained by the behaviour of the wives without the word, having been eyewitnesses of your respectful chaste conduct in fear, whose adorning let it not be the external one of braiding of hair and wearing of gold or of dressing up in clothes, but the hidden person of the heart, in the imperishable adorning of the meek and quiet spirit which is very precious to God.
For formerly so too the holy women, those hoping in God, adorned themselves, submitting themselves to their own husbands; as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, of whom you’ve become children doing good and not suffering any fear.
The men likewise living with them according to knowledge, rendering honour to the woman as to a weaker vessel, as also joint heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers aren’t cut off.
Finally be all of one mind, sympathetic, loving the brethren, tender-hearted, friendly, not paying back evil with evil, nor vilifying with vilification, but on the contrary: blessing, knowing that you were called to this, so that you would inherit blessing.
For he who wants to love life and to see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil and let his lips speak no deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and follow after it, because the Lord’s eyes are upon the righteous and his ears toward their prayer, but the Lord’s face is against the ones doing evil. And who will injure you if you be imitators of that which is good? But if you also suffer because of righteousness you are blessed, but don’t suffer from fear of them nor be troubled, but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts and always be ready with a defence, in meekness and respect, to everyone who asks you for a reason about the hope in you, having a good conscience, so that whereas they may speak against you as evil-doers, they who slander your good way of life in Christ may be ashamed.
For it is better, if God’s will wishes, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil, and because Christ once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, in which also having gone he preached to the spirits in prison, who disobeyed sometime when once the long-suffering of God was waiting in Noah’s days, the ark being prepared in which a few - that is eight - souls were saved through water, a copy of which also saves us now: baptism, not a removal of the filth of the flesh, but the dedication of a good conscience towards God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers having been subjected to him.
Chapter Four
So Christ having suffered on behalf of us in the flesh, you too arm yourselves with the same mind (for he who suffered in the flesh has dealt with sin), no longer living the remaining time in the flesh to men’s lusts, but to God’s will. For it is sufficient for us in the past time of life to have done the will of the Gentiles, having walked in lechery, lusts, too much wine, revels, carousals, and unlawful idolatries, in which they are astonished at your not running with them to the same excess of debauchery, speaking abusively, who will deliver an account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For because of this the joyful news was preached also to the dead, so that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but might live according to God in spirit.
But the end of all things has drawn near, so be self-restrained and be watchful as to prayers. But above all having fervent love among yourselves because love will cover a host of sins, hospitable to one another without murmurings, even as each received a gift, serving it to one another like good stewards of the various favours of God.
If anyone speaks - as oracles of God; if anyone serves - as from strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom is the glory and the might, for ever and ever. Truly.
Beloved don’t be astonished at the fiery trial which is taking place in you as if a strange thing is happening to you, but even as you have a share in the sufferings of Christ, rejoice so that also in the revelation of his glory you may rejoice and be very glad. If you are reproached in the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you - on their part he is blasphemed but on your part he is glorified. Indeed don’t let any of you suffer as a murderer or thief or evil-doer or as a busy-body in other people’s affairs, but if as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in respect to this.
Because it’s time for judgement from the house of God to have begun, but if first from us, what will be the end of those disobeying the joyful news of God? And if the righteous is only just saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? So also therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God, as to a faithful Creator, commit their souls in well doing.
Chapter Five
The elders among you, I, who am a fellow elder and witness of Christ’s sufferings and partaker of the glory which is about to be revealed, beg that you shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not by constraint but willingly, not for profiteering’s sake but readily, not as exercising lordship over possessions but as being patterns for the flock. And the chief shepherd having appeared you’ll receive the unfading crown of glory!
Similarly youngsters be subject to elders, all being subject to each other; be wrapped round with humility because God sets himself against the proud, but gives grace to the modest. So be humbled under the mighty hand of God so that he may lift you up in time, having cast all your anxieties on him because he is concerned about you. Be sober, stay awake, because your adversary the devil, like a roaring lion is walking abroad seeking whom he may swallow up, whom resist, firm in the faith, knowing the same sufferings are being undergone by your brethren who are in the world,
But the God of all grace who called us to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus (you having suffered a little while may he perfect) establish, strengthen and found you: to him be the glory and the might for ever and ever. Truly.
By Silvanus the faithful brother to you, as I suppose, I wrote briefly exhorting and testifying this to be God’s true grace in which you are standing. She in Babylon elected with you greets you, and Mark my son. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace with you all who are in Christ Jesus. Truly.
Peter’s First General Letter
This translation,
from the Greek Text used for the ‘Authorized’ or ‘King James’ Version
Copyright © David Lawrie 1998
THE APOSTLE PETER’S SECOND GENERAL LETTER
Chapter One
Simon Peter, Jesus Christ’s servant and apostle, to those who have obtained an equally precious faith with us through the righteousness of our God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
As his divine power has given to us all things which contribute to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue, through which he has given to us the greatest and precious promises: so that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world through lust. And for this reason, having brought in all diligence besides, supply virtue with your faith, and with virtue, knowledge, and with knowledge, self-control, and with self-control, endurance, and with endurance, godliness, and with godliness, brotherly love, and with brotherly love, love.
For these things being in you and abounding, make you neither idle nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he with whom these things are not present, is blind, short-sighted, having forgotten the former purification of his sins. So then brethren be diligent rather to make your calling and election sure, for doing these things you will never stumble at all. For thus, richly, will be supplied to you the entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
So then I won’t neglect to put you always in mind about these things despite knowing, and having been established in, the present truth. And I think it right, so long as I’m in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting it into your mind, knowing that shortly is the putting off of my tabernacle, as also our Lord Jesus Christ signified to me, and I will take care also at every time so that you have these things in rememberance after my departure.
For when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we didn’t follow cleverly imagined fables, but having been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father, such a voice having been brought to him by the most excellent glory: “This is my Son, the beloved, in whom I have found delight!” And this voice we heard, brought from heaven, being with him on the holy mountain. And we have moreover the prophetic word, to which you do well to take heed, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until day should dawn, and the morning star should arise in your hearts: first knowing this, that no prophecy of scripture is for private interpretation, for prophecy was never brought by the will of man, but, being brought by the Holy Spirit, the holy men of God spoke it.
Chapter Two
But there were also false prophets among the people, as also there’ll be false teachers among you, who will stealthily bring in destructive heresies even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves quick destruction, and many will follow in their destructive ways by means of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. And through covetousness with well turned words they, whose judgement of old does not linger and their destruction isn’t sleeping, will make money out of you.
For if God didn’t spare the angels who sinned but having cast them down to the deepest abyss delivered them into chains of darkness, reserving them for judgement, and didn’t spare the ancient world but preserved Noah, the eighth one, a herald of righteousness, having brought in the flood on the world of the ungodly, and having reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes, with an overthrow condemned them, having set an example to those who in the future would live in an ungodly manner, and delivered righteous Lot, oppressed with the licentious conduct of the lawless ones, for through seeing and hearing, the righteous man living among them, day to day, tormented his righteous soul, with their lawless deeds, the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous to be punished in the day of judgement, and especially those who walk after the flesh in the lust of pollution and despise government. They are presumptuous, self-willed, they do not tremble to speak evil of glories, whereas angels, being greater in strength and power, don’t bring against them a railing charge before the Lord. But these, like natural irrational beasts born for capture and destruction, speaking evil of what they are ignorant of, will utterly perish in their corruption, and in the future will receive a reward of unrighteousness, esteeming ephemeral indulgence in pleasure. Spots and blemishes they are, luxuriating in their deceits, whilst feasting with you, having eyes full of an adulteress and not ceasing from sin, alluring unstable souls, having a heart exercised in craving, children of a curse. Having left the straight road they’ve gone astray, having followed in the way of Balaam, son of Bosor, who loved the reward of unrighteousness. But he had reproof of his own wickedness, the dumb beast of burden, speaking in a man’s voice, forbade the madness of the prophet.
These are fountains without water, clouds being driven by a storm, to whom the gloom of darkness is kept for ever, For speaking great swelling vain words they allure with the lusts of the flesh, by licentiousness, those who had indeed escaped from those who walk in error, promising them freedom, being themselves servants of corruption, for by whom anyone has been overcome, by him too he is held in bondage. For if, having escaped the world’s pollutions through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are (having again been entangled by these) subdued, their last state has become worse than the first. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than, having known it, to have turned from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them as the true proverb: ‘The dog has returned to its own vomit and the washed sow to her wallowing in the mire!’
Chapter Three
Beloved, I’m now writing to you this second letter, in which I’m stirring up your pure mind in making you remember to be mindful of the words spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of our Lord and Saviour spoken by the apostles, knowing this first that at the close of the days mockers will come, walking according to their own desires, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep everything continues thus from the creation’s beginning.’
For this is hidden from them, they willing it, that the heavens were of old and the earth out of the water, and through the water subsisting by the word of God through which the world that was then, having been deluged with water, perished.
But the heavens and the earth now are being stored up by his word, being kept for fire to the day of judgement and destruction of ungodly people. And don’t let this one thing be hidden from you, beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not delaying the promise as some esteem delay but he is long-suffering towards us, not wishing that any perish but rather that all should come to repentance.
And the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens with a rushing noise will pass away and the elements, burning with heat, will be dissolved and the earth and the works in it will be burned up.
These things then all going to be dissolved, what ought you to be like? In holy conduct and in piety, expecting and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God through which the heavens, being on fire, will be dissolved, and the elements burning with heat will melt. And we expect, according to his promise, a new heaven and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
So, beloved, expecting these things, be diligent so you may be found by him in peace, without spot and blameless. And reckon that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation, even as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as too in all his letters, speaking about these things in them, in which there are some things hard to be understood, which the untaught and the unstable wrest, as also other scriptures, to their own destruction.
You then beloved, knowing beforehand, beware in case having been led away by the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for evermore. Truly.
This translation,
from the Greek Text used for the ‘Authorized’ or ‘King James’ Version
Copyright © David Lawrie 1998
