1 Peter


Chapter 1 (1 - 2)

Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ, sends greetings to the believers living among foreigners

You were chosen by God the Father. You were made holy by the Spirit
You are obedient to Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood

Grace and peace be with you more and more

Father, Son and Holy Spirit - thank you for life and faith

 


Chapter 1 (3 - 9)

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In his great mercy, he has made us his children.
He has prepared a place in heaven for us to live with him forever

This is a cause of great joy for you,
even though life in this world has many trials

You did not see Jesus, yet you love him, and you believe in him.
Faith gives you confidence to look forward to the salvation of your souls

Jesus, I have never seen you with my physical eyes,
but I love you and believe in you

 


Chapter 1.13 - 2.3

Delete rubbish from your minds. Control your thinking.
Trust more in Jesus. Live the way he wants you to live,
not like the way you used to live before you learnt the truth.
Be good and holy

Let your love for each other be real and from the heart

You are born again by the everlasting word of the living God

Never be spiteful, or deceitful, or hypocritical
or envious and critical of each other

Jesus, help me live the way you want me to live

 


Chapter 2 (4 - 9)

Jesus is Mr Livingstone, the living stone rejected by men, but chosen by God.  Stay close to him, so that you too may be living stones in the spiritual house of God's church

You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light

Jesus, you are the foundation stone of my life.
May I build my life on your teaching, your values, your example

 


Chapter 2 (11 - 15)

Keep yourselves free from selfish passions that attack the soul.
Behave honorably among non-Christians, even if they treat you badly

For the sake of the Lord, accept the authority of every social institution. God wants you to be good citizens

Jesus, bless government officials in our country.
Give them good health, courage and wisdom

 


Chapter 2 (19 - 25)

If you are treated unfairly, put up with it for the sake of God

Christ suffered for you and left an example for you to follow.
He had done nothing wrong. He was insulted and tortured,
but did not retaliate

He bore our sins in his own body on the Cross,
so that we might die to sin and live for holiness

Through his wounds you have been healed.
You were like straying sheep,
but now have come back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls

Jesus, please help me put up with difficulties for your sake

 


Chapter 3 (1 - 7)

Wives, honor and respect your husbands. If some husbands are not yet believers, they may find themselves won over to the Lord, without a word spoken, by the goodness of their wives

Wives, do not dress up for show: special hair style, gold bracelets, expensive clothes - all outside stuff

What matters is what's inside: a sweet and gentle disposition - that's what God likes

Husbands, be kind and thoughtful to your wives, 
respecting them as equals

Jesus, help husbands and wives imitate your love

 


Chapter 3 (8 - 11)

Be agreeable and sympathetic. Love everyone.
Have compassion and be self-effacing

Never pay back one wrong with another, or an angry word with another one. Instead, pay back with a blessing

Anyone who wants to have a happy life must banish malice from his tongue; he must avoid evil, do good and seek peace

Jesus, when people are  unkind to me, help me to pray in my heart "Lord, please bless them"

 


Chapter 4 (3 - 5)

You spent enough time in the past living a careless life, behaving indecently, drinking all the time, having wild parties

Now that you don't do these things anymore, people can't understand why you've changed, and they tell lies about you

They will have to answer for this to him who will judge everyone at the end of their lives

Jesus, rescue young people from wild party life

 


Chapter 4 (13 - 19)

If you have a share in the sufferings of Christ, be glad, because this means you will have an extra share of happiness in the life to come

It is a blessing for you when they insult you for being a Christian.
It means you have the Spirit of God resting on you

People who experience suffering for God's sake, must trust themselves to the grace of the Creator, and keep on doing good

Jesus, give strength to persecuted Christians

 


Chapter 5 (1 - 4)

To those of you who are elders I say: I am an elder myself,
a witness to the sufferings of Christ

Be good shepherds of the flock that God has entrusted to you.
Watch over it, not simply as a duty, or for sordid money,
but gladly, because that's what God wants you to do

Never be a dictator over any group that is in your charge,
but be an example that the whole flock can follow

When the Chief Shepherd appears,
you will be given the crown of unfading glory

Jesus, help pastors and elders be good shepherds

 


Chapter 5 (5 - 14)

To everyone else I say: do what the elders tell you.
Wrap yourselves in humility to be servants of each other.
God refuses the proud and favors the humble

Bow down before the power of God, and he will raise you up

Unload all your worries on to him, since he is looking after you

Be calm, but careful, because your enemy the Devil is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith

Peace to all who are in Christ

Jesus, please protect me from Satan