The First Epistle of Peter

© 2009 William R. Finck Jr.

William Finck also has an online commentary for the Epistles of Peter here at Christogenea.org 

I 1 Petros, ambassador of Yahshua Christ, to the elect sojourners of the dispersion of Pontos, Galatia, Kappadokia, Asia and Bithunia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of Father Yahweh in a sanctification of the Spirit in obedience and a sprinkling of the blood of Yahshua Christ: favor to you and peace be multiplied.

3 Blessed is Yahweh, even the Father of our Prince Yahshua Christ, who according to His great mercy has engendered us from above into a living hope through the resurrection of Yahshua Christ from among the dead, 4 for an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, being kept in the heavens for us 5 who are being preserved by the power of Yahweh through faith for a salvation prepared to be revealed in the last time. 6 In which you must rejoice, if for a short time now it is necessary being pained by various trials, 7 in order that the test of your faith, much more valuable than gold which is destroyed even being tested by fire, would be found in praise and honor and dignity at the revelation of Yahshua Christ, 8 whom not having seen you love, in whom now not seeing but believing you rejoice with an indescribable and illustrious joy, 9 acquiring the result of your faith: preservation of your souls. 10 Concerning which preservation the prophets enquired and examined, those having prophesied concerning the favor which is for you, 11 seeking for which things or what time the Spirit of Christ in them indicated, testifying beforehand the sufferings for Christ and the honors after these things. 12 To whom it had been revealed that not for themselves, but for you they furnished these things, things which are now reported to you through those announcing the good message to you in the Holy Spirit having been sent from heaven, things which the messengers desire to peer into.

13 On which account girding up the loins of your minds, being absolutely sober you must have hope upon the favor being brought to you in the revelation of Yahshua Christ, 14 as obedient children not being conformed to the former desires in your ignorance 15 but according to the Holy One who has called you, you yourselves must also be holy in all conduct, 16 since it is written that “You must be holy, because I am holy”. 17 And if you call upon the Father, who without respect for the stature of persons judges each according to work, you must conduct yourselves in fear for the time of your sojourn, 18 knowing that not with corruptible things – with silver or gold – have you been redeemed from out of your vain conduct handed down by your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb blameless and spotless, indeed having been foreknown before the foundation of Society, but being made manifest upon the last times on account of you, those who through Him believe in Yahweh who has raised Him from among the dead and has given honor to Him, consequently for your faith and hope to be in Yahweh.

22 Your souls having been purified in the obedience of the truth for brotherly love without hypocrisy, from of a pure heart you should love one another earnestly, 23 being engendered from above not from corruptible parentage, but from incorruptible, by the Word of Yahweh who lives and abides, 24 since “All flesh is as grass and all of its glory as a flower of grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off, 25 but that which is spoken by Yahweh abides for eternity.” Now this is that which is spoken, which is announced to you.

II 1 Therefore putting off all malice and all guile and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, 2 as a newborn infant you must yearn for the pure rational milk, in order that by it you would grow into preservation, 3 if “you taste that the Prince is benevolent”. 4 Coming forth to Him a living stone, indeed having been rejected as unfit by men but honored elect before Yahweh, 5 and yourselves as living stones are built a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to Yahweh through Yahshua Christ. 6 Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture: “Behold, I place in Zion an honored elect corner stone, and he believing in Him shall by no means be ashamed.” 7 Therefore the honor for you is for those who believe, but they who do not believe: “The stone which the builders have rejected, this has come to be for the head cornerstone” 8 and “a stumbling stone and a rock of offense.” They stumble disobeying the Word, for which also they have been ordained. 9 But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, so that you should proclaim the virtues for which from out of darkness you have been called into the wonder of His light, 10 who at one time were “not a people” but now are the people of Yahweh, those who “have not been shown mercy” but are now shown mercy.

11 Beloved, I exhort as emigrants and sojourners that you abstain from fleshly desires which make war against the soul, 12 holding your conduct well among the heathens, in order that while they slander you as evil-doers, watching from the good works they may honor Yahweh on the day of visitation.

13 You must be obedient to every authority created by mankind on account of the Prince, whether to a king as if being superior, 14 or to governors as if being sent by Him for the punishment of evil-doers but for the praise of those doing good. 15 Because thusly is the will of Yahweh: doing good to muzzle the ignorance of foolish men, 16 as free men yet not as if having freedom for a cover for evil, but as servants of Yahweh. 17 You must honor all, love the brotherhood, fear Yahweh, honor the King.

18 Servants, subject yourselves with all fear to the masters, not only to the good and reasonable but also to the crooked. 19 For this is a benefit, if through consciousness of Yahweh one endures suffering grief unrighteously. 20 For what sort of report, if doing wrong and being beaten you will submit? But if doing good and suffering you submit, this is a benefit before Yahweh. 21 Indeed, for this you have been called, because Christ also had suffered on your behalf, leaving behind for you an example in order that you would follow in His footsteps, 22 who had not committed wrong nor had guile been found in His mouth, 23 who being abused had not abused in return, suffering had not made threats, but surrendered to Him judging righteously. 24 Who Himself carried your errors on His body upon the cross, that the errors being taken away we should live in righteousness; by whose wounds you are healed. 25 For you were as sheep wandering astray, but you must return now to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls!

III 1 Likewise the wives being subject to their own husbands, in order that if some then disobey the Word, through the conduct of the wives they shall have advantage without the Word, 2 observing in fear your pure conduct, 3 of which the dress must not be outward with braids of hair and applications of gold or putting on of garments, 4 but the hidden man of the heart with the incorruptibility of the gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious before Yahweh. 5 For thusly at one time also the holy women who have hope in Yahweh had dressed themselves being subject to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah had obeyed Abraham calling him master, whose children you have been born to do good and not fearing any terror.

7 The men likewise, living together in accordance with the knowledge that with the feminine is the weaker vessel, imparting honor as they are also fellow-heirs of the favor of life, for your prayers not to be hindered.

8 But at last, all be like-minded, sympathetic, lovers of brethren, compassionate, humble-minded, 9 not returning evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but on the contrary blessing, because for this you have been called, in order that you shall inherit a blessing. "10 For he desiring to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil, and lips for which not to speak guile, 11 but he must turn away from evil and do good, he must seek peace and pursue it, 12 because the eyes of Yahweh are upon the righteous and His ears to their entreaty, but the face of Yahweh upon those doing evil. 13 And who is he who shall be doing you evil if you are emulators of good?" 14 But if then you should suffer on account of righteousness, you are blessed. So you should not fear their fear nor be troubled. 15 Now sanctify the Prince Christ in your hearts, always ready with an answer to each asking you for an account concerning the hope which is among you, 16 but with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, in order that while you are slandered those who despise your good conduct in Christ would be ashamed. 17 For it is better doing good, if one should desire the will of Yahweh, to suffer than doing evil. 18 Because Christ also suffered once for all errors, the just on behalf of the unjust, in order that He may lead you to Yahweh, indeed dying in the flesh but being made to live by the Spirit. 19 At which also going He proclaimed to those spirits in prison, 20 who at one time had been disobedient – when the forbearance of Yahweh awaited in the days of Noah’s preparing the vessel in which a few, that is eight souls, had been preserved through the water. 21 Which also now a representation saves you: immersion. Not a putting away of the filth of the flesh but a demand of a good conscience for Yahweh, through the resurrection of Yahshua Christ, 22 who is walking in heaven at the right hand of Yahweh, messengers and authorities and powers being made subject to Him.

IV 1 Therefore with Christ suffering in the flesh, you also be equipped with the same mind, because he who suffers in the flesh ceases from wrongdoing, 2 for which no longer in the desires of men, but in the will of Yahweh should he live the remaining time in the flesh. 3 For enough of the time has passed perpetuating the will of the heathens, having walked in licentiousness, passions, drunkenness, revelries and lawless idolatries. 4 While they are astonished, they blaspheme at your not running together in the same excess profligacy. 5 They shall give an account to Him who holds ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 Indeed for this also to the dead the good message has been announced, that they may indeed be judged like men in the flesh, but live like Yahweh in the Spirit.

7 But the consummation of all things has approached. Therefore be discreet and sober in prayers, 8 before all things having zealous love for one another, because “love covers a multitude of errors”. 9 Be hospitable to one another without murmuring. 10 Each just as he has received a gift for themselves, administering that same thing as good stewards of the manifold favor of Yahweh. 11 If one speaks, as the sayings of Yahweh; if one serves, as from of the power which Yahweh provides, in order that in all things Yahweh is honored through Yahshua Christ, for whom is the honor and sovereignty for the eternal ages, truly.

12 Beloved, do not be astonished by the burning among you taking place for a trial for you, as if a strange thing is happening to you, 13 but just as you partake in the sufferings of Christ you rejoice, in order that also in the revelation of His honor, exulting you would rejoice. 14 If you are reproached in the Name of Christ, you are blessed, because the honor and the Spirit of Yahweh rest upon you. 15 For not any among you must suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler in the matters of others, 16 but if as a Christian, you must not be ashamed, but you must honor Yahweh by this name, 17 because the time of judgment is to begin for the house of Yahweh. But if first for us, what is the end for those who are disobedient to the good message of Yahweh? 18 And “if the righteous man is barely saved, where shall the impious and the wrongdoer be seen?” 19 Consequently, even those suffering according to the will of Yahweh, for a trustworthy creator they shall employ their souls with doing good.

V 1 Therefore to the elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who also am a partaker of the coming honor to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of Yahweh which is among you, supervising not forcibly but voluntarily in accordance with Yahweh, nor for shameful profit but willingly, 3 nor as gaining dominion over those apportioned but becoming models for the flock, 4 and upon the manifestation of the Chief Shepherd you shall receive the unfading crown of honor. 5 Likewise, youths, subject yourselves to the elders, and all bind on humility towards one another, because Yahweh opposes the arrogant, but He gives favor to the humble.

6 Therefore be humble under the mighty hand of Yahweh, in order that you would be exalted in due season, 7 all of your cares being cast upon Him, because with Him is care for you. 8 Be sober. Be alert. Your opponent the False Accuser walks about as a roaring lion seeking someone to consume, 9 whom you must resist being solid in the faith, knowing that you must be subject to the same things from the sufferings of your brotherhood in Society. 10 But Yahweh is of all favor, who calls you among the number of Christ Yahshua into His eternal honor, suffering the same for awhile you shall be restored, you shall be fixed firmly, you shall be strengthened, you shall be established. 11 For Him is the sovereignty for the ages, truly.

12 By Silvanos the faithful brother, as I reckon, I have written to you in brief exhorting and testifying for this to be the true favor of Yahweh in which you should stand. 13 The elect woman in Babylon and Markos my son greet you. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are among the number of Christ.