THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERAL OF

PETER
CHAPTER 1 them that have preached the gospel unto you
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;
strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, which things the angels desire to look into.
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your
2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the
God the Father, through sanctification of the grace that is to be brought unto you at the
Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the revelation of Jesus Christ;
blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and 14 As obedient children, not fashioning
peace, be multiplied. yourselves according to the former lusts in
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord your ignorance:
Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant 15 But as he which hath called you is holy,
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am
the dead, holy.
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved respect of persons judgeth according to every
in heaven for you, man's work, pass the time of your sojourning
5 Who are kept by the power of God here in fear:
through faith unto salvation ready to be 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not
revealed in the last time. redeemed with corruptible things, as silver
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now and gold, from your vain conversation
for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness received by tradition from your fathers;
through manifold temptations: 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as
7 That the trial of your faith, being much of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
more precious than of gold that perisheth, 20 Who verily was foreordained before the
though it be tried with fire, might be found foundation of the world, but was manifest in
unto praise and honour and glory at the these last times for you,
appearing of Jesus Christ: 21 Who by him do believe in God, that
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, raised him up from the dead, and gave him
though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye glory; that your faith and hope might be in
rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: God.
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in
salvation of your souls. obeying the truth through the Spirit unto
10 Of which salvation the prophets have unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love
enquired and searched diligently, who one another with a pure heart fervently:
prophesied of the grace that should come unto 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed,
you: but of incorruptible, by the word of God,
11 Searching what, or what manner of time which liveth and abideth for ever.
the Spirit of Christ which was in them did 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory
signify, when it testified beforehand the of man as the flower of grass. The grass
sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
follow. 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto ever. And this is the word which by the gospel
themselves, but unto us they did minister the is preached unto you.
things, which are now reported unto you by

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 1 PETER
CHAPTER 2 foolish men:
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a
guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of
speakings, God.
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood.
of the word, that ye may grow thereby: Fear God. Honour the king.
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with
gracious. all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, also to the froward.
disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for
and precious, conscience toward God endure grief, suffering
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a wrongfully.
spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be
spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it
Christ. patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable
scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner with God.
stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on 21 For even hereunto were ye called:
him shall not be confounded. because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is an example, that ye should follow his steps:
precious: but unto them which be disobedient, 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found
the stone which the builders disallowed, the in his mouth:
same is made the head of the corner, 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but
offence, even to them which stumble at the committed himself to him that judgeth
word, being disobedient: whereunto also they righteously:
were appointed. 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal own body on the tree, that we, being dead to
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose
that ye should shew forth the praises of him stripes ye were healed.
who hath called you out of darkness into his 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but
marvellous light: are now returned unto the Shepherd and
10 Which in time past were not a people, but Bishop of your souls.
are now the people of God: which had not
obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. CHAPTER 3
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as 1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to
strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly your own husbands; that, if any obey not the
lusts, which war against the soul; word, they also may without the word be won
12 Having your conversation honest among by the conversation of the wives;
the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against 2 While they behold your chaste
you as evildoers, they may by your good conversation coupled with fear.
works, which they shall behold, glorify God in 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward
the day of visitation. adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in
king, as supreme; that which is not corruptible, even the
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is
sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, in the sight of God of great price.
and for the praise of them that do well. 5 For after this manner in the old time the
15 For so is the will of God, that with well holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned
doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of themselves, being in subjection unto their own

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 1 PETER
husbands: wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by
6 Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling water.
him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism
ye do well, and are not afraid with any doth also now save us (not the putting away of
amazement. the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of
according to knowledge, giving honour unto Jesus Christ:
the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the
being heirs together of the grace of life; that right hand of God; angels and authorities and
your prayers be not hindered. powers being made subject unto him.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having
compassion one of another, love as brethren, CHAPTER 4
be pitiful, be courteous: 1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for
9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with
railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the
that ye are thereunto called, that ye should flesh hath ceased from sin;
inherit a blessing. 2 That he no longer should live the rest of
10 For he that will love life, and see good his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to
days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and the will of God.
his lips that they speak no guile: 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us
11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when
him seek peace, and ensue it. we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable
righteous, and his ears are open unto their idolatries:
prayers: but the face of the Lord is against 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run
them that do evil. not with them to the same excess of riot,
13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye speaking evil of you:
be followers of that which is good? 5 Who shall give account to him that is
14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' ready to judge the quick and the dead.
sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached
terror, neither be troubled; also to them that are dead, that they might be
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: judged according to men in the flesh, but live
and be ready always to give an answer to according to God in the spirit.
every man that asketh you a reason of the hope 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye
that is in you with meekness and fear: therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas 8 And above all things have fervent charity
they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they among yourselves: for charity shall cover the
may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good multitude of sins.
conversation in Christ. 9 Use hospitality one to another without
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, grudging.
that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil 10 As every man hath received the gift, even
doing. so minister the same one to another, as good
18 For Christ also hath once suffered for stewards of the manifold grace of God.
sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the
us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do
quickened by the Spirit: it as of the ability which God giveth: that God
19 By which also he went and preached unto in all things may be glorified through Jesus
the spirits in prison; Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when ever and ever. Amen.
once the longsuffering of God waited in the 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning
days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, the fiery trial which is to try you, as though

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 1 PETER
some strange thing happened unto you: adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers about, seeking whom he may devour:
of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing
shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with that the same afflictions are accomplished in
exceeding joy. your brethren that are in the world.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called
Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after
of God resteth upon you: on their part he is that ye have suffered a while, make you
evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever
or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a and ever. Amen.
busybody in other men's matters. 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you,
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting,
him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God and testifying that this is the true grace of God
on this behalf. wherein ye stand.
17 For the time is come that judgment must 13 The church that is at Babylon, elected
begin at the house of God: and if it first begin together with you, saluteth you; and so doth
at us, what shall the end be of them that obey Marcus my son.
not the gospel of God? 14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ
where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Jesus. Amen.
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according
to the will of God commit the keeping of their
souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful
Creator.

CHAPTER 5
1 The elders which are among you I exhort,
who am also an elder, and a witness of the
sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the
glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among
you, taking the oversight thereof, not by
constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre,
but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage,
but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear,
ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth
not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves
unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one
to another, and be clothed with humility: for
God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to
the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in
due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he
careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your

The 1611 edition of the King James Version (KJV) is in the public domain.
Compliments of www.ChristyBower.com