A Greeting from Peter
(2 Peter 1:1–2)

1Peter, sent of Jesus Christ, to the chosen strangers of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2According to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the consecration of the Spirit, to obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, be multiplied.

A Living Hope

3Praised the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy having begotten us again to a living hope, by the rising up of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and unfading, kept in the heavens for us, 5Who by the power of God watching ourselves by faith to salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6By which ye are transported with joy, now for a little, (if it is necessary,) having grieved in various temptations: 7That the proof of your faith, much more precious than perishing gold, and being tried by fire, might be found to praise and honour and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ: 8Whom not having seen, ye love; in whom, now not seeing, but believing, ye are transported with joy unalterable, and highly valued: 9Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of souls.

10For which salvation the prophets sought and inquired anxiously, they having prophesied of the grace to you: 11Searching for whom or what time the Spirit of Christ which in them manifested, testifying beforehand the sufferings to Christ, and the glories after these. 12To whom it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to us they were serving these things, which now have been again proclaimed to you by them having announced the good news in the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; into which angels eagerly desire to stoop and creep.

A Call to Holiness
(Hebrews 12:14–17)

13Wherefore having girded up the loins of your mind, living abstemiously, hope perfectly upon the grace brought to you in the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14As children of obedience, not as formerly conforming yourselves to eager desire in your ignorance: 15But according to the holy one calling you, also should ye yourselves be holy in all turning back; 16For it has been written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

17And if ye call upon the Father, judging without distinction of persons according to the work of each, in fear be occupied in the time of your sojourning: 18Knowing that not with corruptible things, silver and gold, were ye redeemed from your vain mode of life transmitted from your fathers. 19But with precious blood, as of a lamb blameless and spotless, of Christ: 20Known truly before the foundation of the world, and made manifest in the last times for you, 21Who by him believing in God, having raised him from the dead, and having given him glory; that your faith and hope should be in God.

The Enduring Word
(Isaiah 40:6–8)

22Having purified your souls in the hearing of the truth by the Spirit to unfeigned brotherly love, out of pure hearts love ye one another cordially: 23Begotten again, not of corrupted seed, but uncorrupted, by the word of God, living and remaining forever.

24For all flesh as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass dried up, and the flower fell out:

25And the word of the Lord remains forever. And this is the word having announced good news to you.