A Greeting from Peter
(2 Peter 1:1–2)

1Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers who are dispersed through Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, 2Asia, and Bithynia, chosen according to the fore-knowledge of God, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience, and to the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ,---may grace and peace be multiplied unto you.

A Living Hope

3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy hath regenerated us to a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In which ye rejoice, tho' now for a little while, if need be, ye are grieved through various trials. 7That the proof of your faith, which is much more precious than of gold, (that perisheth, though tried by fire) may be found unto praise, and honor, and glory, when Jesus Christ shall be revealed: 8whom having not seen ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy ineffable and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith, 9even the salvation of your souls:

10concerning which salvation the prophets, who prophesied of the grace to be conferred on you, enquired and diligently sought after it: 11searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ in them did declare in testifying beforehand the sufferings that were to come upon Christ, and the glories following them: 12to whom it was revealed, that it was not to themselves, but to us they ministered these things, which are now declared unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you, through the holy Spirit sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.

A Call to Holiness
(Hebrews 12:14–17)

13Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober, and stedfastly hope for the grace to be conferred upon you at the appearing of Jesus Christ; 14as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15but as He who hath called you is holy, be ye also holy in all your conversation: since it is written, 16Be ye holy, for I am holy.

17And if ye call upon the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18knowing that ye were redeemed from your vain conversation learned by tradition from your fathers, not with corruptible things, as silver and gold; 19but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20who was indeed appointed before the foundation of the world, but manifested in these last times, for your sakes, 21who through Him trust in God that raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory, that your faith and hope might be fixed in God.

The Enduring Word

22Having therefore purified your souls by obedience to the truth, through the Spirit, to brotherly love unfeigned, love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23being regenerated not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth for ever.

24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass: the grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away;

25but the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word which is preached to you in the gospel.