3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his
great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised
Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great
expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an
inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled,
beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith,
God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation,
which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you
must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show
that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and
purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere
gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will
bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when
Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though
you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a
glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the
13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put
all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when
Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s
obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to
satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But
now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who
chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost
its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and
trampled underfoot as worthless.
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot
be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.
Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to
everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds
shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was
with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important.
Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with
deep reverence and fear. 13 For God is working in you, giving you
the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one
can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God,
shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse
people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of
Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain
and that my work was not useless.
4 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says
to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from
Jerusalem: 5 “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens and
eat the food they produce. 6 Marry and have children. Then find
spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren.
Multiply! Do not dwindle away! 7 And work for the peace and
prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to
the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
