Kefa’s First Letter — to the Diaspora

^1:1Kefa, an emissary of Yeshua the Messiah, to the chosen ones who are living as strangers in the Diaspora in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ^1:2according to the foreknowledge of G-d the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Yeshua the Messiah and be sprinkled in his blood: Grace to you and shalom be multiplied. ^1:3Blessed be the G-d and Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who according to his great mercy became our father again to a living hope through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah from the dead, ^1:4to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn't fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ^1:5who by the power of G-d are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ^1:6Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been put to grief in various trials, ^1:7that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Yeshua the Messiah--^1:8whom not having known you love; in whom, though now you don't see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory--^1:9receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. ^1:10Concerning this salvation, the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ^1:11searching for who or what kind of time the Spirit of Messiah, which was in them, pointed to, when he predicted the sufferings of Messiah, and the glories that would follow them. ^1:12To them it was revealed, that not to themselves, but to you, did they minister these things, which now have been announced to you through those who preached the Good News to you by the Holy Spirit sent out from heaven; which things angels desire to look into.

^1:13Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be sober and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Yeshua the Messiah--^1:14as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance, ^1:15but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; ^1:16because it is written, "You shall be holy; for I am holy." ^1:17If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man's work, pass the time of your living as strangers here in reverent fear: ^1:18knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from the useless way of life handed down from your fathers, ^1:19but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, the blood of Messiah; ^1:20who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of times for your sake, ^1:21who through him are believers in G-d, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory; so that your faith and hope might be in G-d.

^1:22Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth through the Spirit in sincere brotherly affection, love one another from the heart fervently: ^1:23having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of G-d, which lives and remains forever. ^1:24For,

 "All flesh is like grass,
      And all of man's glory like the flower in the grass.

 The grass withers, and its flower falls;
      ^1:25But the Lord's word endures forever."

This is the word of good news which was preached to you.

^2:1Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking, ^2:2as newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, ^2:3if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious: ^2:4coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by G-d, precious. ^2:5You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to G-d through Yeshua the Messiah. ^2:6Because it is contained in Scripture,

 "Behold, I lay in Tziyon a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious:
      He who believes in him will not be disappointed."

^2:7For you therefore who believe is the honor, but for such as are disobedient,

 "The stone which the builders rejected,
      Has become the chief cornerstone,"

^2:8and,

 "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense."

For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed. ^2:9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for G-d's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: ^2:10who in time past were no people, but now are G-d's people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. ^2:11Beloved, I beg you as foreigners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; ^2:12having good behavior among the nations, so in that which they speak against you as evil-doers, they may by your good works, which they see, glorify G-d in the day of visitation. ^2:13Therefore subject yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme; ^2:14or to governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to those who do well. ^2:15For this is the will of G-d, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: ^2:16as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of G-d.

^2:17Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear G-d. Honor the king. ^2:18Servants, be in subjection to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the wicked. ^2:19For it is commendable if someone endures pain, suffering unjustly, because of conscience toward G-d. ^2:20For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with G-d. ^2:21For to this you were called, because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow his steps, ^2:22who did not sin, "neither was deceit found in his mouth." ^2:23Who, when he was cursed, didn't curse back. When he suffered, didn't threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously; ^2:24who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. ^2:25For you were going astray like sheep; but are now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

^3:1In like manner, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don't obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word; ^3:2seeing your pure behavior in fear. ^3:3Let your beauty be not just the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on fine clothing; ^3:4but in the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of G-d very precious. ^3:5For this is how the holy women before, who hoped in G-d, also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands: ^3:6as Sarah obeyed Avraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are, if you do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.

^3:7You husbands, in like manner, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.

^3:8Finally, be all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, courteous, ^3:9not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing. ^3:10For,

 "He who would love life,
      And see good days,

 Let him keep his tongue from evil,
      And his lips from speaking deceit.

 ^3:11Let him turn away from evil, and do good.
      Let him seek shalom, and pursue it.

 ^3:12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
      And his ears open to their prayer;
      But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

^3:13Now who is he who will harm you, if you become imitators of that which is good? ^3:14But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "Don't fear what they fear, neither be troubled." ^3:15But sanctify the Lord G-d in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear: ^3:16having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good manner of life in Messiah. ^3:17For it is better, if the will of G-d should so will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil. ^3:18Because Messiah also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to G-d; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; ^3:19in which he also went and preached to the spirits in prison, ^3:20who before were disobedient, when G-d waited patiently in the days of Noach, while the teivah was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. ^3:21This is a symbol of immersion, which now saves you-- not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward G-d, through the resurrection of Yeshua the Messiah, ^3:22who is at the right hand of G-d, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

^4:1Forasmuch then as Messiah suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; ^4:2that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of G-d. ^4:3For we have spent enough of our past time doing the desire of the Goyim, and having walked in lewdness, lusts, drunken binges, orgies, carousings, and abominable idolatries. ^4:4They think it is strange that you don't run with them into the same excess of riot, blaspheming: ^4:5who will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ^4:6For to this end was the Good News preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed as men in the flesh, but live as to G-d in the spirit. ^4:7But the end of all things is near. Therefore be of sound mind, self-controlled, and sober in prayer. ^4:8And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins. ^4:9Be hospitable one to another without grumbling. ^4:10According as each has received a gift, be ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the grace of G-d in its various forms. ^4:11If any man speaks, let it be as it were oracles of G-d. If any man serves, let it be as of the strength which G-d supplies, that in all things G-d may be glorified through Yeshua the Messiah, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amein.

^4:12Beloved, don't be astonished at the fiery trial which has come upon you, to test you, as though a strange thing happened to you. ^4:13But because you are partakers of Messiah's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also you may rejoice with exceeding joy. ^4:14If you are insulted for the name of Messiah, blessed are you; because the Spirit of glory and of G-d rests on you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. ^4:15For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters. ^4:16But if one of you suffers for being a Messianic, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify G-d in this matter. ^4:17For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of G-d. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of G-d? ^4:18"If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?" ^4:19Therefore let them also who suffer according to the will of G-d in doing good entrust their souls to him, as to a faithful Creator.

^5:1I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Messiah, and who will also share in the glory that will be revealed. ^5:2Shepherd the flock of G-d which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly; ^5:3neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock. ^5:4When the chief Shepherd is revealed, you will receive the crown of glory that doesn't fade away.

^5:5Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." ^5:6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of G-d, that he may exalt you in due time; ^5:7casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.

^5:8Be sober and self-controlled. Be watchful. Your adversary the devil, walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ^5:9Withstand him steadfast in your faith, knowing that your brothers who are in the world are undergoing the same sufferings. ^5:10But may the G-d of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory by Messiah Yeshua, after you have suffered a little while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. ^5:11To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amein.

^5:12Through Sila, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of G-d in which you stand. ^5:13She who is in Bavel, chosen together with you, greets you; and so does Mark, my son. ^5:14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Shalom be to you all who are in Messiah Yeshua. Amein.

Notes:

[1] back to 3:20 ark

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