Peter, a shalach of Yeshuwah haMashiyach, to the chosen ones, resident foreigners scattered throughout Pontos, Galatia, Kappadokia, Asia and Bithunia, according to foreknowledge of ‘Elohiym, the Father, through the purification of haRuach, by listening attentive and ceremonially sprinkling the blood of Yeshuwah haMashiyach. Grace to you and shalom in abundance.
Praise the ‘Elohiym and Father of our Lord Yeshuwah haMashiyach! According to His great mercy He has regenerated us to an expectation of living, through the resurrection of Yeshuwah haMashiyach, from being dead ones, and into an inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading, having been kept in Shamayim for you, the ones in the power of ‘Elohiym, being shielded through ‘emuwnah into salvation, ready to be revealed in the end time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to be distressed through all kinds of trials, that your ‘emuwnah, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though refined by fire, will be tested, and will result in praise and exaltation and honor at the revealing of Yeshuwah haMashiyach. You have checed in Him you have not seen; having 'emuwnah for Him you still do not see. You will rejoice with an inexpressible and magnificent joy, having obtained the result of your 'emuwnah -- salvation of your nephesh.
Concerning that salvation the nabiy'im inquired and searched diligently, prophesying about the circumstances of the grace for you, investigating the time and circumstances to make plain by words the Ruach haMashiyach in them, predicting the sufferings of the Messiah, and the Kabowd to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but us, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you through those who have preached the Gospel to you in the Ruach haQodesh sent from Shamayim. Even mal’akiym desire to look into these things.
Therefore, prepare your intellect for action; be discreet; expect, without wavering, for grace to be given you at the revealing of Yeshuwah haMashiyach. As converts listening attentively, do not conform to the former state, in the ignorance of your longings, but just as the One who called you is Qadowsh, so become qadoshiym in all you do; for it was written: "You will be qadoshiym, because I am Qadowsh."
And if you call on Him as Father, who judges impartially according to everyone's actions, pass the time of your sojourning here in reverence, knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things of silver or gold from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with precious blood of the Messiah, like a lamb taher. He was foreseen before the conception of the world and revealed in these end times through you, who, through Him, believe in ‘Elohiym, the One who resurrected Him from death and made Him Kabowd, so that your ‘emuwnah and expectation are found in ‘Elohiym.
Now that you have purified your nephesh by listening attentively to ha'Emeth so that you have sincere fraternal affection, have checed for one another deeply, from the heart, having been born again (not of perishable seed, but of imperishable) through Dbar, ‘El Chay, and remaining in Him. For, "All mankind is grass, and all His checed is like the dew of the field. Grass withers and the flowers fade … but Dbar of our ‘Elohiym rises as `Owlam."
And this is the Word that was preached as the Gospel to you.
Therefore, be those who lay aside all malice and deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in salvation, if indeed you have experienced that YHWH is Towbah.
As you draw near to Him, `Eben of Chay, having been rejected by men but beside ‘Elohiym as a precious Bachuwr, you also, as 'baniym of Chay, are being built into a spiritual Bayith, into a khunnah of Qadowsh, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to ha‘Elohiym through Yeshuwah haMashiyach. For it is in the Scriptures, “Behold, I lay an `Aben in Tsiyown, a refined ‘Eben, a Prince of repute, and ma'miynim will never be worried." Now to ma'miynim, He is dignity itself. But to those who disbelieve, "’Eben, whom the ‘bowniym rejected is now Ro'sh Pinnah," and " 'eben negeph and tsuwr mikshowl" to those who stumble, because they disobey the Word, to which they also were appointed.
But you are of the race of Bakuwr, a khunnah of Melek, a nation of Qadowsh, a citizenry redeemed, that you may declare the virtues of the One who called you out of Choshek into His wonderful light. Once you were not a citizenry, but now you are the citizenry of ‘Elohiym; not then pitied, but now pitied.
Chacdiym, I urge you, as transients and foreigners, to be abstaining from worldly desires, which are warring against the nephesh. Exhibit good behavior among the gentiles, that though they accuse you of being ra`iym they will see your good deeds and honor ‘Elohiym on the Day of His visitation.
Submit yourselves to every authority of man because of the Lord: whether to a king who exalts himself, or to governors, who are sent through him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is the will of ‘Elohiym that, doing good, you will silence the men of foolish ignorance. Live as unfettered men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; but as slaves of ‘Elohiym. Value everyone: have checed for the brotherhood, revere ‘Elohiym, honor Melek.
Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are perverse. For it is grace if anyone bears grief, suffering unjustly, because of moral consciousness of ‘Elohiym. But how does it exalt you if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you are doing good and you endure suffering for it, this is grace from ‘Elohiym. So to this you were called, because the Messiah suffered for your sake, leaving behind an example for us that we should follow in His steps.
"He committed no chata’, and no deceit was found in His mouth."
When insulted, He did not retaliate; suffering, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to the One judging in tsedeq. He Himself bore our chat’owt in His body on the tree, in order that we would be dead to chatta’ah, chayiym of Tsaddiyq. By His wounding you are made whole. For you were like wandering sheep, but now you have turned to the Shepherd and Watchman of your nephesh.
Women, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the Word, they may be won over by the behavior of the women without words, when they see your purity and reverent behavior -- not coming from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of the inner self, the unfading beauty of a humble and quiet nephesh, which is of great worth in the sight of ‘Elohiym. For this is the way the women of qadoshiym in the past who put their expectation in ‘Elohiym adorned themselves. They were subordinate to their own husbands, like Sarah listened attentively to ‘Avraham and called him master, whose children you are if you do good and do not give way to any fear.
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your women, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the grace of Chay, to not hinder your prayers.
Finally, all of you be of one mind; be sympathetic, have checed for the brothers, be tender-hearted and courteous. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but, on the contrary, speak well of them. For to this you were called so that you could be an heir to blessings. For, "Who is the man who desires to be of chayiym? A lover of yamiym beheld by Towb. Guard your tongue from evil, and your mouth from speaking deceit. Turn from evil and do good; seeking shalom and pursuing it. The eye of YHWH is on tsaddiyqiym and His ear is attentive to their cry; the face of YHWH is against the one who does evil."
And who is going to harm you if you are zealous for the good? But even if you should suffer for tsdaqah, you are blessed. "And we will not fear Aleph/Tav, His reverenced One, and will not dread Him." But sirs, set apart the Messiah in your hearts, always being prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for your expectation. But do this with humility and reverence, having a good conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in the Messiah will be ashamed of their slander. It is better to suffer for doing good, if it is the will of ‘Elohiym, than for doing evil, because then the Messiah suffered once for chatta’ah, the Tsaddiyq for the sake of the rasha`iym, that He could bring you to ‘Elohiym, being put to death in the flesh but revitalized by haRuach, through whom also He went and preached to the napshowt in prison who disbelieved long ago when ‘Elohiym waited patiently in the days of Noach, having prepared a tebah. In it only a few, eight nephesh in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you -- not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a sound conscience toward ‘Elohiym, through the resurrection of Yeshuwah haMashiyach, who is the Yamiyn of ‘Elohiym, having gone into Shamayim, with mal’akiym, delegated influence and miraculous powers subordinated to Him.
Therefore, since the Messiah suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because He who has suffered in the flesh has turned away from chatta’ah. As a result, he does not live the rest of his life for human desires, but rather for the will of ‘Elohiym. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what gentiles choose to do -- living in licentiousness, longing for what is forbidden, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same excess of risha`, and they defame you. But they will have to give account to He who is ready to judge chayiym and metiym. For this is indeed the reason the Gospel was preached to metiym, so that they would be judged according to men with regard to the flesh, but could live according to ‘Elohiym in the nephesh.
But the end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded, and discreet toward praying above everything. Have fervent checed for each other deeply, because checed will cover a multitude of chat’owt. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. Each one has received a gift to serve yourselves as good stewards of the diversity of grace of ‘Elohiym. If anyone speaks, do it as one speaking the very words of ‘Elohiym. If anyone serves, do it in the strength ‘Elohiym provides, so that in all things ‘Elohiym will be praised through Yeshuwah haMashiyach, who is the Kabowd and Kowach forever and ever. Amen.
Chacdiym, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may be overjoyed when He is revealed as Kabowd. If you are insulted in the Name of the Messiah, you are blessed, for the Ruach of Kabowd, of ha’Elohiym, rests on you. Not because you suffer as a murderer or thief or an evil-doer, or even as a meddler.
However, if you suffer as a believer, do not be ashamed, but praise ‘Elohiym that you have a share in it. For it is time for judgment to begin from the household of ‘Elohiym; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not believe the Gospel of ‘Elohiym? And, if it is hard for the tsaddiyq to be saved, what will become of the rasha` and the chatta’?
So then, those who suffer according to the will of ha’Elohiym, a trustworthy Creator, commit their nephesh to doing good.
To zaqeniym among you, I appeal as a fellow zaqen, a witness to the sufferings of the Messiah, one who also will share in Kabowd being revealed: Be shepherds of the flock of ha’Elohiym that is under your care, serving as overseers--not through compulsion, but willingly; not greedy for money, but zealously; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but becoming examples to the flock. And when the 'Abbiyr of the ro`iym is revealed, you will receive the unfading crown of Kabowd.
Converts, in the same way be subordinate to zaqeniym. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "’Elohiym scorns letsiym but will give grace to `anaviym."
Be `anaviym yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of ha’Elohiym, so that He will exalt you at the proper time. Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.
Be discreet and alert, because your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the Ne’eman, knowing that your brotherhood throughout the world are being matured by the same sufferings.
Now the ‘Elohiym of all chacdiym, the One who called you to His eternal Kabowd in Yeshuwah haMashiyach, having suffered a little Himself, will complete you thoroughly, strengthening you, confirming you in da`ath and miraculous power , and giving you a foundation. He is the Kowach forever and ever. Amen.
With the help of Silvanus, the trustworthy brother (as I see it), I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is true grace of ‘Elohiym. Stand fast in it.
Those chosen, together in Babel, send you greetings along with my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of checed.
Shalom to you, all who are in the Messiah.
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