1Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect strangers of the dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the holiness of the Spirit, toward obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you.3Praiseworthy is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy has begotten us toward a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead4toward an inheritance incorruptible and pure and unfading, kept in heaven for you5who by the power of God are being guarded through faith toward a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time6In which you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved in various temptations7in order that the testing of your faith, more valuable than gold that perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ8Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory9obtaining the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls10Concerning this salvation the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired.11inquiring what time or circumstances the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.12To whom it was revealed that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been reported to you through those who preached to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.