In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer various trials,

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,

seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaventhings into which angels long to look.

You know that you were redeemed from the futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth;"

when he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he uttered no threats, but he trusted himself to him who judges justly.

For you were straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

who formerly did not obey, when the patience of God waited in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were saved through water.

And corresponding to that, baptism now saves younot the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good consciencethrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human lusts, but for the will of God.