You must continue to love Him, although you have never seen Him, but because you do believe in Him, although you do not now see Him, you must continue to rejoice with an unutterable and triumphant joy,

It was made known to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in their searching for these things that have already been told to you by those who through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven brought you the good news. The angels long to take a peep into these things.

because you know that you have not been ransomed with things that perish as silver or gold, from the futile way of living taught by your fathers,

Since you have purified your souls by obeying the truth, in sincere love for the brotherhood you must love one another heartily and fervently,

because you have been born anew, not from a germ that perishes but from one that does not perish, by the word of the living and everlasting God.

since you have learned by experience that the Lord is kind.

He bore our sins in His own body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to uprightness. By His wounds you have been healed,

for once you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of Your souls.

They were submissive to their husbands, as Sarah, for example, obeyed Abraham and called him master. You have become true daughters of hers, if you practice doing right and cease from every fear.

but in your hearts be consecrated to Christ as Lord, and always be ready to make your defense to anyone who asks a reason for the hope you have. But you must do it in gentleness and reverence,

For the time that is past is enough for you to have accomplished what the heathen like to do, leading lives that are steeped in sensuality, lustful desires, drunkenness, carousing, revelry, dissipation, and idolatry that leads to lawlessness,

but they will have to give account for it to Him who is ready to judge living and dead.

As all of you have received your spiritual talents, you must keep on using them in serving one another, as good trustees of God's many-sided favor.

Cast every worry you have upon Him, because He cares for you.

And God, the giver of every spiritual blessing, who through your union with Christ has called you to His eternal glory, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself make you perfect, firm, and strong,

By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I regard him, I have written you this short letter, to encourage you and to testify that this is the true, unmerited favor of God. Stand firm in it.