Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

And a heritage fair, holy and for ever new, waiting in heaven for you,

Rejoice over this, although just now perhaps distressed by various trials;

Him you love, though you have never seen him; in him you ever believe, though even now you see him not, and you are rejoicing with joy unspeakable and full of glory,

They were searching to know to what time, or to what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them kept pointing, when he ever testified beforehand concerning the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

Come to Him, the ever-living Stone, rejected indeed by men as worthless, but in God's esteem chosen and held in honour.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

For it says in scripture, "Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes in him will never be put to shame."

and "a Stone for the foot to strike against, and a Rock to stumble over." Their foot strikes against it because they are disobedient to God's Message, and to this they were appointed.

Keep your behavior excellent among the [unsaved] Gentiles [conduct yourself honorably, with graciousness and integrity], so that for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may [instead come to] glorify God in the day of visitation [when He looks upon them with mercy].

Keep all the laws of men because of the Lord; those of the king, who is over all,

He committed no sin, nor was deceit ever found in His mouth.

who, when reviled, reviled not again; when suffering, threatened not; but gave himself over into the hands of him who judges righteously;

Because, like sheep, you had gone out of the way; but now you have come back to him who keeps watch over your souls.

In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands [subordinate, not as inferior, but out of respect for the responsibilities entrusted to husbands and their accountability to God, and so partnering with them] so that even if some do not obey the word [of God], they may be won over [to Christ] without discussion by the godly lives of their wives,

But let them be those of the unseen man of the heart, the ever-shining ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the eyes of God.

For in this way in the olden time the holy women also, who put their trust in God, used to adorn themselves. They were ever in submission to their own husbands;

just as Sarah obeyed Abraham [following him and having regard for him as head of their house], calling him lord. And you have become her daughters if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear [that is, being respectful toward your husband but not giving in to intimidation, nor allowing yourself to be led into sin, nor to be harmed].

For "Whoever wants to enjoy life and see delightful days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

However, if you suffer in the cause of virtue, it is your happiness: and instead of being over-awed by their threats, and struck with concern,

Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh [and died for us], arm yourselves [like warriors] with the same purpose [being willing to suffer for doing what is right and pleasing God], because whoever has suffered in the flesh [being like-minded with Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [having stopped pleasing the world],

For the time of life passed over sufficient for us to have wrought the will of the nations, having gone in licentiousness, eager desires, drunkenness, revellings, drinkings, and criminal idolatries:

Above all continue to love one another fervently, for love throws a veil over a multitude of faults.

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Let no one among you undergo punishment as a taker of life, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as one who is over-interested in other men's business;

But if any man is suffering as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him ever glorify God in this Name.

Keep watch over the flock of God which is in your care, using your authority, not as forced to do so, but gladly; and not for unclean profit but with a ready mind;

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

Cast all your care upon him, for he ever cares for you.

Resist him and be strong in the faith, for you know that your brotherhood all over the world is having the same experience of suffering.

To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

May grace and peace ever be increasing in you, in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Therefore, brothers, be zealous even more to make your calling and election secure, because [if you] do these [things], you will never ever stumble.

And we have the message of the prophets [confirmed to us] as more certain [than ever]. So, you will do well to pay careful attention to it, as [you would] to a lamp in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts [Note: This probably refers to the beginning of the Gospel age, when people would become enlightened to its message].

Above all, you do well if you recognize this: No prophecy of scripture ever comes about by the prophet's own imagination,

For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but held [them] captive in Tartarus with chains of darkness [and] handed [them] over to be kept for judgment,

And did not have mercy on the world which then was, but only kept safe Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when he let loose the waters over the world of the evil-doers;

and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man in anguish over the debauched lifestyle of lawless men,

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for a man is brought into bondage by whoever overcomes him.

and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For {ever since} the fathers fell asleep, all [things] have continued just as they have been from the beginning of creation."

The Lord does not loiter over his promise, as some men esteem loitering; but he is longsuffering toward you, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should pass on to repentance.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

This, then, is the message that we have heard from him, and are announcing to you, that God is light, and no darkness what ever is in him.

But is we are passing our life in the light, as he is in the light, we ever have partnership with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ is cleansing us from every sin.

My children, I am writing this to you that you may not continue to sin; but if any one sin, we ever have a Comforter before the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.

And He is the One who provides a "covering over" [or atonement] for our sins [See Heb. 2:17; Dan. 9:24; II Chron. 29:24], and not for ours [who are already Christians] only, but also for the sins of the people of the whole world.

Whoever says, “I have come to know Him,” but does not habitually keep [focused on His precepts and obey] His commandments (teachings), is a liar, and the truth [of the divine word] is not in him.

but whoever keeps his word, in him verily the love of God is perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him.

whoever says he lives in Christ [that is, whoever says he has accepted Him as God and Savior] ought [as a moral obligation] to walk and conduct himself just as He walked and conducted Himself.

The one who says he is in the Light [in consistent fellowship with Christ] and yet habitually hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is in the darkness until now.

The one who loves and unselfishly seeks the best for his [believing] brother lives in the Light, and in him there is no occasion for stumbling or offense [he does not hurt the cause of Christ or lead others to sin].

But whoever hates his brother is in darkness, and is living in darkness, and he does not know where he is going, for the darkness has blinded his eyes.

I am writing to you, fathers [those believers who are spiritually mature], because you know Him who has existed from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men [those believers who are growing in spiritual maturity], because you have been victorious and have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children [those who are new believers, those spiritually immature], because you have come to know the Father.

I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has existed from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and the word of God remains [always] in you, and you have been victorious over the evil one [by accepting Jesus as Savior].

Do not love the world or what the world can offer. When any one loves the world, there is no love for the Father in him;

For all that makes up the world, namely, the improper desires of the physical body, the improper desires for what is seen, and the [boastful] pride over life's possessions; these are not from the Father, but from the [godless] world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

As for you who have receiv'd the unction of the holy spirit, you know the whole affair.

Whoever denies the Son has not the Father either; he who confesses the Son has the Father also.

If what you have heard from the beginning is abiding in you, you also will ever abide in the Son and in the Father.

As to you, the unction you received from him remains ever in you, and you need no teaching from any one. But since his unction teaches you concerning all things and is true, and is no lie, abide continually in him, as it has taught you to do.

Whoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law.

Whoever abides in him, does not sin: whoever sins, has not seen him or known him.

Dear children, let no one mislead you; whoever acts uprightly is upright, just as he is upright.

Whoever commits sin is a child of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. This is why the Son of God appeared??o undo the devil's work.

Whoever has been begotten of God does not practise sin, because his seed abides in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been begotten of God.

In this are manifest the children of God and the children of the devil. Whoever does not practise righteousness is not of God, and he who does not love his brother.

We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers and sisters. He who does not love remains in [spiritual] death.

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.

and whoever may have the goods of the world, and may view his brother having need, and may shut up his bowels from him -- how doth the love of God remain in him?

Whoever practices obedience to His commands remains in union with Him and He in union with him; and in this way we know that He remains in union with us, by the Spirit that He has given us.

You are children of God, dear children, and you have been victorious over these men, for he who is in our hearts is greater than he who is in the world.

We [who teach God’s word] are from God [energized by the Holy Spirit], and whoever knows God [through personal experience] listens to us [and has a deeper understanding of Him]. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know [without any doubt] the spirit of truth [motivated by God] and the spirit of error [motivated by Satan].

Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.

Here is [the essence of] love: [It is] not that we loved God [first], but that He loved us [See Rom. 5:6-8] and sent His Son to be a "covering over" [i.e., atonement, 2:2] for our sins.

God no one hath ever seen; if we may love one another, God in us doth remain, and His love is having been perfected in us;

whoever may confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God in him doth remain, and he in God;

So we know and believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever continues to love keeps in union with God, and God with him.

Whoever says, "I love God," but hates his brother is a liar. The one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love the God whom he has not seen.

This is the command that we get from him, that whoever loves God must love his brother also.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him.

For all that has been begotten of God gets the victory over the world; and this is the victory which has gotten the victory over the world, our faith.

Who is he that gets the victory over the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Whoever believes in the Son of God possesses that testimony in his heart. Anyone who will not believe God has made him a liar, for he has refused to believe the testimony that God has borne to his Son.

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever has not the Son has not life.

And if we know that he is listening to us in what ever we are asking, we know that we obtain the petitions which we have made to him.

We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God does not habitually sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.

Keep guard over yourselves, so that you may not lose the results of your good deeds, but may receive back a full reward.

Whoever transgresses and doesn't remain in the teaching of Christ, doesn't have God. He who remains in the teaching, the same has both the Father and the Son.

whoever comes to you unaccompanied with this doctrine, don't admit him to your house, nor treat him with the common term of civility.

For whoever keeps on bidding him good morning is sharing in his wicked works.

I sent a letter to the church, but Diotrephes, whose desire is ever to have the first place among them, will not have us there.