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Kefa I 1

1 Shimon Kefa a Shliach of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Yehoshua to HaBechirim (the Chosen ones [2:4,6 9]), to the Exiled ones of the Golus, Sojourners living as aliens in the Diaspora, scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,2 To HaBechirim (the Chosen ones) according to the yedi'ah mukdemet (foreknowledge [1:20]) of Elohim Avinu, the ones set apart as Kadoshim by the Ruach Hakodesh, resulting in mishma'at (obedience [1:14,22; 3:6; 4:17]) to the Moshiach and resulting in hazzayat HaDam HaMoshiach (sprinkling of the Blood of Moshiach Isa 52:15, Ex 24:7), of Moshiach Yehoshua. May Chen v'Chesed Hashem and Shalom Hashem abound to all of you!3 Baruch Hashem, HaElohim Avi of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu Yehoshua! By his great rachamim (mercy) we have been born anew to a tikvah chayyah (living hope) through the Techiyas Yehoshua from HaMesim (the dead ones).4 We have also been born anew to a nachalah (inheritance [3:9]) that is without shachat (corruption, decay Ps 16:10), undefiled and unfading, having been preserved in Shomayim for you,5 The ones by the koach of Hashem being guarded through Emunah (Faith) for Yeshu'at Eloheinu (the Salvation of our G-d), which is ready to be revealed at the Ketz Hayamim (End of Days).6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer in various masot (trials, temptations [4:12]),7 That the genuineness of your Emunah, much more valuable than gold which though perishable is tested by Eish (Fire), may be found to the tehillah (praise) and the kavod (glory) and the tiferet (splendor) at the Hisgalus (Revelation, Apocalypse) of Moshiach Yehoshua.8 He is the one for whom you have ahavah, even though you have not seen him. Though you do not now see him, you have emunah in him [as Moshiach] and rejoice with simcha inexpressible and full of kavod,9 Obtaining the maskana (outcome) of your Emunah, the Yeshu'at Eloheynu of your nefashot (souls).10 The Nevi'im, who prophesied of the Chen v'Chesed Hashem that was to come to you, searched and inquired about this Yeshu'at Eloheynu.11 The Nevi'im were searching for what zman (time) or what context of occasion the Ruach of Moshiach in them was pointing to, when predicting the Chevlei Moshiach and HaKavod to follow.12 The hisgalus (revelation) came to the Nevi'im that the avodas hakodesh ministry they were rendering was not to themselves, but to you, when they spoke of the things announced to you through the Mevaserim (Messianic Darshanim, Maggidim) of the Besuras HaGeulah by the Ruach Hakodesh sent from Shomayim, the very things even malachim desire to look into.13 Therefore, tighten the "readiness" gartel of your mind, a mind that is one of kibush hayetzer (self-control). Set your tikvah completely on the Chen v'Chesed Hashem that is being brought to you at the Hisgalus (Revelation, Apocalypse) of Moshiach Yehoshua.14 As Bnei Mishma'at (Children of Obedience 1:2), not conforming yourselves to your former ta'avot (lusts), when you lacked da'as (personal, saving knowledge),15 But, als (since) the One who bestows on you the kri'ah (calling) is KADOSH HU (TEHILLIM 99:5), so also yourselves become Kadoshim in hitnahagut (conduct),16 Because it says in the Torah, KEDOSHIM TIH'YU KI KADOSH ANI ("You must be holy ones for I am holy" VAYIKRA 19:2).17 And if you call upon as "Avinu" [Mt.6:9] the One who is the impartial Shofet (Shofet kol ha'aretz) of each man L'ISH K'MA'ASEIHU ("To each according to his deeds" TEHILLIM 62:13), then conduct yourself with yirat Shomayim during your time in the Golus of the Olam Hazeh,18 Having da'as that the padut nafsheynu (redemption ransom of our souls) was not with perishable things such as silver or gold when your Geulah (Redemption) was purchased from the Derech HaHevel (empty way of life) handed down to you from your Avot.19 No, it was the precious DAHM (VAYIKRA 17:11) as of a SEH TAMIM U'MUM ("lamb unblemished and unspotted" SHEMOT 12:5; VAYIKRA 22:20; YESHAYAH 53:7,9), the DAHM of Moshiach (Mt.26:28)20 Who, on the one hand, having been foreknown lifnei hivvased tevel (before the foundation of the world), but, on the other hand, having been manifested [5:4] at the Ketz Hayamim (End of Days) because of you.21 Through him [Moshiach] you have emunah in Hashem, the One who brought forth the Techiyas HaMoshiach from HaMesim (the dead ones) and gave him Kavod. And so your emunah and your tikvah [1:13] are in Hashem.22 Having purified your nefashot (souls) by mishma'at (obedience 1:2) to HaEmes, resulting in ahavah shel achvah (brotherly love) without tzevi'ut (hypocrisy), have fervent ahavah (agape) for one another, from a lev tahor.23 You have been given a new birth [Yn 3:3], not from perishable zerah (seed), but zerah that is without shachat (corruption TEHILLIM 16:10), through the Dvar Hashem who is Chai v'Nitzav l'Olam (living and remaining firm forever).24 For, "All flesh is grass and all of [mankind's] glory is like the flower: the grass withers, the flower falls,25 But the Word of our G-d stands forever" YESHAYAH 40:6-8). And this is the Dvar proclaimed to you as the Besuras HaGeulah [in Moshiach]. [T.N. On the word mevaserim 1K 1:12 see Isaiah 40:9.]

1 PETER 1

1 From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ.
To God's people who are scattered like foreigners in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

2 God the Father decided to choose you as his people, and his Spirit has made you holy. You have obeyed Jesus Christ and are sprinkled with his blood.t
I pray that God will be kind to you and will keep on giving you peace!

A Real Reason for Hope


3 Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is so good, and by raising Jesus from death, he has given us new life and a hope that lives on.

4 t God has something stored up for you in heaven, where it will never decay or be ruined or disappear.
5 You have faith in God, whose power will protect you until the last day.t Then he will save you, just as he has always planned to do. 6 On that day you will be glad, even if you have to go through many hard trials for a while.

7 t Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns.
8 You have never seen Jesus, and you don't see him now. But still you love him and have faith in him, and no words can tell how glad and happy

9 you are to be saved. This is why you have faith.
10 Some prophets told how God would treat you with undeserved grace, and they searched hard to find out more about the way you would be saved. 11 The Spirit of Christ was in them and was telling them how Christ would suffer and would then be given great honor. So they searched to find out exactly who Christ would be and when this would happen.

12 But they were told that they were serving you and not themselves. They preached to you by the power of the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven. And their message was only for you, even though angels would like to know more about it.

Chosen To Live //a Holy Life


13 Be alert and think straight. Put all your hope in how God will treat you with undeserved grace when Jesus Christ appears. 14 Behave like obedient children. Don't let your lives be controlled by your desires, as they used to be. 15 Always live as God's holy people should, because God is the one who chose you, and he is holy.

16 t That's why the Scriptures say, “I am the holy God, and you must be holy too.”
17 You say that God is your Father, but God doesn't have favorites! He judges all people by what they do. So you must honor God while you live as strangers here on earth. 18 You were rescuedt from the useless way of life you learned from your ancestors. But you know you were not rescued by such things as silver or gold that don't last forever. 19 t You were rescued by the precious blood of Christ, that spotless and innocent lamb. 20 Christ was chosen even before the world was created, but because of you, he did not come until these last days.

21 And when he did come, it was to lead you to have faith in God, who raised him from death and honored him in a glorious way. This is why you have put your faith and hope in God.
22 You obeyed the truth, t and your souls were made pure. Now you sincerely love each other. But you must keep on loving with all your heart. 23 Do this because God has given you new birth by his message that lives on forever.

24 t The Scriptures say,
“Humans wither like grass,
and their glory fades
like wild flowers.
Grass dries up,
and flowers fall
to the ground.

25 But what the Lord has said
will stand forever.”
Our good news to you is what the Lord has said.