1st Peter 1: From Peter, an envoy of Yeshua (Jesus) Messiah, to the Select pilgrims who are dispersed [Gr. diaspora] in Pontus and Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 who have been selected by the foreknowledge of Yehovah the Father, and set apart by the spirit to obey Yeshua Messiah, and be sprinkled with His blood. May compassion and peace be yours in abundance!

3 Praise be to Yehovah, the Father of our Master Yeshua Messiah, who in His great mercy has engendered us again to the expectation of real Life, thru the resurrection of our Master Yeshua Messiah, 4 and to an indestructible inheritance, undefiled and unfading that is reserved for you in Heaven, 5 while you are preserved by the power of Yehovah and by faith, for the eternal Life that awaits you and will be unveiled in the last days. 6 With it you’ll rejoice forever, tho at the present time you must endure the various trials that come your way, 7 so that the proof of your faith that is much more precious than refined [1a] gold is proven genuine [tested] by fire, for eminence, honor and splendor, when Yeshua Messiah appears. 8 You haven’t seen Him, yet you love Him, and in His faith you have great joy and indescribable praise, 9 so that you can receive compensation for your faith—everlasting life, 10 the very eternal Life that the prophets inquired about when they were prophesying about the favor that was to be given to you. 11 They tried to determine the exact time that the spirit of the Messiah, dwelling in them, was referring to, and when His predicted suffering was to occur and the splendor that followed. 12 And everything that they were searching for was revealed to them, because they were not inquiring for themselves, but they were prophesying those things for us, things that are now revealed to you by those who have announced the Good News by the 'special' spirit sent from Heaven, things the spirit messengers also want to look into.

13 So be mentally prepared and wide awake, and wait with confidence for the joy that will come to you when our Master Yeshua Messiah is finally revealed to the world. 14 As obedient children, don’t conform to the former lusts that you ‘once did’ in ignorance. 15 Be 'special' in everything you do, just like the One who called you by name is special. 16 Because it is written, 16 Because it is written, “Become 'special', just as I am special.”

17 If you call Him “Father”, who impartially judges everyone according to their behavior, live your lives in reverent fear as travelers in a foreign land. 18 You know that the ransom from your worthless lifestyles, inherited from your ancestors, wasn’t paid for with corrupable [1b] silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of the Messiah, the spotless and unblemished Lamb. 20 He was predestined for this before the foundation of the world, and this former mystery has been made apparent for you at the end of the age. 21 Thru Him you have believed in Yehovah, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him honor, so that your faith and hope could be in Yehovah.

22 Since you have purified your minds by obedience to the truth, and are filled with unbiased love, you must love each other with a pure and perfect mind, 23 not being regenerated with a destructible heredity, but with an indestructible one, by the living Word of Aloha who lives forever. 24 Mortal humanity is like grass, and all its beauty is like the flowers in the field. The grass dries up and the flowers fade away, 25 but the Word of Aloha remains forever. This is the Good News message that is announced to you.

1st Peter 2: So stop making evil plans or any kind of deception, pretense, jealousy or any kind of slander. 2 Like newborn babies, crave the 'special' spiritual milk of the Word, so that you can grow up and live, 3 if indeed you have gotten a taste of Yehovah’s goodness.

A Living Stone

4 As you come to Him, a living Stone that humanity has rejected, but selected by Yehovah and precious, 5 you are also like living stones being built into a spiritual Temple [1], and 'special' priests who present spiritual ze’bakim [sacrifices], acceptable to Yehovah, thru Yeshua Messiah. 6 The Scriptures say, “Look, in Zion I am laying a chosen and precious Stone for the cornerstone, and no one who believes in Him will be put to shame.” 7 Those of you who believe are honored, but for those who don’t believe, “He is a stumbling stone 8 and an offending Rock.” They continue to stumble because they refuse to believe. Their destiny awaits.

9 But you are a select race, officiating as priests of the Kingdom, a 'special' nation [2], a congregation redeemed to proclaim the virtues of the One who called you by name out of darkness and into His precious light. 10 Once you were not considered a people, but now you are the people of Yehovah. You hadn’t experienced mercy, but now mercy is being poured out on you!

11 Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and foreigners to separate yourselves from all carnal desires, because they war against your consciousness” [psyche, Gr: psuche]. 12 Your behavior should be obviously commendable to everyone, so those who are slandering you can see your good behavior and praise Yehovah in the day of probation [3].

Submit to Civil Government

13 Be submissive to human authority for Yehovah’s sake, whether to kings because of their authority 14 or to judges, because he sends them to punish offenders and to commend those who do right. 15 This is Yehovah’s will, so that by your good behavior you’ll muzzle the mouths of the fools who don’t know Yehovah. 16 Live like free people, but not like those who use their freedom as a cover for their wickedness, but as the servants of Yehovah. 17 Respect everyone, love your Friends, fear Yehovah and honor kings.

18 Those of you who are servants, submit to your masters with respect, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh and offensive. 19 Yehovah favors those who, for the sake of conscience, withstand unfair treatment. 20 But what credit would they deserve if they withstand punishment when they have sinned? But if you do well, and withstand unfair treatment, Yehovah considers that commendable. 21 This is why you were called by name, because the Messiah also suffered for us as a role model, so that you could follow in His steps. 22 He never sinned, nor did He ever deceive anyone. 23 When He was insulted, He didn’t insult in return, and He suffered without threats, but committed everything to the One who judges righteously. 24 He took all of our sins and He lifted them in His body to the cross, so that we could die to sin and live ‘as a result of’ His [4] righteousness, because you are healed by His bleeding wounds. 25 You had wandered like sheep, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your lives.

1st Peter 3: In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that by your pleasing behavior, you might more easily win over those who have not obeyed the Word, 2 when they see that you conduct yourselves with reverence and modesty. 3 Your adornment shouldn’t be ‘skin deep’ [outward], consisting of elaborately braided hair, or golden trinkets, or expensive clothing. 4 Instead, clothe yourselves with an inward beauty, with a gentle and quiet spirit, ornamentation that is precious to Yehovah. 5 This is how the 'special' women of old who trusted in Yehovah adorned themselves, being submissive to their husbands 6 just like Sarah was obedient to Abraham, and called him master, and you are her daughters by doing good and not allowing anything to terrify you.

Husbands, Value Your Wives

7 Likewise husbands, live with your wives with advanced knowledge. Value them as delicate vessels, because they will inherit the gift of eternal Life with you, so that your prayers won’t be hindered.

8 In summary, you should all be in harmony, and be sympathetic with those who suffer, being affectionate with each other, compassionate and kind. 9 Don’t pay people back with evil for evil, or exchange abusive criticisms. Instead, you should bless. That’s why you were called by name, so that you can inherit a blessing. 10 So whoever chooses eternal Life and wants to see better days should keep their tongue from evil and their lips from being deceitful. 11 They must turn away from evil and do good, they must seek peace—run after it, 12 because Yehovah watches over the righteous, and He is always ready to listen to them. But Yehovah opposes the wicked.

Don’t Fear Threats

13 Who will harm you if you are zealous about doing good? 14 But even if you were to suffer due to righteousness, be glad. Don’t be afraid or shaken by those who threaten you. 15 Be dedicated to our Master the Messiah in your thoughts. Always be ready to vindicate the expectation of your faith to anyone who demands an explanation for it, with gentleness and respect, 16 with a clear conscience, so that when someone severely criticizes you, as they do evil people, they will be ashamed for having falsely accused your good conduct in the Messiah. 17 It is far better for you to suffer for doing good things, (if that is Yehovah’s will) than for doing evil things. 18 The Messiah died for sins once for all, a righteous man for sinners, so that He could bring you to Yehovah. His body died, but His spirit was empowered with life. 19 He heralded to the spirits who were imprisoned in Sheol [1], 20 those who disobeyed long ago in the days of Noah, when Yehovah in extreme patience, commanded an ark to be made. He was hoping that they would amend their ways, but only eight people entered it and survived the water during the flood. 21 Symbolically, water of immersion [baptism] now Rescues you, (not when you wash dirt from your bodies, but when you answer to Yehovah with a pure conscience) by the resurrection of Yeshua Messiah, 22 who was taken up to Heaven and is on the right hand side of Yehovah with spirit messengers and rulers and powers under his authority.

1st Peter 4: So since the Messiah suffered for you in His physical body, you should arm yourselves with the same mindset, because everyone who has died physically is finished sinning [1]. 2 So from now on, while still in the body, don’t live for sinful human passions, but for the will of Yehovah. 3 You spent enough time in the past pursuing heathen desires, living in unbridled lust, drunkenness, carousing around in pagan feasts, worshiping demons. 4 Now they blaspheme you in amazement because you don’t run with them in riotous living as in the past! 5 They have to answer to Yehovah, who will judge both the living and the dead. 6 This is why the Good News was also proclaimed to those who are now dead, so that they can be judged like those still in their physical bodies, and live in the spirit realm with Yehovah.

7 The end state of everything is approaching, so be sound minded and alert in your prayers. 8 Above all else, have intense love for each other, because love covers a great number of sins. 9 Be compassionate to strangers without any reluctance. 10 You should all serve each other with the gifts that you have from Yehovah, as good stewards of the various spiritual kindnesses of Yehovah. 11 Whoever speaks must speak the Words of Yehovah, and whoever serves should serve with the ability that Yehovah has given them, so that in everything you do, Yehovah will be clothed with splendor, thru Yeshua Messiah. Splendor and honor belongs to Them forever and ever. Aw-main.

Don’t be Surprised by Trials

12 Beloved, don’t be surprised by the trials that happen to you, as if something strange has happened, because these things are meant to test and refine you. [2] 13 Rather, rejoice as you participate in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you can rejoice when His splendor is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of the Messiah, you should be glad, because the magnificent spirit of Yehovah rests on you. 15 But none of you should suffer as a murderer or as a thief or as a troublemaker. 16 Yet if someone suffers as a Christian [3], they shouldn’t be ashamed, but they should praise Yehovah in that very name, 17 because it is time for judgment to begin, and it will begin in Yehovah’s household [4], and if it begins with us, what will be the end state of those who don’t obey the Good News of Yehovah? 18 If the righteous barely enter life, ‘what chance’ do the spiritually destitute and the sinner have?

19 So those who suffer according to the will of Yehovah should dedicate themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

1st Peter 5: I appeal to the elders among you as a fellow elder, and a witness of the sufferings of the Messiah who will share in His majesty when it is revealed: 2 Take care of Yehovah’s flock that has been entrusted to you. Feed them spiritually, not because you must, but because you want to, not for personal gain, but with all of your ‘being’, 3 not by domineering the flock, but by being good examples for them. 4 When the sovereign Shepherd appears, you’ll receive a magnificent crown from Him that will never fade away.

5 Young people, be submissive to your elders and clothe yourselves with humility, because Yehovah opposes the arrogant but gives favor to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves under Yehovah’s powerful hand He’ll elevate you in due time. 7 Throw all of your anxieties on Yehovah, because He cares for you.

8 Stay alert and on guard, because Satan your adversary is like a roaring lion, walking around looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him and be firm in the faith, because you know that your Friends thruout the world are experiencing the same kinds of suffering.

10 But the Aloha of compassion has called us by name into His eternal magnificence by Yeshua Messiah. And after we have suffered for a little while, Yehovah will strengthen, stabilize and establish us in Him forever. 11 Praise, dominion, and honor belongs to Him forever and ever. Aw-main.

12 Sylvanus, our faithful Friend, is hand delivering these few things [1] that I have written to you. As a means of persuasion, I would testify that it is Yehovah’s genuine good will, so remain standing firmly in it.

13 The select assembly in Babylon greets you, as does Mark, my son. 14 Greet each other with a kiss ‘of Friendship’. Peace to all of you who are in the Messiah. Aw-main.

2nd Peter 1: From Simon Peter, a servant and envoy of Yeshua Messiah, to those who have received equally precious faith with us, thru the righteousness of Our Master and Life Giver, Yeshua Messiah.

2 May compassion and peace be yours in abundance thru your recognition of our Master Yeshua Messiah 3 as the One who gives us everything we need for dedicated [Gr. theios] power and Life by revering Aloha, thru recognition of the One who has called us by name into His own splendor and virtue, 4 revealing very great and precious promises, so that by them you can become sharing partners in the devout nature [Gr. theios] of Yehovah, as you escape the corruption of the lusts that are in the world.

5 Make every effort to add faith to your virtue, and to virtue, knowledge, 6 and to knowledge, perseverance; and to perseverance, patience; and to patience add reverence to Aloha; 7 and to reverence to Aloha, sympathy with the brotherhood; and to sympathy with the brotherhood, love. 8 If you have these qualities, and they are increasing, they will keep you from being lazy or ineffective in your knowledge of our Master Yeshua Messiah. 9 Anyone who lacks these things is blind or nearsighted [myopic, Greek: myopazo], and has forgotten the cleansing of their [Gr. autos] former sins.

10 So Friends, be extremely careful to make your invitation and selection secure by your good works. By doing this, you’ll never fall away. 11 This is how you can be granted a ‘welcome’ entrance into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Master and Life Giver, Yeshua Messiah.

12 This is why I’m continually reminding you of these things, altho you know them well, and are grounded in this truth. 13 I believe that the right thing to do, as long as I’m in this body, is to stir your memories 14 since I know that the demise of my body is imminent, as our Master Yeshua Messiah has shown me. 15 I’ll be careful to ensure that after my departure you’ll always have with you a written memorial [copy] of these things, 16 because we didn’t ‘create’ artfully framed fables when we told you about the power and arrival of our Master Yeshua Messiah—we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 When He received honor and praise from Yehovah the Father, a voice came to Him from the splendid beauty of His Majesty that said, “This is the Son I love very much, I’m delighted with Him.” 18 We personally heard the same voice from Heaven as He heard it, while we were with Him on the 'special' mountain.

Pay Attention to Prophecy

19 More importantly, we have the certain teaching of prophecy, and you’ll do well if you pay attention to it as you would a light shining in a dark place, until the dawn of day, when the sun [1] illuminates your inner beings.

19 More importantly, we have the certain teaching of prophecy, and you’ll do well if you pay attention to it as you would a light shining in a dark place, until the dawn of day, when the sun [1] illuminates your inner beings. 20 You already know that no prophecy in Scripture ‘comes with’ an explanation of its own text, 21 because prophecy never originated by human will, but 'special' men from Yehovah spoke as they were moved by the 'special' spirit.

2nd Peter 2: There have been false prophets in the world, and there will also be false teachers among you who will introduce destructive heresies [1], denying the Master who bought them and bringing on themselves swift and eternal destruction. 2 Many will follow their wicked ways, and because of these deceivers, the Way of truth will be blasphemed [Gr. blasphemeo]. 3 In their greed and with carefully formed arguments, they’ll buy and sell you. Yet their condemnation that was determined in the distant past is still in force, and their utter destruction won’t be ‘caught’ sleeping.

4 If Yehovah wasn’t lenient with the angels who sinned, but imprisoned [‘tartarooed’] [2] them in chains of darkness reserved for a painful judgment, 5 and wasn’t lenient with the original world, but rescued Noah, a herald of righteousness and his family of eight when He brought a flood on the world of the wicked, 6 and burned up the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and condemned them with an upheaval, making them an example for the wicked people who would live after them, 7 and rescued righteous Lot, who was tormented by the filthy conduct of the Torahless, 8 (because that righteous man living among them was distressed in his righteous consciousness” [psyche, Gr: psuche] every day, by seeing and hearing about their Torahless deeds), 9 then Yehovah knows how to Rescue those who fear Him from suffering, but He’ll reserve the wicked for Judgment Day to be tormented, 10 and especially those who follow the mortal lusts of defiling passions and despise government. Daring and arrogant, they are unfazed as they blaspheme, 11 yet spirit messengers far greater than they in might and valor don’t bring blasphemous condemnation against them. 12 But they are like instinctively illogical [Gr. a’logos] animals who are born to be butchered and destroyed, blaspheming things they don’t even understand. They will die in their own corruption.

13 These people will be compensated for their injustice, because their idea of fun is carousing during the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, reveling in laziness and devoted to pleasure [3]. 14 They are always ‘looking for’ adulterous opportunities and never ending sins, enticing unstable minds, their own minds disciplined in greed, they are cursed children. 15 They’ve abandoned the right way and wandered astray in the way of Beor’s son Balaam, who loved the wages of wickedness, 16 who was reprimanded for breach of Torah by a dumb donkey, who spoke like a man and restrained the madness of the prophet.

Flamboyant Speeches

17 They are dry wells, clouds driven by a storm whose destiny is darker than night. 18 They make flamboyant speeches devoid of truth. They seduce people thru sexual desire, who have almost escaped from those going astray. 19 They promise liberty, while they themselves are slaves to corruption, because whatever overcomes a person is what enslaves them. 20 If after they’ve escaped the world’s corruptions by the knowledge of our Master and Life Giver, Yeshua Messiah, they are again entangled in them and overcome, their latter state [Gr. eschatos, i.e. eschatology] will be worse than their previous one. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to know it and turn back from the 'special' Commandments that were handed to them. 22 ‘They prove’ the proverb true: “A dog returns to its vomit, and the swine that was washed returns to wallowing in the manure.”

2nd Peter 3: Beloved, I’m now writing a second letter to you, again to stir your disciplined minds with an admonition, 2 so that you’ll remember the prophecies of the 'special' prophets and the Commandments of our Master and Life Giver, delivered by the envoys.

3 As you know, skeptics will come in the latter days mocking the truth, only governed by their own evil desires, 4 asking, “‘What happened to’ the promise of His coming? Ever since our ancestors fell asleep, everything remains just like it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 They deliberately ignore that the Heavens have existed since antiquity, and that the continents rose up from the water, and are sustained by water, by the Word of Aloha, 6 and that by means of this same water, the previous world was covered again and destroyed. 7 The Heavens and the earth that now exist are preserved by His Word, and awaiting the fire of Judgment Day, and the destruction of the wicked.

8 But dear Friends, don’t forget this one thing: A day to Yehovah is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day [1]. 9 Yehovah won’t delay in keeping His promises, as some leaders delay theirs. No, He is being patient for your sake, because He doesn’t want anyone to be destroyed, but that everyone should have a change of mind.

Thieving False Ministers

10 Yet the Day of Yehovah will come like a thieving false “minister in a time of moral stupidity and darkness [2], when the Heavens will suddenly pass by [3] with a great noise, and the former things will be dissolved by being set on fire, and the surface of the earth and the things being done on it won’t be found [4].

11 Since all these things will be dissolved [5], what kind of people should we be in sincere conduct, and reverence, 12 anticipating and desiring the coming of the Day of Yehovah, when the heavens being tried in the fire will be dissolved [or unfastened, set free], and the former things being ignited will melt? 13 But we’re looking forward to a New Heavens and a New Earth as He promised, where the righteous live.

14 So, Friends, as you are looking forward to these things, see to it that He finds you at peace, without spots and blameless. 15 Consider the patience of the Master as an opportunity for redemption, just as our dear Friend Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you. 16 He writes about these things in all his letters, tho they are somewhat difficult to understand, that those who are ignorant and unstable pervert, as they do with the rest of the Scriptures [6] to their own destruction.

17 So, dear Friends, since you already know these things, guard yourselves so that you aren’t carried away by the errors of the Torahless, and fall from your secure position. 18 But continue to grow in compassion, and in the knowledge of our Master and Life Giver Yeshua Messiah, and of Yehovah the Father [7]. The majesty is His, both now and for the rest of eternity. Aw-main.

 

The Testimony of Yeshua was tweaked January 6, 2012