Greeting
1 aPeter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the bDispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the cforeknowledge of God the Father, in the dsanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for esprinkling with his blood:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Born Again to a Living Hope
3 fBlessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be gborn again to a living hhope ithrough the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an jinheritance that is kimperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation lready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you mrejoice, though now nfor a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the otested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the prevelation of Jesus Christ. 8 qThough you have not seen him, you love him. rThough you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours ssearched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time1 the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he tpredicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent uglories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things vthat have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you wby the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, xthings into which angels long to look.
Great Are the Lord’s Works
1 1 Praise the Lord!
eI will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
fstudied by all who gdelight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and hhis righteousness endures forever.
4 He has caused his wondrous works to be iremembered;
the Lord is jgracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he kremembers his covenant forever.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8 they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent lredemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
mHoly and awesome is his name!
10 nThe fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
Jesus and Thomas
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the dTwin,1 was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” eBut he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will fnever believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, g“Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, h“My Lord and imy God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have jseen me? Blessed are those who have knot seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of This Book
30 lNow Jesus did many other msigns in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written nso that you may believe that oJesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that pby believing you may have life in his name.
