Первое послание Апостола Петра

Scripture approximately between 65 and 68 AD. according to R.H. Written at a time when Christians in Asia Minor experienced all sorts of slander and accusations and lived under the threat of persecution. This is mentioned in the message (1:6–7; 2:12; 3:14; 4:12–19), and from other sources we know that in 64, under Nero, a terrible persecution of Christians began and spread throughout Asia. The purpose of the message is to encourage believers in view of the threatening danger and to give instructions and advice on how Christians should behave and behave at such a time. Peter, Apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bethany, chosen foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification from the Spirit, to obedience, to cleansing by the sprinkling of the Blood of Jesus Christ. May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Christian Hope of Salvation Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy regenerated us to new life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, with the hope of an incorruptible, undefiled, unfading inheritance, kept in heaven for you - preserved by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. In this, rejoice, although now you have grieved a little (if necessary) from various temptations, so that your tested faith, more precious than gold that perishes, although it is tested by fire, may gain praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen Him, you love Him, and now, without seeing Him, you believe in Him, and rejoice with unspeakable and glorious joy, achieving, to the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. This is the salvation they sought, the prophets had in mind when they foretold the grace prepared for you, and they sought to which and at what time the Spirit of Christ within them pointed when it foreshadowed the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow. It was revealed to them that not for themselves, but for you, they were ministers of the truth, which has now been preached to you by those who brought you the gospel from the Holy Spirit sent from heaven; and the Angels also want to delve into this mystery. The holiness of Christian life Therefore, beloved, having girded the loins of your mind (gathering your thoughts together), with a sober spirit, fully trust in the grace that comes to you in the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts that were in your ignorance, but, in the image of the Holy One who called you, be holy in all your life, as it is written: “Be holy, for I am holy” (Lev.11). And if you call Father the One who impartially judges everyone according to their deeds, then spend your time living here with fear. You know that you were not redeemed with corruptible gold or silver from the vain customs of life handed down to you from your fathers, but with the precious Blood, the Blood of Christ, like a lamb immaculate and pure. He was foreseen before the foundation of the world, but in these last times He appeared for your sake, who through Him believed in God, who raised Him from the dead: and He gave Him glory, so that your faith and your hope may be in God. Now, in obedience to the truth, having purified your souls to unfeigned brotherly love, love one another diligently, from a pure heart, as being regenerated, not from corruptible seed, but from incorruptible, by the word of the living God and abiding forever. “All flesh is like grass, and every word of man is like the flower of the grass: the grass withered, and its flower fell away. But the word of the Lord endures forever” (Ps. 101). This is the word of the gospel preached to you. So, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and slander, like newborn babies, love the pure verbal milk, so that from it you may grow into salvation. You have already tasted that the Lord is good (Ps. 33). Approaching Him, the living stone, rejected by men, but chosen and precious by God, and you yourselves, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood—to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. It is said in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame” (Ps. 117; Is. 28). And He is precious to you who believe, and to you who do not believe He is a stone, “whose careless builders have built it, this has become the cornerstone, a stone of stumbling, and a stone of temptation.” And there they stumble, not obeying the word: that is what is due to them. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, people of God’s destiny, chosen to proclaim the perfections of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. You were once not a people, but now you are the people of God; were not pardoned, but now have been pardoned. I beg you, beloved, as strangers and pilgrims, move away from carnal lusts that war upon the soul; May your conduct be good among the pagans, so that they may revile you as evildoers. seeing your good deeds, you would glorify God on the day of visitation. And be submissive to every human ruler for the Lord’s sake: to the king as the sovereign power, to the rulers - sent from him to punish evildoers, to praise the virtuous; for such is the will of God, that by our good deeds we should stop the mouths of the ignorance of foolish people, - as free people, and not as people who cover up evil in the name of freedom, but as servants of God. Give honor to everyone, love brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Patience for the truth for God's sake Servants, obey your masters with all fear, not only the good and gentle, but also the obstinate. This pleases God when someone, thinking about God, endures sorrows, suffering innocently. What kind of praise is it if you endure being executed for your sins? But if you do the truth and suffer and endure for it, then it pleases God. This is what you are called to do; so Christ suffered for us and left His image for us, so that we too would follow in His footsteps. He did not commit a single sin, and there was no flattery in His mouth (Is. 53). They slandered Him - He did not answer with reproach; while suffering, he did not threaten, but handed over all the Judges to the righteous. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we, having died to sin, might live to righteousness: by His stripes you were healed. They were like lost sheep, without a shepherd, but now they have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. Chapter 3. Mutual relations between spouses Likewise, wives, be submissive to your husbands, so that even those who do not obey the word (of the gospel) may be won without a word by the lives of their wives, when they see your pure, God-fearing life. May your beauty not be external. not braided hair or gold jewelry or elegant clothing, - but internal, in the hidden heart of man, in the imperishable beauty of a meek and silent spirit: this is what is precious before God. So once upon a time holy women, in trust in God, adorned themselves, obeying their husbands. So Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him master; and you are her children if you do good and are not embarrassed by any fear. But you, husbands, treat your wives wisely, as with the weakest vessel, give them honor, as joint heirs of a grace-filled life: so you too will not have difficulty in your prayers. Finally, be all of the same mind, compassionate, brotherly, merciful, and friendly. humbly wise. Do not repay evil for evil or reproach for reproach; on the contrary, bless, knowing that you are called to inherit the blessing. And whoever “loves life and wants to see good days for himself, keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking evil; turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and hold on to it: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil” (Ps. 33:36). And who will embitter you if you are zealots of goodness? Even if you suffer for the sake of righteousness, then blessed are you; but do not be afraid of them and do not be embarrassed. Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; Be always ready to give an answer, with meekness and reverence, to everyone who asks you where and what your hope is. Have a good conscience, so that those who reproach your good life in Christ may be ashamed of the things for which they slander you as evildoers. If it pleases the will of God, it is better to suffer for good deeds, and not for bad ones, for Christ, in order to bring us to God, suffered once for our sins, the righteous for the unjust, being put to death in the flesh. revived in spirit. Then he came down and preached to the spirits imprisoned in prison, by the fact that they were once disobedient to God’s long-suffering that awaited them, in the days of Noah, in the building of the ark, when a few, only eight souls, were saved from the water in it. So now, baptism similar to this image, not the washing away of fleshly uncleanness, but the promise to God of a good conscience, saves through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, He who has ascended into heaven sits at the right hand of God, and to Him the essence of the Angels and powers and powers are subjugated. Chapter 4. The debauchery of the former life in paganism And just as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourself with the same thought: he who suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so that then in the flesh we may live not according to human lusts, but according to the will of God. It is enough that in the past time of your life you did the will of pagan life and walked your paths in uncleanness, in lust, in drunkenness, in debauchery, in gluttony and in vile idolatry. That is why they are surprised that you do not participate in the same debauchery with them, and they slander you. They will give an answer to the One who is ready now to judge the living and the dead. For this reason the gospel was preached to the dead, so that they, having received judgment according to mankind in the flesh, would live according to God in the spirit. But the end is near. So, be chaste (watch yourselves) and do not give up in prayer. And most of all, have fervent love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins; Be kind to one another, without murmuring. Serve one another, each with the gift that each has received, as good minions of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, speak as a broadcaster of the words of God; whoever goes to serve, let him serve in the strength that God gives, so that God may be glorified in everything through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. The Dignity of Suffering for Christ Beloved! do not shun the fiery temptation sent to you to test you as an adventure that is strange to you. But rejoice that you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ, so that when His glory appears, you will rejoice and triumph. If they slander you because of the name of Christ (which you bear), then blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, rests on you; in those He is blasphemed, but in you He is glorified. Just let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or a villain or a predator of someone else's property 25 . If you suffered as a Christian, then do not be ashamed, but glorify God for such a fate. It is time for judgment to begin at the house of God; if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who reject the Gospel of God? And if the righteous can barely be saved, where will the wicked and sinful appear? So, let those who suffer according to the will of God surrender their souls to Him, the faithful Creator, and let them do good. To the elder shepherds among you, I pray, co-shepherd and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and partaker of the glory that is to be revealed, I pray, shepherd the flock of God that is yours, watching over it, not out of need, but out of good will, according to God, and not for the sake of unrighteous gain, but with heartfelt zeal, and do not dominate the clergy, but serve as an example to the flock. So, when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory. Likewise, young people, obey your elders; Nevertheless, as you submit to one another, clothe yourself with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your care on Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant: your adversary is the devil - like a lion, he walks around roaring and looking for someone to devour. Stand against him firmly - with firm faith, knowing that the same sufferings as yours are happening to your brothers in the world. May the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after your temporary suffering, perfect you, establish you, and establish you unshakably. To him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. I wrote this briefly to you through Silouan, a faithful brother, I think, in order to assure you and testify that the true grace of God is in which you stand. Greetings to you from the kin of the same chosen church in Babylon and from Mark my son. Kiss each other with the kiss of love. Peace to you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. There is also such a reading: or a participant in affairs alien to a Christian (foreign visitor, άλλοτριοεπίσκοπος). You might be interested in: