First Epistle of Kepha
The First Epistle General of Simon Kepha
[please note Peter means: father/priest. Kepha means: a stone. His name was not Peter!]
Chapter 1
1 Kepha [not: Peter], an apostle of Yahushua the Messiah [not: Jesus the Christ], to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.
2 According to the foreknowledge of Yahwah the Father [YHWH Almighty], in sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Yahushua the Messiah, grace to you and peace be multiplied.
3 Blessed is Yahwah, Father of our King Yahushua the Messiah. According to His great mercy He begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Yahushua the Messiah from the dead
4 (unto an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you),
5 who by the power of Yahwah is guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 When you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you are put to grief in many trials,
7 that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perishes though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise, glory, and honor, at the revelation of Yahushua the Messiah.
8 Whom having not seen you love (though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory),
9 receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10 Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you;
11 searching what time or what manner of time the Spirit of Messiah which was in them did point to, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Messiah, and the glories that should follow them.
12 To whom it was revealed (that not to themselves, but to you), they did minister these things (which things gods [malaks, angels] desire to look into), which now are announced to you through those who preach the evangel to you by Yahwah's Spirit sent forth from heaven.
13 So clothing the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Yahushua the Messiah.
14 Children of obedience (not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of your ignorance),
15 like as He who called you is holy, be yourselves also holy in all manner of living.
16 It is written: You will be holy, for I am holy.
17 If you call on Him as Father (who without respect of persons judges according to each man's work), pass the time of your sojourning in fear.
18 Know you were redeemed from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers
19 not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, even the blood of Messiah
20 (who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of times for your sake).
21 Through Him we are believers in Yahwah (who raised Him from the dead, and gave Him glory), so that your faith and hope might be in Yahwah.
22 Seeing you have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brothers, love one another from the heart fervently.
23 You are begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the Word of Yahwah, which lives and abides.
24 All flesh is as grass, and all its glory is as the flower of grass. The grass withers, the flower falls,
25 but the Word of Yahwah abides forever. This is the word of good tidings which was preached to you.
1 Put away all wickedness, all guile, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speakings.
2 As newborn babes long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that you may grow by it to salvation.
3 You tasted that the Master is gracious,
4 unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with Yahwah elect, precious.
5 You also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to Yahwah through Yahushua the Messiah.
6 It is contained in scripture: Behold, I lay a chief corner-stone in Zion, elect, precious, he who believes on Him will not be put to shame.
7 For you who believe is the preciousness. But for such as disbelieve, the stone the builders rejected was made the head of the corner,
8 a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence. They stumble at the Word, being disobedient, which also they were appointed.
9 But you are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for Yahwah's own possession, that you may show forth the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous Light.
10 You in time past were no people, but now are the people of Yahwah. You had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against the soul.
12 Keep your behavior seemly among the Gentiles, that, although they speak against you as evil-doers, by your good works (which they see) they may glorify Yahwah in the day of visitation.
15 For so is the will of Yahwah, that by well-doing you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom for a cloak of wickedness. Live as servants of Yahwah.
19 It is acceptable if a man endures griefs, suffering wrongfully because of conscience toward Yahwah.
20 What glory is it, if you sin and are punished for it, you take it patiently? But if you do well, suffer for it, and take it patiently, this is acceptable with Yahwah.
21 For such things you were called. Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps.
22 He did no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth.
23 When He was reviled, He did not revile again. When He suffered He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.
24 He bore our sins in His body upon the tree, that we, having died unto sins, might live unto righteousness. By His stripes you were healed.
25 You were going astray like sheep, but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.
1 In like manner, you wives, be in subjection to your own husbands. Even if any do not obey the Word, they may without the Word be gained by the behavior of their wives,
2 seeing your chaste behavior coupled with fear.
3 Her adorning let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel.
4 Let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of Yahwah.
5 After this manner aforetime the holy women also adorned themselves, who hoped in Yahwah, being in subjection to their own husbands.
6 Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him master (his children you now are, if you do well, and are not put in fear by any terror).
7 Husbands, in like manner, dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman, as unto the weaker vessel, as being also joint-heirs of the grace of life, to the end that your prayers are not hindered.
8 Finally, be you all like-minded, compassionate, loving as brothers, tenderhearted, humble-minded;
9 not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling. Instead give blessing, for even to this you were called, that you should inherit a blessing.
10 He who would love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it.
12 The eyes of Yahwah are upon the righteous, and His ears unto their supplication, but the face of Yahwah is upon those who do evil.
13 Who is he who will harm you, if you are zealous of that which is good?
14 Even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, blessed are you. Do not fear their fear, nor be troubled.
15 Sanctify Yahwah Almighty in your hearts. Be always ready to give answer to every man who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear.
16 Have a good conscience, so that when you are spoken against, those who revile your good manner of life in Messiah may be put to shame.
17 For it is better, if the will of Yahwah should so will, that you suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing.
18 Messiah suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to Yahwah. Being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit,
19 He went and preached unto the spirits in prison
20 (who were disobedient before, when the longsuffering of Yahwah waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, when few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water).
21 A true likeness does now save you, even immersion. Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward Yahwah, through the resurrection of Yahushua the Messiah.
22 He is on the right hand of Yahwah, having gone into heaven, malaks, authorities, and powers, being made subject unto Him.
1 Forasmuch then as Messiah suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who suffers in the flesh ceases from sin.
2 You should no longer live the rest of your time in flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of Yahwah.
3 For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, to walk in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries.
4 They think it strange that you do not run with them into the same excess of riot, even speaking evil of it.
5 All will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
6 For unto this end was the evangel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to Yahwah in the spirit.
7 The end of all things is at hand, therefore be of sound mind, and be sober unto prayer.
8 Above all things be fervent in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
9 Show hospitality one to another without murmuring.
10 According as each receives a gift, minister it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of Yahwah.
11 If any man speaks, speak as it were oracles of Yahwah. If any man ministers, minister as of the strength which Yahwah supplies, that in all things Yahwah may be glorified through Yahushua Messiah, whose is the glory and the dominion for ever and ever. Amein.
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which comes upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you.
13 Insomuch as you are partakers of Messiah's sufferings, rejoice, that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice with exceeding joy.
14 If you are reproached for the Name of Messiah, blessed are you, because the Spirit of Glory and the Spirit of Yahwah rests upon you.
15 Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a meddler in other men's matters.
16 If a man suffer as a Messianic, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify Yahwah in this Name [Yahshua].
17 The time is come for judgment to begin at the house of Yahwah, and if it begin first at us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the evangel of Yahwah?
18 If the righteous is barely saved, where will the unrighteous and sinner appear?
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of Yahwah commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator.
1 The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Messiah, who am also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed.
2 Tend the flock of Yahwah which is among you, exercising the oversight. Not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of Yahwah. Not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.
3 Nor as mastering it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
4 When the chief Shepherd is manifested, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
5 Likewise, you younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you clothe yourselves with humility, to serve one another. Yahwah resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of Yahwah, that He may exalt you in due time.
7 Cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing the same sufferings are accomplished in your brothers who are in the world.
10 The Father of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Messiah, after you suffer a little while, will Himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.
11 To Him is the dominion for ever and ever. Amein.
12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I account him, I write to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of Yahwah. Stand fast in it.
13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, salutes you. So does Mark my son.
14 Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Messiah.