The most sacred Bible, whiche is the Holy Scripture conteyning the Old and New Testament / translated into English, and newly recognised with great diligence after most faythful exemplars, by Rychard Taverner.

¶ The fyrste Epystle of Saynt Peter the Apostle. (Book 1 Peter)

¶ He sheweth how fayth must be tryed: howe the saluacion in Chryst is no Newes, but a thinge pro∣phesied of olde. He exhorteth them to a godly conuer∣sacion, sythens they are now borne a newe by the worde of God.

CAPI. I.

[ A] PEter Apostle of Iesu Chryst,* 1.1 to them that dwell here and there as straūgers thorowout Pontus, Gala∣cia, Capadocia, Asia, & Be∣thinia, elect by y^e fore know∣lege of god the father tho∣row the sanctifiynge of the spiryte, vnto obedience and spryncklyng of the bloude of Iesu Chryste.

Grace be with you, and peax be increased.

Praysed be God, father of our Lorde Iesu Christ, which thorow his abundant mercy be∣gat vs agayn vnto a lyuely hope by the resur¦rection of Iesu Christ from deth, to enioye an inheritaunce immortall and vndefyled, & that [ B] peryssheth not, reserued in heuē for you, which are kept by the power of God, thorowe fayth vnto saluacion, which is prepared alredy to be shewed in the laste tyme, in whiche ye reioyce, though now for a reason (yf nede requyre) ye are in heuynes, thorow manifolde temtacions that youre faythe ones tryed, beynge moche more precyous then golde that peryssheth, (though it be tryed with fyre) might be found vnto prayse, glorye and honour, at the appea∣ryng of Iesu Chryst: whom ye haue not sene, and yet loue him in whom euen now though ye se him not, yet do you byleue: and reioyce with ioye vnspeakable and gloryous: recey∣uyng the ende of your fayth, the saluacion of your soules.

Of whiche saluacion haue the Prophetes enquyred and serched, whiche prophesyed of the grace that sholde come vnto you, serching when or at what tyme the spiryte of Chryste whiche was in them sholde signifye, whiche spirite testifyed before the passions that sholde come vnto Chryst, and the glorye that sholde [ C] folowe after: vnto which Prophetes it was declared, that not vnto them selues, but vnto vs, they sholde minister the thinges which are nowe shewed vnto you of them which by the holy ghost sent downe from heuen, haue pr••a∣ched vnto you the thynges which the aungels desyre to beholde.

Wherfore gyrde vp the loynes of your myn¦des, be sobre, and truste perfectly on the grace that is brought vnto you, by the declarynge of Iesu Chryst, as obedient chyldren, not fa∣cionynge your selues vnto your ••••••e l••ues of ignorancie: but as he which called you is ho∣ly,* 1.2 euen so be ye holy in all cōuersacion, bicause it is written: Be ye holy, for I am holy.

[ D] And yf ye call on the father, whiche with∣out respecte of person iudgeth accordynge to euery mannesφ 1.3 workes, se ye passe the tyme of your soiournyng in feare. ✚ For as moche as ye knowe ye were not redemed with cor∣ruptible syluer and golde frome youre vayne conuersacion, which ye receyued by the tradi∣cions of the fathers: but with the precious bloude of Christ, as of a lambe vndefyled, and without spot, whiche was ordeyned before the worlde was made: but was declared in y^e last tymes for your sakes, whiche by his mea∣nes haue byleued on God that raysed him frō deth, and glorifyed him, that your faythe and hope myght be in God.

And for as moche as ye haue purifyed your soules thorowe the spiryte, in obeyinge the trouthe, for to loue brotherly without fay∣nynge, se ye loue one an other with a pure herte feruently: for ye are borne anewe, not of mortall seed, but of immortal, by the worde of God, whiche lyueth and lasteth for euer.* 1.4 For all flesshe is as grasse, and all the glory of man is as the floure of grasse. The grasse wyddereth, and the floure falleth awaye, but the worde of the Lorde endureth euer. ⊦ And this is the worde whiche by the gospell was preached amonge you.

¶ He exhorteth to laye asyde all vyce, sheweth that Chryst is the foundacion whervpon they buylt, and to obey worldly rulers. How seruauntes shulde be∣haue them selues towarde theyr masters. He exhor∣teth to suffre after the exemple of Chryst.

CAPI. II.

w✚Herfore laye asyde all malyce & gyle, [ A] and dissimulacion, and enuye, and all backbytyng: and as newe borne babes desyre that reasonable milke whiche is with∣out corrupcion, that ye may growe therin. Yf so be that ye haue tasted howe pleasaunt the Lorde is, to whome ye come as vnto a lyuing stone disalowed of men, but chosen of God and precious: and ye as lyuynge stones, are made a spirituall house, & an holy preesthode, for to offre vp spirituall sacrifyce acceptable to God by Iesus Chryste,

Wherfore it is contayned in the scripture: beholde, I put in Syon an heed corner stone, [ B] electe and precious:* 1.5 and he that byleueth on him, shall not be ashamed.* 1.6 Vnto you ther∣fore whiche byleue, he is precious: but vnto them whiche byleue not, the stone whiche the buylders refused, the same is made the heed stone in the corner, and a stone to stomble at, and a rocke to offende them which stomble at the worde,* 1.7 and byleue not that wheron they were set. But ye are a chosen generacion, a royall preesthode, an holy nacion, and a pecu∣lyer people, that ye sholde sh••we the vertu••s of him that called you oute of darkenes in to his meruaylous lyghte, whiche in tyme paste were not a people, yet are now the people of God: whiche were not vnder mercy, but now haue obteyned mercy. ⊦

✚* 1.8 Derely beloued, I beseche you as [ C] straungers and pilgrimis, absteyn from fleshly lustes, whiche fyght agaynst the soule, and se

that ye haue honest conuersacion amonge the Gentyles, that they whiche backbyte you as euyll doers, maye se youre good workes, and prayse God* 1.9 in the daye of visitacion.

Submyt your selues vnto all maner ordy∣naunce of man for the Lordes sake, whether it be vnto the kynge as vnto the chiefe heed, or vnto rulers as vnto them that are sent of him for the punisshment of euyll doers, but for the laude of them that do well. For so is the wil of God, that ye put to sylence the ignorancie of the folysshe men: as free, and not as hauyng the libertie for a cloke of maliciousnes, but euen as the seruauntes of God.* 1.10 Honour al men. Loue brotherly felawshyp. Feare God and honour the kynge.

* 1.11Seruauntes obey your masters with all feare, not onely yf they be good and curteyse, but also thought they be frowarde. For it is thanke worthye yf a man for consciences to∣warde God, endure grefe, sufferynge wrong∣fully. For what prayse is it, yf when ye be buffetted for youre fautes, ye take it pacien∣ly? But yf when ye do well, ye suffre wronge and take it pacyently, then is there thanke with God.

[ D] For herevnto veryly were ye* 1.12 called: for ✚ Christ also suffered for vs, leuyng to you an exemple that ye shoulde folowe his steppes, whiche dyd no synne, neyther was there gyle founde in his mouth: which when he was re∣uyled, reuyled not agayne: when he suffered, he thretned not, but cōmitted the cause to him that iudgeth rightously,* 1.13 which his own self bare our synnes in his bodye on the tree, that we sholde be deliuered from synne and sholde lyue ī rightousnes. By whose stripes we were healed. For we were as shepe goynge astray: but are now returned vnto the shepeherde and bysshop of your soules. ⊦

¶ How wyues ought to ordre them selues towarde theyr husbande, and in theyr apparell. The dutye of men towarde theyr wyues. He exhorteth all men to vnite and loue, and paciently to suffre trouble. Of true baptysme.

CAPI. III.

[ A] LYkewyse let the wyues be in subiection to theyr husbandes, that euen they which byleue not the worde, maye without the worde be wonne by the conuersacion of the wyues: whyle they beholde your pure conuer¦sacion coupled with feare. Whose apparell shall not be outwarde with broyded heare, & hangynge on of golde, eyther in puttynge on of gorgyous apparell: but let the hyd man of the herte be vncorrupt, with a meke and qui••e spirite, whiche is before God a thynge moche [ B] set by. For after this maner in the olde tyme dyd the holy women whiche trusted in God tyer them selues,* 1.14 and were obedient to theyr husbandes, euē as Sara obeyed Abraham, and called him Lorde, whose doughters ye are as longe as ye do well, not beynge afrayde of e∣uery shadowe.

Lykewyse ye men, dwell with them accor∣dynge to knowlege, gyuynge honour vnto the wyfe as vnto the weyker vessell, and as vnto them that are heyres also of the grace of lyfe, that your prayers be not let.

✚ In conclusion be ye all of one mynde, one suffre with an other: loue as brethren, be piti∣full, be courteys, not rendryng euyll for euyll, neither rebuke for rebuke: but contrary wyse, blesse, remembryng that ye are thervnto called [ C] euen that ye sholde be heyres of blessynge.* 1.15 Yf any man long after life, and loueth to se good dayes, let him refrayne his tonge from euyll, and his lyppes that they speake not gyle. Let him eschewe euyl & do good,* 1.16 let him seke peax and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are ouer the rightous, and his eares are opē vnto their prayers. But the face of the Lorde beholdeth them that do euyll.

Moreouer, who is it that wyll harme you, yf ye folowe that whiche is good? Notwith∣standyng happy are ye yf ye suffre for rightous∣nesses sake. Yea and feare not thoughe they seme terrible to you, neither be troubled:* 1.17 but sanctifye the Lorde God in youre hertes. Be redy alwayes to gyue an answere to euery mā that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, and that with mekenes and feare, hauing a good conscience, that when they backbyte you as euyll doers, they maye be ashamed, for as moche as they haue falsely accused youre good conuersacion in Chryst.

It is better (yf the wyll of God be so) that ye suffre for well doynge, then for euyll do∣ynge. ✚ For asmoche as Chryste hathe ones [ D] suffered for synnes, the iuste for the vniuste, for to brynge vs to God, and was kylled as per∣teynynge to the flesshe: but was quyckned in the spirite.

In whiche he also went and preached vn∣to the spirytes that were in pryson, whiche were in tyme past disobedient, when the long sufferynge of God, abode excedynge pacyent∣ly in the dayes of Noe, whyle the arcke was a preparynge, wherin fewe (that is to saye eyght soules) were saued by water, whiche signifieth baptysme that nowe saueth vs, not the puttyng awaye of the fylth of the flesshe, but in that a good conscyence consenteth to God, by the resurrection of Iesus Chryst, whi¦che is on the ryghte hande of God: ⊦ and is gone in to heuen, aungels, powers and might subdued vnto him.

¶ He exhorteth men to ceasse frome synne, to spende no more tyme in vyce, to be sober and apte to prayer to loue eche other, to be pacient in trouble, and to be¦ware that no man suffre as an euyll doer, but as a Chrysten man and not to be ashamed.

CAPI. IIII.

FOr as moche as Chryste hath suffered for [ A] vs in the flesshe, arme your selues lyke∣wyse with the same mynde: for he which suffereth in the flesshe, ceaseth frome synne, That he henceforwarde sholde lyue as moche tyme as remayneth in the flesshe: not after lustes of men, but after the wyll of God.

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For it is sufficient for vs that we haue spente the tyme that is past of the lyfe, after the wil of the Gentyles, walkynge in wantonnesse, lustes, dronkennesse, in eatynge, drynkynge, and in abhominable ydolatrye.

[ B] And it semeth to them a straunge thynge that ye runne not also with them vnto the same excesse of ryot, and therfore speake they euyll of you, whiche shall gyue accomptes to hym that is redye to iudge quycke and deed. * For vnto this purpose was the gospel prea∣ched vnto the deed, that they sholde be iudged lyke other men in the flesshe, but sholde lyue before god in the spirite. The ende of all thin∣ges is at hande.

✚ Be ye therfore discrete and sober, that ye maye be apte to prayers. But aboue all thyn∣ges haue feruent charitie amonge you. For charitie couereth the multitude of synnes. Be ye harbarous one to an other, and that with∣out grudgynge. As euery man hathe receyued the gyfte mynistre the same one to an other, as good ministers of the manifolde grace of [ C] God. Yf any man speake, let hym talke as thoughe he spake the wordes of God.* 1.18 Yf any man ministre, let hym doo it as of the habi∣litie whiche God ministreth vnto hym: So that God in all thynges may be glorified tho∣rowe Iesus Chryste, ⊦ to whome be prayse and dominion, for euer, and whyle the worlde standeth. Amen.

Derely beloued, be not troubled in this heate, whiche nowe is come amonge you to trye you, as though some straunge thynge had happened vnto you: but reioyce, in as moche as ye are partakers of Chrystes passyons, that when his glorye appeareth, ye maye be merye and gladde. Yf ye be rayled vpon for the name of Chryst happy are ye. For the spirite of glo∣rye, and the spirite of God resteth vpon you, On theyr parte he is euyll spoken of: but on your parte he is gloryfyed.

[ D] Se that none of you suffre as a murtherer, or as a thefe, or an euyll doer, or as a busy bo∣dye in other mens maters. Yf any man suffre as a chrysten man, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorifye God in this behalfe. For the tyme is come that iudgement muste begyn at the house of God. Yf it fyrste begyn at vs, what shal the ende be of them whiche byleue not the gospell of God?* 1.19 And yf the ryghtous scacely be saued: where shal the vngodly and the synner appeare? Wherfore let them that suffre accordynge to the wyll of God, commit theyr soules vnto him with well doynge, as vnto faythfull maker.

¶ A speciall exhortacion for all bysshoppes or prestes to fede the flocke of Chryste. He exhorteth younge persons to submit thē selues to the elder, euery one to loue an other, to be sobre and to watche, that they may resiste the enemye.

CAPI. V.

[ A] THe preestes which are among you I ex∣horte,* 1.20 whiche am also a preest & a wyt∣nes of the afflictiōs of Chryst, and also a partaker of the glorye that shall be opened: se that ye fede Christes flocke which is among you, takynge the ouersyghte of them not as thoughe ye were compelled therto, but wyl∣lyngly: not for the desyre of fylthy lucre, but of a good mynde, not as though ye were lor∣des ouer the* 1.21 parysshes: but that ye be an ex∣emple to the flocke. And whē the chefe shepe∣herde shall appeare, ye shall receyue an incor∣ruptible crowne of glorye. Lykewyse ye yon∣ger, submyt your selues vnto the elder. Sub∣myt you selues euery man, one to an other / [ B] knytte youre selues togyther in lowlynes of mynde. For God resysteth the proude, and gi∣ueth grace to the humble. Submyt youre sel∣ues therfore vnder the mighty hande of God, that he maye exalte you, when the tyme is come. Caste all youre care on hym: for he ca∣reth for you.

Be sober and watche, for your aduersarye the deuyll as a rorynge lyon walketh about [ C] sekynge whome he maye deuoure: whome resyste stedfast in the faythe, remembrynge that ye doo fulfyll but the same afflictions whiche are appoynted to youre brethren that are in the worlde. The God of grace whiche called you vnto his eternall glorye by Chryst Iesu, shall his owne selfe after ye haue suffe∣red a lytell affliction make you perfecte: shall settle, strengthe, and stablysshe you. To hym be glorye and dominion for euer, and whyle [ D] the worlde endureth. Amen. ⊦

By Syluanus a faythful brother vnto you (as I suppose) haue I wrytten brefly, exhor∣tynge and testifyinge that this is the true grace of God, wherin ye stande. The compaignions of youre eleccion that are of Babylon, salute you, and Marcus my sonne. Grete ye one an other with the kysse of loue. Peax be with you all whiche are in Chryst Iesu. AMEN.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Here Peter (as other true Apostles do) fyrste setteth forth the trea¦sure of mercy whiche God hath bounde hym selfe to gyue vs for Christes sake and then our dutye what we be bounde to do agayne yt we wylbe partakers of the mercye.
• * 1.2

  Leuit•• .cv Deute .x. d
• φ 1.3

  By our ••••••kes shall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be iudged: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as the inu••¦sible fayth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suche are 〈◊〉〈◊〉 workes by 〈◊〉〈◊〉 whiche the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 faith his se••
• * 1.4

  Esaye .xi. •• Eccl•• xiiii. e Iacobi .i. d
• * 1.5

  Esay .xxviii. d
• * 1.6

  Psa .ccvii .c Math .xxi. d. Act .iiii .c
• * 1.7

  ☜
• * 1.8

  Osee .ii. d Roma .ix. •• Gala .v .c Roma .xiii. d
• * 1.9

  ••n the day ••••sitacion. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 doth Pe∣••••al y^e tyme ••hich god ••••chsafeth. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his inipi¦••••••n to call 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to bet∣•••••• lyuynge.
• * 1.10

  ••om .xii .c.
• * 1.11

  ••••esi .vi. a. ••••oss .iii. d.
• * 1.12

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 calling 〈◊〉〈◊〉 folowe ••••ste.
• * 1.13

  ••••••st beate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 synnes.
• * 1.14

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 .xviii. d
• * 1.15

  ☜
• * 1.16

  Psal .xxxiii .c.
• * 1.17

  ☜
• * 1.18

  ☞
• * 1.19

  Prouer .xi. b.
• * 1.20

  Presbyter, that is to say, a prest, in the Greke, signy∣fieth an elder, bycause com∣menlye they were elderly mē, that were chosen to tea∣che the people
• * 1.21

  Parysshes▪ y^e greke hathe lottes, that is to saye, parysshes or dyoceses, vnto whiche the preestes, and bysshops are apoynted by lot, or elec∣tion, to prea∣che goddes word to them