²³ But each in its own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

²³ that the Messiah^[a] must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the gentiles.”^(A)

A Living Hope

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead^(A)

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

To him who loves us and freed^[a] us from our sins by his blood