Part 56 (1/2)
(9)But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession; that ye should show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; (10)who once were not a people, but are now the people of G.o.d; who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
(11)Beloved, I exhort you as sojourners and strangers, to abstain from fleshly l.u.s.ts, which war against the soul; (12)having your deportment honorable among the Gentiles; that, wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may from your good works, beholding them, glorify G.o.d in the day of visitation.
(13)Submit yourselves to every human inst.i.tution, for the Lord's sake; whether to the king, as pre-eminent, (14)or to governors as being sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers, and the praise of those who do well. (15)For so is the will of G.o.d, that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of the foolish men; (16)as free, and as not having your freedom for a vail of wickedness, but as G.o.d's servants.
(17)Honor all men; love the brotherhood; fear G.o.d; honor the king; (18)ye servants, being in subjection to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and reasonable, but also to the perverse. (19)For this is acceptable, if a man for conscience toward G.o.d[2:19] endures griefs, suffering wrongfully. (20)For what glory is it, if when ye are beaten for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? But if when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with G.o.d. (21)For to this ye were called; because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps; (22)who committed no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth; (23)who when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, threatened not; but committed it to him who judges righteously; (24)who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, having died to our sins, should live to righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed.
(25)For ye were going astray like sheep; but have returned now unto the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
III.
IN like manner, ye wives, being in subjection to your own husbands; that even if any obey not the word, they may without the word be won by the deportment of their wives, (2)when they behold your chaste deportment coupled with fear. (3)Whose adorning, let it not be the outward one of braiding the hair, and of wearing golden ornaments, or of putting on apparel; (4)but the hidden man of the heart, in that which is imperishable of the meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of G.o.d is of great price. (5)For so in the old time the holy women also, who hoped in G.o.d, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands, (6)(as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; of whom ye became children,) doing good, and fearing no alarm.
(7)Ye husbands, in like manner, dwelling with them according to knowledge, giving honor to the female, as the weaker vessel, as also heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
(8)Finally, all being of one mind, sympathizing, loving the brethren, tender-hearted, humble-minded; (9)not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing; but on the contrary blessing, because to this end ye were called, that ye might inherit blessing.
(10)For he who desires to love life, and to see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile; (11)let him turn away from evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it. (12)Because the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are toward their supplications; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (13)And who is he that shall harm you, if ye are followers of that which is good? (14)But if ye even suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye; but fear not with their fear, nor be troubled; (15)but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts; ready always to give an answer to every one that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; (16)having a good conscience, that wherein they speak against you as evil-doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good deportment in Christ.
(17)For it is better, if it be the will of G.o.d, that ye suffer for well-doing, than for evil-doing. (18)Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to G.o.d, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the Spirit; (19)in which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison, (20)who were disobedient in times past, when the long-suffering of G.o.d waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water; (21)which in an ant.i.type, immersion, now saves us also (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the requirement of a good conscience toward G.o.d), by the resurrection of Jesus Christ; (22)who is on the right hand of G.o.d, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.
IV.
CHRIST then having suffered for us in the flesh, do ye also arm yourselves with the same mind; because he who suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; (2)that ye no longer may live the remaining time in the flesh by the l.u.s.ts of men, but by the will of G.o.d. (3)For the time past suffices us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in wantonness, l.u.s.ts, excess of wine, revelings, carousings, and unhallowed idolatries; (4)at which thing they are astonished, as ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you; (5)who shall give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. (6)For to this end was the good news preached also to those who are dead, that they might indeed be judged according to men in the flesh, but may live according to G.o.d in the spirit.
(7)But the end of all things is at hand. Be therefore sober, and watch unto prayer; (8)but above all things having your love toward one another fervent, because love covers a mult.i.tude of sins; (9)hospitable to one another, without grudging; (10)according as each received a gift, ministering the same to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of G.o.d; (11)if any one speaks, as [uttering]
G.o.d's oracles; if any one ministers, as of the ability which G.o.d bestows; that G.o.d in all things may be glorified, through Jesus Christ, to whom is the glory and the dominion, forever and ever. Amen.
(12)Beloved, be not astonished at the fiery test taking place among you to prove you, as though a strange thing were befalling you; (13)but, in so far as ye share in Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that also, at the revelation of his glory, ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. (14)If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; because the spirit of glory and of G.o.d rests upon you; [on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.][4:14]
(15)For let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or an evil-doer, or as a busy-body in other men's matters; (16)but if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify G.o.d in this name. (17)Because the time is come that judgment should begin from the house of G.o.d; but if it begin first from us, what shall be the end of those who obey not the gospel of G.o.d? (18)And if the righteous is with difficulty saved, where shall the unG.o.dly and the sinner appear?
(19)Wherefore let those also, who suffer according to the will of G.o.d, commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as to a faithful Creator.
V.
THE elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed; (2)tend the flock of G.o.d which is among you, overseeing it not by constraint but willingly, not for base gain but with good will; (3)neither as being lords over the heritage, but being examples to the flock. (4)And when the chief Shepherd is manifested, ye shall receive the unfading crown of glory.
(5)In like manner, ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder. Yea, all of you submitting to one another, gird yourselves with humility; because, G.o.d resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
(6)Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of G.o.d, that he may exalt you in due time; (7)casting all your care upon him, because he cares for you.
(8)Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour; (9)whom resist, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
(10)But the G.o.d of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after ye have suffered a little while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. (11)To him be the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever. Amen.
(12)By Silva.n.u.s, the faithful brother, as I consider, I wrote to you in few words, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of G.o.d, wherein ye stand.