A Call to Persevere in Faith

19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence(A) to enter the Most Holy Place(B) by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way(C) opened for us through the curtain,(D) that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest(E) over the house of God,(F) 22 let us draw near to God(G) with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings,(H) having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience(I) and having our bodies washed with pure water.(J) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope(K) we profess,(L) for he who promised is faithful.(M) 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,(N) 25 not giving up meeting together,(O) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another(P)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.(Q)

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But you are a chosen people,(A) a royal priesthood,(B) a holy nation,(C) God’s special possession,(D) that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.(E) 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God;(F) once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Living Godly Lives in a Pagan Society

11 Dear friends,(G) I urge you, as foreigners and exiles,(H) to abstain from sinful desires,(I) which wage war against your soul.(J) 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds(K) and glorify God(L) on the day he visits us.

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:(M) whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong(N) and to commend those who do right.(O) 15 For it is God’s will(P) that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.(Q) 16 Live as free people,(R) but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil;(S) live as God’s slaves.(T) 17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers,(U) fear God, honor the emperor.(V)

18 Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters,(W) not only to those who are good and considerate,(X) but also to those who are harsh. 19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.(Y) 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.(Z) 21 To this(AA) you were called,(AB) because Christ suffered for you,(AC) leaving you an example,(AD) that you should follow in his steps.

22 “He committed no sin,(AE)
    and no deceit was found in his mouth.”[a](AF)

23 When they hurled their insults at him,(AG) he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.(AH) Instead, he entrusted himself(AI) to him who judges justly.(AJ) 24 “He himself bore our sins”(AK) in his body on the cross,(AL) so that we might die to sins(AM) and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”(AN) 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[b](AO) but now you have returned to the Shepherd(AP) and Overseer of your souls.(AQ)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Peter 2:22 Isaiah 53:9
  2. 1 Peter 2:25 Isaiah 53:4,5,6 (see Septuagint)

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