1 Peter 2:11-4:19

Christian Standard Bible

A Call to Good Works

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles^(A) to abstain^(B) from sinful^(C) desires that wage war against the soul.^{(D) 12} Conduct^(E) yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,^[a] so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.^(F)

¹³ Submit^(G) to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor^[b] as the supreme authority^{(H) 14} or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will^(I) that you silence the ignorance^(J) of foolish people by doing good. ¹⁶ Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil,^(K) but as God’s slaves.^{(L) 17} Honor everyone. Love^(M) the brothers and sisters.^(N) Fear God.^(O) Honor the emperor.

Submission of Slaves to Masters

¹⁸ Household slaves, submit to your masters^(P) with all reverence^(Q) not only to the good and gentle ones but also to the cruel.^{(R) 19} For it brings favor if, because of a consciousness of God, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if when you do wrong and are beaten, you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,^(S) if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

²¹ For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered^(T) for you, leaving you an example,^(U) that you should follow^(V) in his steps. ²² He did not commit sin,^(W) and no deceit^(X) was found in his mouth;^{[c](Y) 23} when he was insulted, he did not insult in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but entrusted himself to the one who judges^(Z) justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins^(AA) in his body^(AB) on the tree;^(AC) so that, having died to sins,^(AD) we might live for righteousness.^(AE) By his wounds^[d](AF) you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray,^[e](AG) but you have now returned to the Shepherd^(AH) and Overseer^[f] of your souls.

Wives and Husbands

3 In the same way, wives,^(AI) submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word,^(AJ) they may be won over^(AK) without a word by the way their wives live^{(AL) 2} when they observe your pure, reverent lives.^{(AM) 3} Don’t let your beauty consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and wearing gold jewelry or fine clothes,^{(AN) 4} but rather what is inside the heart^[g](AO)—the imperishable quality of a gentle^(AP) and quiet^(AQ) spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. ⁵ For in the past, the holy^(AR) women who put their hope^(AS) in God also adorned themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ just as Sarah^(AT) obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and do not fear any intimidation.^(AU)

⁷ Husbands,^(AV) in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker partner,^(AW) showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Do No Evil

⁸ Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another,^(AX) and be compassionate^(AY) and humble,^{[h] 9} not paying back evil for evil^(AZ) or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing,^(BA) since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.

Undeserved Suffering

¹³ Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness,^(BH) you are blessed. Do not fear them^[i](BI) or be intimidated,^{[j](BJ) 15} but in your hearts regard^[k] Christ^[l] the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.^{(BK) 16} Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience,^(BL) so that when you are accused,^[m] those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer^(BM) for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered^(BN) for sins once for all,^(BO) the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God.^(BP) He was put to death in the flesh^[n](BQ) but made alive by the Spirit,^{[o] 19} in which^[p] he also went and made proclamation to the spirits^(BR) in prison ²⁰ who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah^(BS) while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people^[q](BT)—were saved through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body,^(BU) but the pledge^[r] of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(BV) 22} who has gone into heaven^(BW) and is at the right hand of God^(BX) with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.^(BY)

Following Christ

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered^[s] in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding^[t]—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished^(BZ) with sin^[u]— ² in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.^{(CA) 3} For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,^(CB) drunkenness, orgies,^(CC) carousing, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander^[v] you. ⁵ They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(CD) 6} For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead,^[w](CE) so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards,^(CF) they might live^(CG) in the spirit according to God’s standards.

End-Time Ethics

⁷ The end of all things is near;^(CH) therefore, be alert and sober-minded^(CI) for prayer. ⁸ Above all, maintain constant love^(CJ) for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.^{[x](CK) 9} Be hospitable^(CL) to one another without complaining. ¹⁰ Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others,^(CM) as good stewards of the varied grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides,^(CN) so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Christian Suffering

¹² Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you, as if something unusual were happening to you.^{(CO) 13} Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ,^(CP) so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.^{(CQ) 14} If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,^(CR) you are blessed, because the Spirit^(CS) of glory and of God^[y] rests on you. ¹⁵ Let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.^{[z] 16} But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God in having that name.^{[aa] 17} For the time has come for judgment^(CT) to begin with God’s household,^(CU) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

¹⁹ So then, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust themselves^(CW) to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.