^25 (A)choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy ^(B)the fleeting pleasures of sin.

^3 (A)Share in suffering as ^(B)a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴ No soldier ^(C)gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. ^5 (D)An athlete is not ^(E)crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ It is ^(F)the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. ⁷ Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

⁸ Remember Jesus Christ, ^(G)risen from the dead, the ^(H)offspring of David, ^(I)as preached in my gospel, ^9 (J)for which I am suffering, ^(K)bound with chains as a criminal. But ^(L)the word of God is not bound! ¹⁰ Therefore ^(M)I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain ^(N)the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with ^(O)eternal glory.

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is ^(A)in Christ, he is ^(B)a new creation.^{[a] (C)}The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Suffering as a Christian

¹² Beloved, do not be surprised at ^(A)the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice ^(B)insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad ^(C)when his glory is revealed. ^14 (D)If you are insulted ^(E)for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory^[a] and of God rests upon you. ¹⁵ But ^(F)let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or ^(G)as a meddler. ¹⁶ Yet ^(H)if anyone suffers as a ^(I)Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God ^(J)in that name.

⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by ^(A)various trials, ⁷ so that ^(B)the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes ^(C)though it is tested by ^(D)fire—may be found to result in ^(E)praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

^10 (A)Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.