²⁸ and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but ^[a]to you of salvation, and that from God.

⁷ For ^(A)God has not given us a spirit of fear, ^(B)but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Not Ashamed of the Gospel

^8 (C)Therefore do not be ashamed of ^(D)the testimony of our Lord, nor of me ^(E)His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God,

⁵ which is ^(A)manifest^[a] evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, ^(B)for which you also suffer; ^6 (C)since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with ^[b]tribulation those who trouble you,

^28 (A)And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather ^(B)fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in ^[a]hell.

¹¹ This is a faithful saying:

Suffering for God’s Glory

¹² Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³ but rejoice ^(A)to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that ^(B)when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. ¹⁴ If you are ^[a]reproached for the name of Christ, ^(C)blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. ^[b]On their part He is blasphemed, ^(D)but on your part He is glorified.

^11 (B)Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of ^(C)evil against you falsely for My sake. ^12 (D)Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for ^(E)so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

¹⁷ and if children, then ^(A)heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, ^(B)if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.