having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—

Submission to Masters

Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.

For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.

as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.

For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.

Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.

Suffering for Right and Wrong

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?

having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.