since you have tasted that the Lord is good.

A Call to Good Works

Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents to abstain from fleshly desires that war against you.

Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.

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.

For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.

Submission of Slaves to Masters

Household slaves, submit with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel.

For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming.

For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,

and he must turn away from evil and do what is good. He must seek peace and pursue it,

Undeserved Suffering

And who will harm you if you are deeply committed to what is good?

For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.

So those who suffer according to God’s will should, while doing what is good, entrust themselves to a faithful Creator.