Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

The new way of life

⁸ The aim of this is for you all to be like-minded, sympathetic and loving to one another, tender-hearted and humble. ⁹ Don’t repay evil for evil, or slander for slander, but rather say a blessing. This is what you were called to, so that you may inherit a blessing.

¹³ Who is there, then, to harm you if you are eager to do what is right? ¹⁴ But if you do suffer because of your righteous behavior, God’s blessing is upon you! “Don’t fear what they fear; don’t be disturbed.” ¹⁵ Sanctify the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to make a reply to anyone who asks you to explain the hope that is in you. ¹⁶ Do it, though, with gentleness and respect. Hold on to a good conscience, so that when people revile your good behavior in the Messiah they may be ashamed.

Suffering for doing right

¹⁷ It’s better to suffer for good conduct (if God so wills it) than for bad. ¹⁸ For the Messiah, too, suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, so that he might bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive by the spirit. ¹⁹ In the spirit, too, he went and made the proclamation to the spirits in prison ²⁰ who had earlier on been disobedient during the days of Noah, when God waited in patience. Noah built the ark, in which a few people, eight in fact, were rescued through water. ²¹ That functions as a signpost for you, pointing to baptism, which now rescues you—not by washing away fleshly pollution, but by the appeal to God of a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. ²² He has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand, with angels, authorities and powers subject to him.

Transformed living

4 So, then, just as the Messiah suffered in the flesh, you too must equip yourselves with the same mental armor. Someone who suffers in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² so as to live the rest of their mortal life no longer according to human desires but according to God’s will. ³ Pagan ways of life have had quite enough of your time already, and you should put all that behind you for good—all that uncleanness, passion, drunkenness, excessive feasting, drinking-parties and lawless idolatry. ⁴ People are shocked that you don’t now join in with the same wild and reckless behavior, and so they call down curses on you. ⁵ But they will have to account for it before the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ That is why, you see, the gospel was preached even to the dead, so that, being judged in human fashion, in the flesh, they might live in God’s fashion, in the spirit.

⁷ The end of all things is upon us. You must keep sober, then, and self-disciplined for your prayers. ⁸ Above all, keep absolutely firm in your love for one another, because “love covers a multitude of sins.” ⁹ Be hospitable to one another without complaining. ¹⁰ Just as each of you has received a gift, so you should use it for ministry one to another, as good stewards of God’s many-sided grace. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as speaking God’s oracles. If anyone ministers, they should do it as in the strength which God grants, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus the Messiah, to whom be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Sharing the Messiah’s sufferings

¹² Beloved, don’t be surprised at the fiery ordeal which is coming upon you to test you, as though this were some strange thing that was happening to you. ¹³ Rather, celebrate! You are sharing the sufferings of the Messiah. Then, when his glory is revealed, you will celebrate with real, exuberant joy. ¹⁴ If you are abused because of the name of the Messiah, you are blessed by God, because the spirit of glory and of God is resting upon you. ¹⁵ None of you, of course, should suffer as a murderer or thief or evildoer, or even as a busybody. ¹⁶ But if you suffer as a Christian, don’t be ashamed; rather, give God the glory for that name! ¹⁷ The time has come, you see, for judgment to begin at God’s own household. And if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel? ¹⁸ And if the righteous person is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear? ¹⁹ So also those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their whole lives to the faithful creator by doing what is good.

Humble shepherds

5 So, then, I appeal to the elders among you, as a fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of the Messiah, and as one who will share in the glory that is to be revealed. ² Do the proper work of a shepherd as you look after God’s flock which has been entrusted to you, not under compulsion, but gladly, as in God’s presence, not for shameful profit but eagerly. ³ You should not lord it over those for whom you are responsible, but rather be an example to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that won’t wither away. ⁵ In the same way, too, the younger men should submit to the elders. But let all of you clothe yourselves with humility towards one another. You see, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the lowly.” ⁶ Humble yourselves, then, under God’s powerful hand, so that he may lift you up at the right time. ⁷ Throw all your care upon him, because he cares about you.

Standing firm by God’s power

⁸ Stay in control of yourselves; stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is stalking around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, staying resolute in your faith, and knowing that other family members in the rest of the world are facing identical sufferings. ¹⁰ Then, after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you in Messiah Jesus to the glory of his new age, will himself put you in good order, and will establish and strengthen you and set you on firm foundations. ¹¹ To him be the power forever. Amen.

¹² I have written this briefly, and am sending it to you with Silvanus, whom I regard as a faithful brother. My main point is to urge and bear witness to you that you are indeed standing in the true grace of God. ¹³ Your chosen sister in Babylon sends you greetings; so does my son Mark. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Peace to you all in the Messiah.