Read the New Testament in 24 Weeks

^8 [a]Now to sum up, ^(A)all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, ^(B)brotherly, ^(C)tender-hearted, and ^(D)humble in spirit; ^9 (E)not returning evil for evil or ^(F)reviling for reviling, but ^[b]giving a ^(G)blessing instead, for ^(H)you were called for the very purpose that you might ^(I)inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For,

Suffering for Righteousness

^13 (M)And who is ^[e]there to ^[f]harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should ^(N)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(O)you ^[g]are blessed. ^(P)And do not fear their fear, and do not be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^[h]sanctify ^(Q)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(R)to make ^[i]a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(S)hope that is in you, yet ^(T)with gentleness and ^(U)fear, ¹⁶ having a ^(V)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(W)you are slandered, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(X)it is better, ^(Y)if ^[j]God should will it so, that you suffer for doing good rather than for doing wrong. ¹⁸ For ^(Z)Christ also suffered for sins ^(AA)once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, so that He might ^(AB)bring you to God, having been put to death ^(AC)in the flesh, but made alive ^(AD)in the ^[k]spirit; ¹⁹ in ^[l]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, ²⁰ who once were disobedient, when the ^(AE)patience of God ^(AF)kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of ^(AG)the ark, in which a few, that is, ^(AH)eight ^(AI)persons, were brought safely through the ^[m]water. ^21 (AJ)Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—^(AK)not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal ^[n]of a ^(AL)good conscience to God—through ^(AM)the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ^22 (AN)who is at the right hand of God, ^(AO)having gone into heaven, ^(AP)after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

Keep Fervent in Your Love

4 Therefore, since ^(AQ)Christ has ^[o]suffered in the flesh, ^(AR)arm yourselves also with the same purpose—because ^(AS)he who has ^[p]suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin— ^2 (AT)so as to no longer live ^(AU)the rest of the time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the ^(AV)will of God. ³ For ^(AW)the time already past is sufficient for you to have worked out the desire of the Gentiles, ^[q](AX)having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and ^[r]abominable idolatries. ⁴ In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of ^(AY)dissipation, ^(AZ)maligning you, ⁵ but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge ^(BA)the living and the dead. ⁶ For to this ^(BB)the gospel has been ^[s]proclaimed even to those who are now dead, so that though they were judged in the flesh as men, they live in the spirit according to the will of God.

^7 (BC)The end of all things is at hand; therefore, ^(BD)be of sound thinking and sober spirit for the purpose of ^[t]prayer. ⁸ Above all, ^(BE)keep fervent in your love for one another, because ^(BF)love covers a multitude of sins. ^9 (BG)Be hospitable to one another without ^(BH)grumbling. ^10 (BI)As each one has received a gift, employ it in serving one another as good ^(BJ)stewards of the manifold grace of God— ^11 (BK)whoever speaks, ^[u]as one speaking the ^(BL)oracles of God; whoever serves, as one serving ^[v](BM)by the strength which God supplies; so that ^(BN)in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, ^(BO)to whom belongs the glory and might forever and ever. Amen.

Sharing the Suffering of Christ

^12 (BP)Beloved, do not be surprised at the ^(BQ)fiery trial among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. ¹³ But to the degree you are ^(BR)sharing the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the ^(BS)revelation of His glory ^(BT)you may rejoice with exultation. ¹⁴ If you are insulted ^[w](BU)for the name of Christ, ^(BV)you are blessed, ^(BW)because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ Make sure that ^(BX)none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a ^[x](BY)troublesome meddler; ¹⁶ but if anyone suffers as a ^(BZ)Christian, he is not to be put to shame, but is to ^(CA)glorify God in this name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment ^(CB)to begin ^[y]with ^(CC)the house of God; and if it ^(CD)begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those ^(CE)who do not obey the ^(CF)gospel of God? ^18 (CG)And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, ^[z]what will become of the ^(CH)godless man and the sinner? ¹⁹ Therefore, those also who suffer according to ^(CI)the will of God must entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing good.

Shepherd the Flock of God

5 ^(CJ)Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your ^(CK)fellow elder and ^(CL)witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a ^(CM)partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, ² shepherd ^(CN)the flock of God among you, overseeing ^(CO)not under compulsion, but willingly, according to God; and ^(CP)not for dishonest gain, but with eagerness; ³ nor yet as ^(CQ)lording it over ^[aa]those allotted to you, but being ^(CR)examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief ^(CS)Shepherd appears, you will receive the ^(CT)unfading ^[ab](CU)crown of glory. ^5 (CV)You younger men, likewise, ^(CW)be subject to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with ^(CX)humility toward one another, for ^(CY)God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

⁶ Therefore ^(CZ)humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, ^7 (DA)casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. ^8 (DB)Be of sober spirit, ^(DC)be watchful. Your adversary, ^(DD)the devil, prowls around like a roaring ^(DE)lion, seeking someone to devour. ^9 [ac](DF)But resist him, ^(DG)firm in the faith, knowing that ^(DH)the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished among your ^[ad]brethren who are in the world. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered ^(DI)for a little while, the ^(DJ)God of all grace, who ^(DK)called you to His ^(DL)eternal glory in Christ, will Himself ^(DM)restore, ^(DN)strengthen, confirm, and ground you. ^11 (DO)To Him be might forever and ever. Amen.

¹² Through ^(DP)Silvanus, our faithful brother as I regard him, ^(DQ)I have written to you briefly, exhorting and bearing witness that this is ^(DR)the true grace of God. ^(DS)Stand firm in it! ¹³ She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, ^(DT)Mark. ^14 (DU)Greet one another with a kiss of love.

^(DV)Peace be to you all who are in Christ.