The Living Stone and Chosen People
(Isaiah 28:14–22; 1 Corinthians 3:10–15; Ephesians 2:19–22)

1Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight, 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in Scripture:

“See, I lay in Zion a stone,

a chosen and precious cornerstone;

and the one who believes in Him

will never be put to shame.”a

7To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,

“The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone,”b

8and,

“A stone of stumbling

and a rock of offense.”c

They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed.

9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.d

11Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. 12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

Submission to Authorities
(Romans 13:1–7)

13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.

16Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers,e fear God, honor the king.

18Servants, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect,f not only to those who are good and gentle, but even to those who are unreasonable. 19For if anyone endures the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God, this is to be commended. 20How is it to your credit if you are beaten for doing wrong and you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.

Christ’s Example of Suffering
(Isaiah 53:1–8)

21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

22“He committed no sin,

and no deceit was found in His mouth.”g

23When they heaped abuse on Him,

He did not retaliate;

when He suffered, He made no threats,

but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

24He Himself bore our sinsh

in His body on the tree,

so that we might die to sin

and live to righteousness.

“By His stripes you are healed.”i

25For “you were like sheep going astray,”j but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Footnotes:

6 a Isaiah 28:16 (see also LXX)
7 b Psalm 118:22
8 c Isaiah 8:14
10 d Hosea 2:23
17 e Literally Love the brotherhood 
18 f Or in all fear 
22 g Isaiah 53:9
24 h Isaiah 53:4 (see also LXX)
24 i Isaiah 53:5
25 j Isaiah 53:6

Wives and Husbands
(Song of Solomon 1:1–17; Ephesians 5:22–33)

1Wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your husbands, so that even if they refuse to believe the word, they will be won over without words by the behavior of their wives 2when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.

3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, 4but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight. 5For this is how the holy women of the past adorned themselves. They put their hope in God and were submissive to their husbands, 6just as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord. And you are her children if you do what is right and refuse to give way to fear.

7Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Turning from Evil

8Finally, all of you, be like-minded and sympathetic, love as brothers, be tenderhearted and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,

“Whoever would love life

and see good days

must keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from deceitful speech.

11He must turn from evil and do good;

he must seek peace and pursue it.

12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

and His ears are inclined to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against

those who do evil.”a

13Who can harm you if you are zealous for what is good?

Suffering for Righteousness

14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear what they fear; do not be shaken.”b 15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.c Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ. 17For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

18For Christ also sufferedd for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, 19in whome He also went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.

In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. 21And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge off a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.

Footnotes:

12 a Psalm 34:12–16 (see also LXX)
14 b Or “Do not fear their threats; do not be shaken.”  Isaiah 8:12
15 c BYZ and TR But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts.  This sentence may also be included with the quotation from the previous verse; see Isaiah 8:13.
18 d NE and WH died 
19 e Or in the spirit, 19in which 
21 f Or appeal for 

Living for God’s Glory
(1 Corinthians 10:23–33)

1Therefore, since Christ suffereda in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2Consequently, he does not live out his remaining time on earth for human passions, but for the will of God. 3For you have spent enough time in the past carrying out the same desires as the Gentiles: living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and detestable idolatry.

4Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you. 5But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6That is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead,b so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

7The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear-minded and sober, so that you can pray. 8Above all, love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.c 9Show hospitality to one another without complaining.

10As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 11If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering as Christians

12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.

14If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.d 15Indeed, none of you should suffer as a murderer or thief or wrongdoer, or even as a meddler. 16But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear that name.e 17For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? 18And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”f

19So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Footnotes:

1 a BYZ and TR include for us .
6 b Or to those who are dead 
8 c See Proverbs 10:12
14 d BYZ and TR include On their part He is spoken of as evil, but on your part He is glorified. 
16 e Literally glorify God in that name ; NA glorify God in this matter 
18 f Proverbs 11:31 (see also LXX)

Instructions to Elders
(1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9)

1As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the eldersa among you: 2Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over themb not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will;c not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Cast Your Cares on Him

5Young men, in the same way, submit yourselves to your elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud,

but gives grace to the humble.”d

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you. 7Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

8Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in your faith and in the knowledge that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering.

Benediction and Farewell

10And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ,e will Himself restore you, secure you, strengthen you, and establish you. 11To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

12Through Silvanus,f whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

13The church in Babylon,g chosen together with you, sends you greetings, as does my son Mark.

14Greet one another with a kiss of love.

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.h

Footnotes:

1 a SBL, NE, and WH I appeal therefore to the elders 
2 b NE and WH do not include watching over them .
2 c WH, BYZ, and TR but willingly 
5 d Proverbs 3:34 (see also LXX)
10 e BYZ and TR in Christ Jesus 
12 f That is, Silas
13 g Literally She in Babylon 
14 h BYZ and TR include Amen.