Study Desk

But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed [are you:] and don't be afraid of their fear, neither be troubled;

but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: [being] ready always to give answer to every man that asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you,

Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

which also after a true likeness does now save you, [even] baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;

that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the desires of men, but to the will of God.

For to this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

But the end of all things is at hand: be therefore of sound mind, and be sober to prayer:

but insomuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also you may rejoice with exceeding joy.

but if [a man suffers] as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God in this name.

Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not of constraint, but willingly, according to God; nor yet for greed of monetary gain, but eagerly;

neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.

Likewise, you younger, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but men spoke from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.

But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall secretly bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing on themselves swift destruction.

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them down to Tartarus, and committed them to chains of darkness, to be reserved to judgment;

and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly;

but chiefly those that walk after the flesh in the desire of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they do not tremble to rail at dignities:

But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed,

but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a mute donkey spoke with man's voice and stayed the madness of the prophet.