Study Desk

For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

but the inner person of the heart, the lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit, which is precious in God's sight.

Do not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but instead bless others because you were called to inherit a blessing.

For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer . But the Lord's face is against those who do evil .

But in fact, if you happen to suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. But do not be terrified of them or be shaken .

But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.

Because Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, to bring you to God, by being put to death in the flesh but by being made alive in the spirit.

And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you—not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

But rejoice in the degree that you have shared in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice and be glad.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.

But if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but glorify God that you bear such a name.

Give a shepherd's care to God's flock among you, exercising oversight not merely as a duty but willingly under God's direction, not for shameful profit but eagerly.

And do not lord it over those entrusted to you, but be examples to the flock.

In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble .

But concerning the one who lacks such things—he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his past sins.

But false prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. These false teachers will infiltrate your midst with destructive heresies, even to the point of denying the Master who bought them. As a result, they will bring swift destruction on themselves.

For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell and locked them up in chains in utter darkness, to be kept until the judgment,

and if he did not spare the ancient world, but did protect Noah, a herald of righteousness, along with seven others, when God brought a flood on an ungodly world,

But these men, like irrational animals—creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed—do not understand whom they are insulting, and consequently in their destruction they will be destroyed,

For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.