Study Desk

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,

because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.

who was foreknown indeed before the foundation of the world, but was manifested at the end of the times for your sake,

For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth:

But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.

as newborn babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation;

For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;

and, A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence; for they stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Be subject to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether to the king, as supreme;

or unto governors, as sent by him for vengeance on evil-doers and for praise to them that do well.

For so is the will of God, that by well-doing ye should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

For this is acceptable, if for conscience toward God a man endureth griefs, suffering wrongfully.

For what glory is it, if, when ye sin, and are buffeted for it, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye shall take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps:

For ye were going astray like sheep; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:

not rendering evil for evil, or reviling for reviling; but contrariwise blessing; for hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

For, He that would love life, And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips that they speak no guile: