Study Desk

since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,

for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls,

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

For it stands in Scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,"

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme,

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands,

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?