Study Desk

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

like newborn infants long for the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up to salvation,

And you yourselves, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

For it stands in scripture, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame."

Therefore the honor is for you who believe, but for those who refuse to believe, "The stone that the builders rejected, this one has become the cornerstone,"

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's possession, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light,

Subject yourselves to every human authority for the sake of the Lord, whether to a king as having supreme authority,

or to governors as those sent out by him for the punishment of those who do evil and the praise of those who do good.

For the will of God is as follows: by doing good to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

Live as free persons, and not using your freedom as a covering for evil, but as slaves of God.

For this finds favor, if because of consciousness of God someone endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.

For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if you endure when you do good and suffer for it, this finds favor with God.

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

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

For in the same way formerly the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves by being subject to their own husbands,

not repaying evil for evil or insult for insult, but on the other hand blessing others, because for this reason you were called, so that you could inherit a blessing.

For "The one who wants to love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips must not speak 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.

And who is the one who will harm you if you are a zealous adherent for what is good?

But even if you might suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their intimidation or be disturbed,