Study Desk

My brothers and sisters, not many of you should be teachers. I say this because, as you know, we who teach will be judged more strictly than others.

You want things, but you don't get them. So you kill and are jealous of others. But you still cannot get what you want. So you argue and fight. You don't get what you want because you don't ask God.

Or when you ask, you don't receive anything, because the reason you ask is wrong. You only want to use it for your own pleasure.

You rich people, listen! Cry and be very sad because much trouble will come to you.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of his mercy he gave us a new life. This new life brings us a living hope through Jesus Christ's resurrection from death.

In the Scriptures God says, "Be holy, because I am holy."

You also are like living stones, and God is using you to build a spiritual house. You are to serve God in this house as holy priests, offering him spiritual sacrifices that he will accept because of Jesus Christ.

For them he is also "a stone that makes people stumble, a rock that makes people fall." People stumble because they don't obey what God says. This is what God planned to happen to those people.

In the same way, you wives should be willing to serve your husbands. Then, even those who have refused to accept God's teaching will be persuaded to believe because of the way you live. You will not need to say anything.

In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way, since they are weaker than you. You should show them respect, because God gives them the same blessing he gives you—the grace of true life. Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers from being heard.

Don't do wrong to anyone to pay them back for doing wrong to you. Or don't insult anyone to pay them back for insulting you. But ask God to bless them. Do this because you yourselves were chosen to receive a blessing.

And that water is like baptism, which now saves you. Baptism is not the washing of dirt from the body. It is asking God for a clean conscience. It saves you because Jesus Christ was raised from death.

Most important of all, love each other deeply, because love makes you willing to forgive many sins.

When people say bad things to you because you follow Christ, consider it a blessing. When that happens, it shows that God's Spirit, the Spirit of glory, is with you.

You may suffer, but don't let it be because you murder, steal, make trouble, or try to control other people's lives.

But if you suffer because you are a "Christ-follower," don't be ashamed. You should praise God for that name.

take care of the group of people you are responsible for. They are God's flock. Watch over that flock because you want to, not because you are forced to do it. That is how God wants it. Do it because you are happy to serve, not because you want money.

Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.

Greetings from Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ. To all of you who share in the same valuable faith that we have. This faith was given to us because our God and Savior Jesus Christ always does what is good and right.

Grace and peace be given to you more and more, because now you know God and Jesus our Lord.