3.4 terror. of God of great price. For after this manner aforetime the holy women also who hoped in God adorned themselves, submitting themselves to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are if ye do well and are not put in fear by any Ye husbands, in like manner dwell with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor unto the woman as unto the weaker vessel, as being also jointheirs of the grace of life, to the end that ye be not hindered from praying together. Finally, be ye all likeminded, sympathetic, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humbleminded, 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, And let him turn away from evil and do good, For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous But the face of the Lord is upon them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you if ye be zealots of that which is good? But even if ye should suffer for righteousness' sake, blessed are ye. And fear not their fear, neither be troubled, but hallow in your hearts Christ as Lord, being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, that wherein ye are spoken against they may be put to shame who revile your good manner of life in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God should so will, 3.17 that ye suffer for well-doing than for evil-doing. Because Christ also died for sins once, the Righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but endued with life in the spirit: in which spirit also He went and preached unto the spirits in prison, who aforetime were disobedient when the longsuffering of God was waiting in the days of Noah while the ark was a preparing wherein few, that is, eight souls, were brought safely through water. The counterpart of which doth now save you, baptism, not as the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but as the entreaty for a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being ranged in subjection under Him. Forasmuch then as Christ suffered in the flesh, arm ye yourselves also with the same thought, namely, that he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sins, to the end that ye no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past may suffice to have wrought the desire of the Gentiles, and to have walked in lasciviousness, lusts, winebibbings, revellings, carousings, and abominable idolatries. Because ye have thus walked they think it strange that ye no longer run with them into the same flood of self-abandonment, speaking evil of you who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead for unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they, judged indeed in the flesh by death as men are judged, may live as God liveth in the spirit. The Duties of the Believers among themselves. 4. 7-5. 14. Calm Prayerfulness, Love, Hospitality, Use of all Gifts for the General Good, to the Glory of God. Thankful Endurance of Suffering for Christ as partaking with Him in His Glory. Duties of Presbyters. Humble and Thankful Submission under God's hand, Watchful Faithfulness. Salutations and Blessing. But the end of all things is at hand. Be ye therefore of sound mind and be calm so that ye may always be in the spirit for prayer: above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins: using hospitality one to another without murmuring: according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; if any man speaketh, speaking as it were oracles of God; if any man ministereth, ministering as of the strength which God supplieth: that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, whose is the glory and the dominion forever and ever: Amen. Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you; but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings rejoice, that at the revelation of His glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. If ye are reproached in the name of Christ, blessed are ye, because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you. For let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evil-doer or as a meddler in other men's matters; but if a man suffer as a "Christian," let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this name. For the time is come for judgment to begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall be the end of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where 4. 18 shall the ungodly and sinner appear? Wherefore let them also that suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing unto a faithful Creator. The elders therefore among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Tend the flock of God which is among you, not by constraint but willingly, nor yet for filthy lucre but out of love to the thing itself, nor yet as lording it over the charge allotted to you, but making yourselves ensamples to the flock: and when the chief Shepherd shall be manifested ye shall receive the crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility to serve one another; for God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time; casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He careth for you. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking to devour: whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being accomplished in your brotherhood in the world. And the God of all grace, who called you unto His eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while shall Himself perfect, stablish, strengthen you. To Him be the dominion for ever and ever: Amen. By Silvanus our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written unto you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God: stand ye fast therein. She that is in Babylon, elect together with you, saluteth you, and so doth Mark my son. Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be unto you all that are in Christ. |