HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1500
1 P ET ER 3
you can show others the goodness of God,
for he called you out of the darkness into his
wonderful light.
10
“Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people.
Once you received no mercy;
now you have received God’s mercy.”*
11 Dear
friends, I warn you as “temporary
residents and foreigners” to keep away from
worldly desires that wage war against your
very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among
your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they
accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your
honorable behavior, and they will give honor to
God when he judges the world.*
Respecting People in Authority
13 For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, 14 or
the officials he has appointed. For the king has
sent them to punish those who do wrong and to
honor those who do right.
15 It is God’s will that your honorable lives
should silence those ignorant people who make
foolish accusations against you. 16 For you are
free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your
freedom as an excuse to do evil. 17 Respect everyone, and love the family of believers.* Fear God,
and respect the king.
Slaves
18 You who are slaves must submit to your masters with all respect.* Do what they tell you—not
only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if
they are cruel. 19 For God is pleased when, conscious of his will, you patiently endure unjust
treatment. 20 Of course, you get no credit for
being patient if you are beaten for doing wrong.
• Witnessing
1 PE T E R 2 :1 2
A high school student chooses a soft
drink at a party where alcohol is being
served. A businessman refrains from the
profanity used by his associates, even
when the deal falls through. A mother
offers to watch a neighbor’s children or
makes a meal for a neighbor when she
knows another mom has been under
the weather. A simple act of everyday
goodness, morality, or kindness can be
more eloquent than a thousand words.
When you sense skepticism or hardness
toward the gospel, remember that
the most powerful testimony is often
delivered not in words but by a life lived
in imitation of Christ.
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But if you suffer for doing good and endure it
patiently, God is pleased with you.
21 For God called you to do good, even if it
means suffering, just as Christ suffered* for
you. He is your example, and you must follow
in his steps.
22
23
24
25
He never sinned,
nor ever deceived anyone.*
He did not retaliate when he was insulted,
nor threaten revenge when he suffered.
He left his case in the hands of God,
who always judges fairly.
He personally carried our sins
in his body on the cross
so that we can be dead to sin
and live for what is right.
By his wounds
you are healed.
Once you were like sheep
who wandered away.
But now you have turned to your Shepherd,
the Guardian of your souls.
Wives
In the same way, you wives must accept the
authority of your husbands. Then, even if
some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly
lives will speak to them without any words.
They will be won over 2 by observing your pure
and reverent lives.
3 Don’t be concerned about the outward
beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or
beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves
instead with the beauty that comes from within,
the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the
holy women of old made themselves beautiful.
They put their trust in God and accepted the
authority of their husbands. 6 For instance, Sarah obeyed her husband, Abraham, and called
him her master. You are her daughters when
you do what is right without fear of what your
husbands might do.
3
Husbands
7 In the same way, you husbands must give
honor to your wives. Treat your wife with
understanding as you live together. She may
be weaker than you are, but she is your equal
partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you
should so your prayers will not be hindered.
All Christians
8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as
brothers and sisters.* Be tenderhearted, and
keep a humble attitude. 9 Don’t repay evil for
evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people
2:10 Hos 1:6, 9; 2:23. 2:12 Or on the day of visitation.
2:17 Greek love the brotherhood. 2:18 Or because you fear
God; Greek reads in all fear. 2:21 Some manuscripts read
died. 2:22 Isa 53:9. 3:8 Greek Show brotherly love.