as you continually receive the reward of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

but become yourselves holy in your whole manner of living, as He who has called you is holy,

as the Scripture says, You shall be holy, because I am holy.

And since you call upon him as Father, who impartially judges each one according to his deeds, pass the time of your sojourning here in reverence.

For, as Scripture says. Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner-stone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him shall never be put to shame.

I beseech you, beloved, as pilgrims and exiles, to abstain from passions of the flesh that war upon your souls.

Let your manner of life before the Gentiles be honest; so that, although they are now slandering you as evil-doers, they may, by beholding your noble conduct, come to glorify God, in the day of visitation.

Submit yourselves, for the Lord's sake, to every human authority; whether it be to the Emperor as supreme ruler,

or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evil-doers and for the encouragement of well-doers.

In the same way you husbands live with your wives, according to knowledge, honoring your wife as of the weaker sex, yet as an heir with yourself of the grace of life; so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Finally, you should all be harmonious, sympathetic, loving as brothers, tender-hearted, humble-minded;

But consecrate Christ in your hearts, as Lord. Be always in readiness to make and answer to any one who asks you a reason for the hope that is within you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

See that you have a clear conscience, so that, although they speak of you as evil-doers, these libelers of your good Christian lives may be ashamed.

They are astonished at this, that you do not run into the same excesses of profligacy as they do; and they speak evil of you.

Whatever the gifts which each has received, use them for one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

If any one preaches, let him always preach as one who utters God's truth; if any one serves another, let it be with the strength which God supplies; so that in every way God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and dominion for ever and ever, Amen.

Do not think it strange, beloved, that a fiery ordeal has come to test you, as though some surprising thing had befallen you.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a spy upon other people's business.

But if any man is suffering as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him ever glorify God in this Name.

So let those who are suffering according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

By Sylvanus, a faithful brother of yours, as I suppose, I have written you briefly, to comfort you, and to testify that this is the true grace of God. In this stand fast.