Because it has been said in the Writings, You are to be holy, for I am holy.

Because you have had a new birth, not from the seed of man, but from eternal seed, through the word of a living and unchanging God.

Because it is said in the Writings, See, I am placing a keystone in Zion, of great and special value; and the man who has faith in him will not be put to shame.

And, A stone of falling, a rock of trouble; the word is the cause of their fall, because they go against it, and this was the purpose of God.

Keep all the laws of men because of the Lord; those of the king, who is over all,

Because it is God's pleasure that foolish and narrow-minded men may be put to shame by your good behaviour:

This is God's purpose for you: because Jesus himself underwent punishment for you, giving you an example, so that you might go in his footsteps:

Because, like sheep, you had gone out of the way; but now you have come back to him who keeps watch over your souls.

Not giving back evil for evil, or curse for curse, but in place of cursing, blessing; because this is the purpose of God for you that you may have a heritage of blessing.

But you are happy if you undergo pain because of righteousness; have no part in their fear and do not be troubled;

Because if it is God's purpose for you to undergo pain, it is better to do so for well-doing than for evil-doing.

Because Christ once went through pain for sins, the upright one taking the place of sinners, so that through him we might come back to God; being put to death in the flesh, but given life in the Spirit;

Because for long enough, in times past, we have been living after the way of the Gentiles, given up to the desires of the flesh, to drinking and feasting and loose behaviour and unclean worship of images;

And most of all be warm in your love for one another; because in love there is forgiveness for sins without number:

If men say evil things of you because of the name of Christ, happy are you; for the Spirit of glory and of God is resting on you.