For it is better to suffer for doing good, if God wills it, ¹  than for doing evil.

for it is written, “You shall be holy, because I am holy.” ¹ 

For what credit is it if you sin and are mistreated and endure it? But if you do good and suffer and so endure, this finds favor with God. ¹ 

And do not lord it over ¹  those entrusted to you, ²  but be examples to the flock.

And he must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

For it is time for judgment to begin, starting with the house ¹  of God. And if it starts with us, what will be the fate ²  of those who are disobedient to the gospel of God?

And ¹  yearn ²  like newborn infants for pure, spiritual milk, ³  so that by it you may grow up to ⁴  salvation, ⁵ 

that is, ¹  into ²  an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you,

In it ¹  he went and preached to the spirits in prison, ² 

For all flesh ¹  is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; ²  the grass withers and the flower falls off,

For it says ¹  in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, ²  and whoever believes ³  in him ⁴  will never ⁵  be put to shame.” ⁶ 

Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another ¹  as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

Through Silvanus, ¹  whom I know to be a faithful brother, ²  I have written to you briefly, in order to encourage you and testify ³  that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. ⁴ 

Yet do it with courtesy and respect, ¹  keeping a good conscience, so that those who slander your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame when they accuse you. ² 

Whoever speaks, let it be with ¹  God’s words. ²  Whoever serves, do so with the strength ³  that God supplies, so that in everything God will be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong ⁴  the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Such trials show the proven character of your faith, ¹  which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away ²  – and will bring praise ³  and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁴ 

Now it was for this very purpose ¹  that the gospel was preached to those who are now dead, ²  so that though ³  they were judged in the flesh ⁴  by human standards ⁵  they may live spiritually ⁶  by God’s standards. ⁷ 

For God wants you ¹  to silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good.

And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of ¹  the ungodly and sinners? ² 

They were shown ¹  that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things now announced to you through those who proclaimed the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven – things angels long to catch a glimpse of.