III

In the same way you wives are to be submissive to your own husbands, so that if any disbelieve the message they may be won over by the lives of their wives without argument, when they look at your pure, reverential behavior. Your adornment must not be of the external kind - braiding the hair and putting on gold and wearing fine dresses; but the hidden personality of the heart must wear the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is in God's sight most precious. For so of old the holy women who hoped in God adorned themselves. They were submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him Master. You have become her children when you do well and feel no terror.

In the same way, you husbands must live with your wives wisely, since woman's sex is weaker, but you must give them honor as fellow heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Finally, all must be like-minded, sympathetic, full of brotherly love, compassionate, humble-minded, not repaying evil for evil or abuse for abuse, but rather blessing, for that is what you were called for-to inherit a blessing. For "He who would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against wrongdoers."

And who is it that will harm you if you become earnest for the good? But if you should suffer for being righteous, you are blessed. Have no fear of them and do not be disturbed; but exalt Christ as Lord in your hearts and be always ready to defend yourselves to every one who asks you to give account of the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. Keep a good conscience that, although you are slandered, those who misrepresent your good life in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer, if that should be God's will, for doing good than for doing wrong. For Christ once for all died for sins, a righteous man for unrighteous men, so that he

might lead us to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits who were once disobedient, when the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared, into which a few, that is eight souls, went and were saved through water. This is a type of baptism, which now saves us not the putting off of

soil from the flesh, but the endeavor for a good conscience toward God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Now that he has gone into heaven he is at the right hand of God, and angels and authorities and powers have been made subject to him.

IV

SINCE, then, Christ suffered in the flesh, you also must arm yourselves with the same mind. For he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so that he does not go on living what remains of his time in the flesh according to human passions, but according to God's will. The time that has passed was enough to spend doing the will of the Gentiles, when you went on in indecencies, passions, hard drinking, revelries, carousings, and lawless idolatries. In these they think it strange that you are not running with them to the same excess of profligacy, and they slander you. But they will have to give account to him who holds himself ready to judge the living and the dead. And for this purpose the good news was told even to the dead, that they might be judged like men in the flesh, but live as God does in the spirit.

The end of all things is near. Therefore be serious and sober and give yourselves to prayer. Above all things have earnest love to one another, for love hides a host of sins. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. Let each, as he has received a spiritual gift, serve the others in that way, as good stewards of the varied grace of God. If any one speaks, let it be as uttering the oracles of God. If any one serves, let it be from the strength that God supplies. Thus in all things let God be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him be glory and strength for the ages of the ages! Amen.

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery fury that is among you, which has come to try you, as if some strange thing were happening to you. But rejoice since to this extent you are sharing the sufferings of Christ, that when his glory is revealed you may rejoice and exult. If you are reproached for the name of Christ you are blessed, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. No one of you must suffer as a murderer or as a thief or as a wrongdoer or as a meddler in other men's affairs. But if he suffers as a Christian he should not be ashamed, but should glorify God by that name. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. And if it begins first with us, what will be the end of those who disobey the good news of God? If the righteous is saved with difficulty, where will the godless and sinful appear? So then let those who are suffering according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator.

V

-

THE elders among you I beg I who am a fellow elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ and a sharer in the glory soon to be revealed - I beg you to shepherd the flock of God that is among you, not because you must, but willingly, not for base gain, but eagerly, not lording it over your charges, but becoming examples to the flock. Then when the chief Shepherd appears you will be repaid with the never-fading crown of glory.

In the same way you younger men must be subject to your elders. You all must put on the apron of humble service for one another. For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Humble yourselves, then, under the mighty hand of God so that he may lift you up at the right time. Cast all your anxiety on him, for he cares for you. Be sober, watch. Your enemy the Devil, like a roaring lion, goes about seeking some one to devour. Resist him firm in the faith and knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being completed in your brotherhood throughout the world.

The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little will equip, establish and

strengthen you. To him be power for the ages of the ages! Amen.

By Silvanus, your faithful brother, as I esteem him, I am writing to you briefly, to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Take your stand in it.

She who is in Babylon, chosen with you, sends her greeting to you, and so does Mark my son. Salute one another with a kiss of love.

Peace be to you all in Christ.

THE SECOND LETTER OF PETER

I

SIMON PETER, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have been allotted a faith as precious as ours:

Grace be to you and peace be multiplied in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

Since his divine power has given us all things helpful to life and piety through the knowledge of him who has called us by his own glory and virtue, and thereby great and precious promises have been granted to us, that through them you may escape the corruption that is in the world through passion and become sharers in the divine nature, for this very reason make it your whole endeavor to supply to your faith virtue, and to your virtue knowledge, and to your knowledge self-control, and to your self-control endurance, and to your endurance reverence, and to your reverence brotherliness, and to your brotherliness love. For when you have these in abundance they make you to be neither idle nor fruitless regarding the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he who lacks these is blind, dimsighted, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.

Therefore endeavor more earnestly, brethren, to make sure that you have been called and chosen. For while doing these things you will never stumble. For so entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

For this reason I shall always keep reminding you of these things, although you know them and are steadfast in the truth that you have. I think it right so long as I am in this tent to arouse you by reminding you, since I know that the laying aside of my tent will come soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made plain to me. I will endeavor also on every occasion to