1 Since thereforezch. 3:18 Christ suffered in the flesh,a[Eph. 6:13] arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, forbRom. 6:2, 7; Gal. 5:24; Col. 3:3, 5 whoever has suffered in the fleshc[2 Pet. 2:14] has ceased from sin, 2 dRom. 6:14; 14:7; 2 Cor. 5:15 so as to live forech. 1:14 the rest of the time in the fleshfTitus 2:12; 1 John 2:16 no longer for human passions butgRom. 6:11 for the will of God. 3 The time that is pasthEzek. 44:6; 45:9; Acts 17:30 sufficesiEph. 4:17-19; 1 Thess. 4:5; [1 Cor. 12:2] for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood ofjSee Eph. 5:18 debauchery, andkch. 2:12; 3:16 they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is readyl[James 5:9]; See Acts 10:42 to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is whymch. 3:19 the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
7 nSee James 5:8 The end of all things is at hand; thereforeoSee ch. 1:13 be self-controlled and sober-mindedpMatt. 26:41; Luke 21:36 for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, sinceq[1 Cor. 13:5, 6]; See James 5:20 love covers a multitude of sins. 9 rHeb. 13:2; [1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8] Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 sRom. 12:6, 7; 1 Cor. 4:7; [Matt. 25:15] As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another,tLuke 12:42; 1 Cor. 4:1, 2; Titus 1:7 as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaksuActs 7:38; Rom. 3:2; Heb. 5:12 oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who servesvRom. 12:3 by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everythingw1 Cor. 10:31 God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.xSee Rom. 11:36 To him belong glory andych. 5:11; Jude 25; Rev. 1:6; 5:13 dominion forever and ever. Amen.
12 Beloved, do not be surprised atzch. 1:7 the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
13 But rejoiceaPhil. 3:10, 11; See Acts 5:41 insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be gladb[ch. 1:5-7; 5:1; Rom. 8:17, 18; Jude 24] when his glory is revealed.
14 cPs. 89:51; Matt. 5:11 If you are insulteddJohn 15:21; [Heb. 11:26] for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
15 Butech. 2:19, 20; 3:14, 17 let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer orf1 Thess. 4:11; 2 Thess. 3:11; 1 Tim. 5:13 as a meddler.
16 Yete[See ver. 15 above] if anyone suffers as agSee Acts 26:28 Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify Godd[See ver. 14 above] in that name.
17 For it is time for judgmenthJer. 25:29; Ezek. 9:6; Amos 3:2; Rom. 2:9 to begin at the household of God; andi[Luke 23:31] if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those whoj[2 Thess. 1:8] do not obey the gospel of God?
18 And
kProv. 11:31 “If the righteous is scarcely saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? ”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's willlPs. 31:5; Luke 23:46; [Ps. 10:14; 2 Tim. 1:12] entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.