Bible Reading Plan

Chapter 2

The Living Stone and a Holy People

¹ So rid yourselves of^(a) all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.^{(b) 2} Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk,^(c) so that you may grow by it for your salvation,^{[a] 3} since you have tasted ^(d) that the Lord is good. ^{(e)[b] 4} Coming to Him, a living stone—rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God— ⁵ you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God^(f) through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it is contained in Scripture:

⁷ So honor will come to you who believe, but for the unbelieving,

⁸ and

They stumble because they disobey the message; they were destined^(l) for this.

A Call to Good Works

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and temporary residents^(t) to abstain^(u) from fleshly^(v) desires that war against you.^{[r](w) 12} Conduct^(x) yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,^[s] so that in a case where they speak against you as those who do what is evil, they will, by observing your good works, glorify God on the day of visitation.^[t](y)

¹³ Submit^(z) to every human authority^[u] because of the Lord, whether to the Emperor^[v] as the supreme authority^{(aa) 14} or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. ¹⁵ For it is God's will^(ab) that you silence the ignorance^(ac) of foolish people by doing good. ¹⁶ As God's slaves,^(ad) live as free people, but don't use your freedom as a way to conceal evil.^{(ae) 17} Honor everyone. Love^(af) the brotherhood.^(ag) Fear God.^(ah) Honor the Emperor.^[w]

Submission of Slaves to Masters

¹⁸ Household slaves, submit with all fear^(ai) to your masters,^(aj) not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel.^{[x](ak) 19} For it brings favor^[y] if, mindful of God's will,^[z][aa] someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer,^(al) if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

Chapter 3

Wives and Husbands

¹ In the same way, wives,^(a) submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the Christian message,^(b) they may be won over^[a](c) without a message by the way their wives live^{(d) 2} when they observe your pure, reverent lives.^{(e) 3} Your beauty should not consist of outward things like elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold ornaments^[b] or fine clothes.^{(f) 4} Instead, it should consist of what is inside^[c] the heart^(g) with the imperishable quality of a gentle^(h) and quiet⁽ⁱ⁾ spirit, which is very valuable in God's eyes. ⁵ For in the past, the holy^(j) women who put their hope^(k) in God also beautified themselves in this way, submitting to their own husbands, ⁶ just as Sarah^(l) obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children when you do what is good and are not frightened by anything alarming.^(m)

⁷ Husbands,⁽ⁿ⁾ in the same way, live with your wives with an understanding of their weaker nature^[d](o) yet showing them honor as coheirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Do No Evil

⁸ Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers,^[e](p) and be compassionate^(q) and humble,^{[f] 9} not paying back evil for evil^(r) or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing,^(s) since you were called for this, so that you can inherit a blessing.

Undeserved Suffering

¹³ And who will harm^[h] you if you are deeply committed to what is good?^{[i] 14} But even if you should suffer for righteousness,^(y) you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear ^(z) or be disturbed, ^{(aa)[j] 15} but honor^[k] the Messiah^[l] as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason^[m] for the hope that is in you.^{(ab) 16} However, do this with gentleness and respect, keeping your conscience clear,^[n][o](ac) so that when you are accused,^[p] those who denounce your Christian life^[q] will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer^(ad) for doing good, if that should be God's will,^[r] than for doing evil.

¹⁹ In that state^[x] He also went and made a proclamation to the spirits^(ai) in prison^{[y] 20} who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah^(aj) while an ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people^[z](ak)—were saved through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not the removal of the filth of the flesh,^(al) but the pledge^[aa] of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.^{(am) 22} Now that He has gone into heaven,^(an) He is at God's right hand^(ao) with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.^(ap)

Chapter 4

Following Christ

¹ Therefore, since Christ suffered^[a] in the flesh,^[b] equip^[c] yourselves also with the same resolve^[d]—because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished^(a) with sin^[e]— ² in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires,^[f] but for God's will.^{(b) 3} For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the pagans choose to do:^[g] carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,^(c) drunkenness, orgies,^(d) carousing, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ So they are surprised that you don't plunge with them into the same flood^[h] of wild living—and they slander you. ⁵ They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(e) 6} For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead,^(f) so that, although they might be judged by men in the fleshly^(g) realm,^[i] they might live^(h) by God in the spiritual realm.^[j]

End-Time Ethics

⁷ Now the end of all things is near;⁽ⁱ⁾ therefore, be serious and disciplined^(j) for prayer. ⁸ Above all, maintain an intense love^(k) for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins. ^{(l)[k] 9} Be hospitable^(m) to one another without complaining. ¹⁰ Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others,⁽ⁿ⁾ as good managers of the varied grace of God. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God's words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides,^(o) so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Christian Suffering

¹² Dear friends, don't be surprised when the fiery ordeal^[l] comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.^{(p) 13} Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah,^(q) so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation^(r) of His glory. ¹⁴ If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ,^(s) you are blessed, because the Spirit^(t) of glory and of God rests on you.^{[m] 15} None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler.^{[n] 16} But if anyone suffers as a "Christian," he should not be ashamed but should glorify God in having that name. ¹⁷ For the time has come for judgment^(u) to begin with God's household,^(v) and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

¹⁹ So those who suffer according to God's will should, while doing what is good, entrust themselves^(x) to a faithful Creator.

Chapter 5

About the Elders

¹ Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness^(a) to the sufferings of the Messiah and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed,^(b) I exhort the elders among you: ² Shepherd God's flock among you,^(c) not overseeing^[a] out of compulsion but freely, according to God's will;^[b] not for the money but eagerly; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the chief Shepherd^(d) appears, you will receive the unfading crown^(e) of glory.

⁵ In the same way, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with^[c] humility toward one another, because

⁶ Humble^(g) yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand^(h) of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,^{[e] 7} casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.⁽ⁱ⁾

Conclusion

⁸ Be serious!^(j) Be alert!^(k) Your adversary the Devil^(l) is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. ⁹ Resist him^(m) and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world.

¹⁰ Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory⁽ⁿ⁾ in Christ Jesus, will personally^[f] restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.^{[g] 11} The dominion^[h] belongs to Him forever.^[i] Amen.

¹² I have written you this brief letter through Silvanus^[j](o) (I know him to be a faithful brother) to encourage you and to testify that this is the true grace of God. Take your stand in it! ¹³ The church in Babylon,^[k](p) also chosen, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son. ¹⁴ Greet one another with a kiss of love.^(q) Peace^(r) to all of you who are in Christ.^[l]