Bible Reading Plan

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]

Chapter 2

The Judgment of False Teachers

¹ But there were also false prophets^(a) among the people, just as there will be false teachers^(b) among you. They will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought^(c) them, and will bring swift destruction on themselves. ² Many will follow their unrestrained ways, and the way of truth will be blasphemed because of them.^{(d) 3} They will exploit^(e) you in their greed^(f) with deceptive words. Their condemnation,^(g) pronounced long ago, is not idle, and their destruction does not sleep.

⁴ For if God didn't spare^(h) the angels who sinned but threw them down into Tartarus^[a](i) and delivered them to be kept in chains^[b] of darkness until judgment;^{(j) 5} and if He didn't spare the ancient world, but protected Noah,^(k) a preacher of righteousness, and seven others,^[c](l) when He brought a flood on the world of the ungodly; ⁶ and if He reduced the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah^(m) to ashes and condemned them to ruin,^[d] making them an example to those who were going to be ungodly;^{[e](n) 7} and if He rescued righteous Lot,^(o) distressed by the unrestrained behavior of the immoral ⁸ (for as he lived among them, that righteous man tormented himself day by day with the lawless deeds he saw and heard^(p))— ⁹ then the Lord knows how to rescue^(q) the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,^{(r) 10} especially those who follow the polluting desires of the flesh and despise authority.^(s)

Bold, arrogant people! They do not tremble when they blaspheme the glorious ones; ¹¹ however, angels, who are greater in might and power, do not bring a slanderous charge against them before the Lord.^{[f] 12} But these people, like irrational animals—creatures of instinct born to be caught and destroyed—speak blasphemies about things they don't understand, and in their destruction they too will be destroyed, ¹³ suffering harm as the payment for unrighteousness. They consider it a pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, delighting in their deceptions^[g] as they feast with you. ¹⁴ They have eyes full of adultery^(t) and are always looking for sin. They seduce unstable people and have hearts trained in greed. Children under a curse!^{(u) 15} They have gone astray by abandoning the straight path^(v) and have followed the path of Balaam,^(w) the son of Bosor,^[h] who loved the wages of unrighteousness^{(x) 16} but received a rebuke for his transgression: A donkey that could not talk spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet's irrationality.^(y)

¹⁷ These people are springs without water, mists driven by a whirlwind. The gloom of darkness has been reserved for them.^{(z) 18} For by uttering boastful, empty words,^(aa) they seduce, with fleshly desires and debauchery, people who have barely escaped^[i] from those who live in error. ¹⁹ They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them.^{(ab) 20} For if, having escaped the world's impurity through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,^(ac) they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first.^{(ad) 21} For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness^(ae) than, after knowing it, to turn back from the holy command^(af) delivered^(ag) to them.^{(ah) 22} It has happened to them according to the true proverb: A dog returns to its own vomit, ^(ai)[j] and, "a sow, after washing itself, wallows in the mud."