Letters to the Churches

Now to you who keep trusting, he is precious. But to those who are not trusting, “The very stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone”;

also he is a stone that will make people stumble, a rock over which they will trip. They are stumbling at the Word, disobeying it — as had been planned.

But you are a chosen people, the King’s cohanim, a holy nation, a people for God to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; before, you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and temporary residents not to give in to the desires of your old nature, which keep warring against you;

but to live such good lives among the pagans that even though they now speak against you as evil-doers, they will, as a result of seeing your good actions, give glory to God on the Day of his coming.

For the sake of the Lord, submit yourselves to every human authority — whether to the emperor as being supreme,

or to governors as being sent by him to punish wrongdoers and praise those who do what is good.

For it is God’s will that your doing good should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Submit as people who are free, but not letting your freedom serve as an excuse for evil; rather, submit as God’s slaves.

Be respectful to all — keep loving the brotherhood, fearing God and honoring the emperor.

Household servants, submit yourselves to your masters, showing them full respect — and not only those who are kind and considerate, but also those who are harsh.

For it is a grace when someone, because he is mindful of God, bears up under the pain of undeserved punishment.

For what credit is there in bearing up under a beating you deserve for doing something wrong? But if you bear up under punishment, even though you have done what is right, God looks on it with favor.

Indeed, this is what you were called to; because the Messiah too suffered, on your behalf, leaving an example so that you should follow in his steps.

“He committed no sin, nor was any deceit found on his lips.”

When he was insulted, he didn’t retaliate with insults; when he suffered, he didn’t threaten, but handed them over to him who judges justly.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the stake, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness — by his wounds you were healed.

For you used to be like sheep gone astray, but now you have turned to the Shepherd, who watches over you.

In the same way, wives, submit to your husbands; so that even if some of them do not believe the Word, they will be won over by your conduct, without your saying anything,

as they see your respectful and pure behavior.

Your beauty should not consist in externals such as fancy hairstyles, gold jewelry or what you wear;

rather, let it be the inner character of your heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit. In God’s sight this is of great value.

This is how the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves and submit to their husbands,

the way Sarah obeyed Avraham, honoring him as her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not succumb to fear.