1 S ince Christ has suffered in His body, we must be ready to suffer also. Suffering puts an end to sin.

¶ Since the Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, be ye also armed with the same thought; for he that has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

2 Y ou should no longer spend the rest of your life giving in to the sinful desires of the flesh. But do what God wants as long as you live in this world.

so that now the time that remains in the flesh, he might live, not unto the lusts of men, but unto the will of God.

3 I n the past you gave enough of your life over to living like the people who do not know God. You gave your life to sex sins and to sinful desires. You got drunk and went to wild parties and to drinking parties and you worshiped false gods.

For it should suffice us that during the time past of our life we had done the will of the Gentiles, when we conversed in lasciviousness, lusts, drunkenness, gluttony, orgies, and abominable idolatries.

4 T hose who do not know God are surprised you do not join them in the sinful things they do. They laugh at you and say bad things against you.

¶ And it seems strange to those that speak evil of you, that ye do not run with them to the same unchecked dissolution;

5 R emember, they will give an answer to Him Who judges all who are living or dead.

the same shall give account to him that is ready to judge the living and the dead.

6 F or this reason, the Good News was preached to the dead. They stood in the flesh before the One Who judges so they might live in the Spirit as God wants. Love Each Other

Because for this cause was the gospel preached also to those that are dead, that they might be judged in flesh according to men, but live in spirit according to God.

7 T he end of the world is near. You must be the boss over your mind. Keep awake so you can pray.

¶ But the end of all things is at hand; be ye, therefore, temperate and watch unto prayer.

8 M ost of all, have a true love for each other. Love covers many sins.

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves; for charity shall cover a multitude of sins.

9 B e happy to have people stay for the night and eat with you.

Lovingly be hospitable one to another without murmuring.

10 G od has given each of you a gift. Use it to help each other. This will show God’s loving-favor.

Let each one according to the gift that he has received, administer it unto the others, as a good steward of the diverse graces of God.

11 I f a man preaches, let him do it with God speaking through him. If a man helps others, let him do it with the strength God gives. So in all things God may be honored through Jesus Christ. Shining-greatness and power belong to Him forever. Let it be so. Stay True During Suffering

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God; if anyone ministers, let them do it according to the virtue which God gives, that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus, the Christ, unto whom is glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

12 D ear friends, your faith is going to be tested as if it were going through fire. Do not be surprised at this.

¶ Beloved, think it not strange when you are tried by fire (which is done to prove you) as though some strange thing happened unto you,

13 B e happy that you are able to share some of the suffering of Christ. When His shining-greatness is shown, you will be filled with much joy.

but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of the afflictions of the Christ, so that also in the revelation of his glory, ye may rejoice in triumph.

14 I f men speak bad of you because you are a Christian, you will be happy because the Spirit of shining-greatness and of God is in you.

If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; for the glory and the Spirit of God rests upon you; certainly on their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified.

15 N one of you should suffer as one who kills another person or as one who steals or as one who makes trouble or as one who tries to be the boss of other peoples’ lives.

So let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as desirous of the things of others.

16 B ut if a man suffers as a Christian, he should not be ashamed. He should thank God that he is a Christian.

But if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf.

17 T he time has come for Christians to stand before God and He will judge. If this happens to us, what will happen to those who do not obey the Good News of God?

For it is time that the judgment begins from the house of God; and if it first begins with us, what shall the end be of those that do not obey the gospel of God?

18 I f it is hard for a man who is right with God to be saved, what will happen to the sinner?

And if the righteous are saved with difficulty, where shall the unfaithful and the sinner appear?

19 S o if God wants you to suffer, give yourself to Him. He will do what is right for you. He made you and He is faithful.

Therefore, let those that are afflicted according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls unto him as unto a faithful Creator, doing good.