disobedient to God's Message, and to this they were appointed.
002:009 But you are a chosen race, a priesthood of kingly lineage,
a holy nation, a people belonging specially to God,
that you may make known the perfections of Him who called
you out of darkness into His marvellous light.
002:010 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.
Once you had not found mercy, but now you have.
002:011 Dear friends, I entreat you as pilgrims and foreigners
not to indulge the cravings of your lower natures:
for all such cravings wage war upon the soul.
002:012 Live honourable lives among the Gentiles, in order that,
although they now speak against you as evil-doers, they may
yet witness your good conduct, and may glorify God on the day
of reward and retribution.
002:013 Submit, for the Lord's sake, to every authority set up by man,
whether it be to the Emperor as supreme ruler,
002:014 or to provincial Governors as sent by him for the punishment
of evil-doers and the encouragement of those who do what is right.
002:015 For it is God's will that by doing what is right you should
thus silence the ignorant talk of foolish persons.
002:016 Be free men, and yet do not make your freedom an excuse
for base conduct, but be God's bondservants.
002:017 Honour every one. Love the brotherhood, fear God,
honour the Emperor.
002:018 Household servants, be submissive to your masters, and show them
the utmost respect--not only if they are kind and thoughtful,
but also if they are unreasonable.
002:019 For it is an acceptable thing with God, if, from a sense of duty
to Him, a man patiently submits to wrong, when treated unjustly.
002:020 If you do wrong and receive a blow for it, what credit is there