For what credit is there if you endure the beatings you deserve for having done wrong? But if you endure suffering even when you have done right, God will bless you for it.

"Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers.

Because I preach the Good News, I suffer and I am even chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not in chains,

Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before.

We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people's business.

They also learn to waste their time in going around from house to house; but even worse, they learn to be gossips and busybodies, talking of things they should not.