2 ¹¹ DEAR FRIENDS, I beg you, as aliens in a foreign land, to abstain from the lusts of the flesh which are at war with the soul. 2 ¹² Let all your behaviour be such as even pagans can recognize as good, and then, whereas they malign you as criminals now, they will come to see for themselves that you live good lives, and will give glory to God on the day when he comes to hold assize.

2 ¹³ Submit yourselves to every human institution for the sake of the Lord, whether to the sovereign as supreme, 2 ¹⁴ or to the governor as his deputy for the punishment of criminals and the commendation of those who do right. 2 ¹⁵ For it is the will of God that by your good conduct you should put ignorance and stupidity to silence.
2 ¹⁶ Live as free men; not however as though your freedom were there to provide a screen for wrongdoing, but as slaves in God's service. 2 ¹⁷ Give due honour to everyone: love to the brotherhood, reverence to God, honour to the sovereign.