“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” {TM 289.2}

»Men I er en udvalgt slægt, et kongeligt præsteskab, et helligt folk, et ejendomsfolk, for at I skal forkynde hans guddomskraft, som kaldte jer fra mørket til sit underfulde lys, I, som før ikke var et folk, men nu er Guds folk, I, som ikke fandt (290) barmhjertighed, men nu har fundet barmhjertighed. I elskede! jeg formaner jer som fremmede og udlændinge: hold jer fra de kødelige lyster, som fører krig imod sjælen, og lad jeres færd blandt hedningerne være god, så de - på grund af de gode gerninger, de får at se - på deres besøgelsesdag kan prise Gud netop for det, de nu bagtaler jer for, som om I var forbrydere.«