Do No Evil

⁸ Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another,^(A) and be compassionate^(B) and humble,^{[a] 9} not paying back evil for evil^(C) or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing,^(D) since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.

Undeserved Suffering

¹³ Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness,^(K) you are blessed. Do not fear them^[b](L) or be intimidated,^{[c](M) 15} but in your hearts regard^[d] Christ^[e] the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.^{(N) 16} Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience,^(O) so that when you are accused,^[f] those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer^(P) for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered^(Q) for sins once for all,^(R) the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God.^(S) He was put to death in the flesh^[g](T) but made alive by the Spirit,^{[h] 19} in which^[i] he also went and made proclamation to the spirits^(U) in prison ²⁰ who in the past were disobedient, when God patiently waited in the days of Noah^(V) while the ark was being prepared. In it a few—that is, eight people^[j](W)—were saved through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you (not as the removal of dirt from the body,^(X) but the pledge^[k] of a good conscience toward God) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,^{(Y) 22} who has gone into heaven^(Z) and is at the right hand of God^(AA) with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him.^(AB)

Following Christ

4 Therefore, since Christ suffered^[l] in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same understanding^[m]—because the one who suffers in the flesh is finished^(AC) with sin^[n]— ² in order to live the remaining time in the flesh no longer for human desires, but for God’s will.^{(AD) 3} For there has already been enough time spent in doing what the Gentiles choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,^(AE) drunkenness, orgies,^(AF) carousing, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ They are surprised that you don’t join them in the same flood of wild living—and they slander^[o] you. ⁵ They will give an account to the one who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.^{(AG) 6} For this reason the gospel was also preached to those who are now dead,^[p](AH) so that, although they might be judged in the flesh according to human standards,^(AI) they might live^(AJ) in the spirit according to God’s standards.