1 Peter 3:13-4:6

English Standard Version

¹³ Now ^(A)who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ^14 (B)But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. ^(C)Have no fear of them, ^(D)nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but ^(E)in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, ^(F)always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and ^(G)respect, ^16 (H)having a good conscience, so that, ^(I)when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For ^(J)it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also ^(K)suffered^{[a] (L)}once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, ^(M)that he might bring us to God, being put to death ^(N)in the flesh but made alive ^(O)in the spirit, ¹⁹ in which^[b] he went and ^(P)proclaimed^[c] to the spirits in prison, ²⁰ because^[d] they formerly did not obey, ^(Q)when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, ^(R)while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, ^(S)eight persons, were brought safely through water. ²¹ Baptism, which corresponds to this, ^(T)now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but ^(U)as an appeal to God for a good conscience, ^(V)through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and ^(W)is at the right hand of God, ^(X)with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Stewards of God's Grace

4 Since therefore ^(Y)Christ suffered in the flesh,^{[e] (Z)}arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for ^(AA)whoever has suffered in the flesh ^(AB)has ceased from sin, ^2 (AC)so as to live for ^(AD)the rest of the time in the flesh ^(AE)no longer for human passions but ^(AF)for the will of God. ³ For the time that is past ^(AG)suffices ^(AH)for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of ^(AI)debauchery, and ^(AJ)they malign you; ⁵ but they will give account to him who is ready ^(AK)to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this is why ^(AL)the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.