¹⁴ But even if you should ^(A)suffer for the sake of righteousness, ^(B)you ^[a]are blessed. ^(C)And do not fear their ^[b]intimidation, and do not be in dread, ¹⁵ but ^[c]sanctify ^(D)Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready ^(E)to make a ^[d]defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the ^(F)hope that is in you, but ^(G)with gentleness and ^(H)respect; ^16 [e]and keep a ^(I)good conscience so that in the thing in which ^(J)you are slandered, those who disparage your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame.

^14 (A)But thanks be to God, who always ^(B)leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us reveals the ^(C)fragrance of the ^(D)knowledge of Him in every place. ¹⁵ For we are a ^(E)fragrance of Christ to God among ^(F)those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: ^16 (G)to the one an ^[a]aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is ^(H)adequate for these things? ¹⁷ For we are not like the many, ^[b](I)peddling the word of God, but ^(J)as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ ^(K)in the sight of God.

¹⁸ Now ^(A)all these things are from God, ^(B)who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ^(C)ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that ^(D)God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, ^(E)not counting their wrongdoings against them, and ^[a]He has ^[b]committed to us the word of reconciliation.

²⁰ Therefore, we are ^(F)ambassadors for Christ, ^(G)as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be ^(H)reconciled to God. ²¹ He made Him who ^(I)knew no sin to be ^[c](J)sin in our behalf, so that we might become the ^(K)righteousness of God in Him.